The Chief Medical Director of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching
Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), Professor John Okeniyi, received members of the
CMS Grammar School Alumni Association in a high-profile courtesy visit that
reinforced his legacy as a distinguished alumnus and one who is making an
impact in Nigeria’s healthcare system.
The eight-man delegation, comprising prominent old boys from various
graduating sets—including the Class of 1984—converged on the hospital’s
boardroom to commend Professor Okeniyi for his outstanding leadership,
visionary reforms, and dedication to institutional advancement.
Welcoming the delegation, Professor Okeniyi gave a brief overview of
OAUTHC’s operations and historical significance. He highlighted the hospital’s
structure, comprising multiple units across Ile-Ife, Ilesa, and Imesile.
He spoke on its legacy as one of the nation’s foremost centres of medical
excellence.
He also noted the hospital’s distinction as Nigeria’s first facility to carry out open-
heart surgery successfully and the only centre in the country offering renal tissue
matching. The CMD referenced OAUTHC’s history as a testing ground for the
measles vaccine and its current involvement in a malaria vaccine study led by Dr.
Bello.
Introducing the eight-man delegation, Mr. Gilbert Babajide Adeagbo, Chairman of
the 1984 Set and Principal Consultant at Gilbert Immigration Consulting Inc.,
stated the purpose of the visit: to commend the CMD for his exemplary service,
felicitate with him on his achievements, and reaffirm the association’s full
support. He noted that the CMD was making the alumni proud by upholding the
values instilled by CMS Grammar School.
We came to encourage you, he said.“We are watching, we are seeing, and we
are proud.”
He was joined by the Vice Chairman of the 1984 Set, Dr Bayo Onisarotu, a
dentist, and other delegates, including:
- Barr. Felix Adesanwo – Bamofin of Iloti
- Dr. Dayo Ogunberu, PhD, PMP, MBA – Head of Projects, Tavia Technologies
Ltd. - Muyiwa Obafemi-Ajayi – Deputy Director (Public Affairs), Lagos State Ministry
of Information and Strategy - Mr. Simeon Okoduwa, MIoD, MCArb – Managing Partner, The Timeless
Practice - Mr. Olakunle Aboaba – Managing Director/CEO, Fast Approach Konstruction
Ltd. - Mr. Adesina Oliwo – Business Consultant and CEO, Stainless Foods Ltd.
Speaking on behalf of the Alumni group, Mr. Okoduwa, a classmate of the CMD,
reflected on their shared history and praised Professor Okeniyi’s leadership style,
particularly in the areas of staff welfare, human development, and institutional
growth.
Also speaking during the visit, Mr Muyiwa Obafemi-Ajayi, Deputy Director of
Public Affairs at the Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy,
emphasized the impact of the CMD’s leadership in bridging institutional gaps and
ending career stagnation. He acknowledged the visible improvements in
infrastructure and the procurement of billion-naira equipment, noting that these
achievements were evident even to outsiders.
The CMD, the youngest in his CMS Grammar School class, has earned
accolades for breaking longstanding barriers in career progression and fostering
a work culture anchored on merit, development, and equity. His administrative
style has seen the attraction of critical medical equipment and the acceleration of staff capacity-building—demonstrating what is possible when visionary leadership meets institutional will.
An award was presented to Professor Okeniyi on behalf of the CMS Grammar
School Alumni Association by Mr. Adeagbo, in recognition of his professional
integrity, progressive leadership, and commitment to service that aligns with the
founding values of their alma mater.
Beyond the individual honour, the visit placed a national spotlight on OAUTHC’s
relevance as a teaching hospital that not only preserves its historical prestige but
also evolves to meet modern healthcare demands.
The delegation’s presence—featuring experts from sectors such as law, public
administration, dentistry, information, construction, and business—was a
statement of intergenerational solidarity and institutional pride.
CMS Grammar School, founded 166 years ago by the Church Missionary Society
through the pioneering efforts of John Stanley, has long produced leaders who
shape society. Its alumni include national figures like former Central Bank
Governor Ola Vincent, legal luminary Tunde Braithwaite, and business icon Sir
Mobolaji Bank-Anthony.
As the CMS anthem echoed through the boardroom at the end of the visit, it
marked more than tradition—it was a moment of continuity between past
excellence and a future built on shared values. For OAUTHC and its CMD, it was
yet another affirmation that the work being done is seen, respected, and
celebrated beyond the walls of the hospital.
