As the Chief Medical Director of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, I am filled with awe and deep gratitude amidst the echoes of vuvuzelas, the roar of cheers, and the jubilant pile-on that crowned our doctors’ team as football champions in the grand finale of our 50th Anniversary Sports Carnival on 10 November 2025. What a spectacle it was! From racing heartbeats on the turf to tactical heatmaps unfolding, our colleagues swapped scrubs for kits, transforming the pitch into a canvas of camaraderie.
The doctors’ 2–1 victory over a valiant College of Nursing, overcoming a tense halftime deficit, delivering a thrilling equaliser, and sealing the win with a clinical strike in the dying moments, was more than a win; it was a testament to resilience and collective spirit. Across volleyball courts where the College of Nursing struck gold, table tennis arenas alive with precision, chessboards of strategic brilliance, and tracks ablaze with 100m sprints, our hospital family shone. Medals glistened, cash prizes sparkled, but above all, bonds were forged in the fire of friendly rivalry.
This carnival marked the crescendo of a year-long celebration of five decades of healing, innovation, and service since our founding in 1975. From modest beginnings as a beacon of medical excellence in Nigeria’s heartland, OAUTHC has grown into a bastion of hope, where lives are restored, futures shaped, and communities uplifted. Yet, woven into this tapestry of triumphs are threads of challenge, moments of interprofessional rivalry that, at times, veered into the unhealthy, fuelling industrial disharmony. These shadows have, regrettably, slowed our stride towards our vision: to be a world-class centre of healthcare delivery, teaching, and research.
But behold the dawn that broke on that fateful Tuesday evening! In the roar of the crowd, the shared sweat, and the selfless passes that turned individual brilliance into team triumphs, we glimpsed the OAUTHC we were always meant to be. The Doctors’ comeback was no fluke—it was a metaphor for our potential: a hospital where nurses’ early leads inspire physicians’ strategic surges, where rivalry refines rather than divides.
It is also worth noting—and commending—that several players from the College of Nursing football team distinguished themselves by winning individual laurels in athletics. Their versatility is admirable and speaks volumes of their dedication. However, it also offers a poignant lesson: the age-old adage, “a jack of all trades is master of none,” may well have echoed in the second-half fatigue and eventual loss in the football final. Burnout is real, and even the most valiant efforts can falter under its weight. This underscores a broader institutional truth; we need more hands on deck, yes, but we also need to begin to focus, specialise, and subspecialise. In doing so, we sharpen our skills, deepen our expertise, and elevate our collective performance. Excellence thrives not in overextension, but in precision.
Imagine the same energy that propelled Olamide Michael to 100m gold or Ekwem Chidozie to chess mastery, channelled into ward rounds, surgical theatres, and research labs. This is not mere sport; it is the elixir of productivity, the antidote to fatigue, and the forge of unbreakable morale. When we celebrate each other’s victories, be it the College of Nursing’s volleyball silver or the School of Health Information Management’s bronze, we recharge not just our bodies, but our spirits. Workplace wellness studies affirm it: shared pursuits reduce stress, boost collaboration, and enhance outcomes, transforming potential discord into a symphony of care.
Admittedly, too few of us took to the field, but those who did set the tone. I was there—battling at table tennis, strategising over chess, and thumb-blazing through e-sports (FIFA football). I vividly recall spotting Professor Orimolade in the thick of it, and I rose, quite literally, to the jovial challenge laid down by Professor Kayode Ijadunola. And yes, I proudly proclaim (with a wink and a grin) that I am almost certainly the first CMD in Nigeria to smash and volley a Vice-Chancellor across the table tennis net!
Let this spirit endure—not just in anecdotes, but in action. My heartfelt thanks to Professor Rasaaq Adebayo for his journalistic flair, capturing every goal, grin, and gallant effort with lens and pen, ensuring our story lives beyond the stadium.
And speaking of replays: if we called in VAR for an impartial review, the footage would clearly show that the true victors are not just the Doctors, but all the Staff of the Hospital —the real winning team! #Kudos
Dear colleagues, let this be our clarion call. The camaraderie we nurtured on the fields, the laughter in Ludo defeats, the respect in Scrabble showdowns, the unity in athletics, must not fade with the final whistle. It must be cherished, cultivated, and sustained as the lifeblood of our institution.
Let us embed regular interprofessional sports leagues into our calendar—not merely as anniversary events, but as rhythms of renewal. Let wellness committees rotate leadership across cadres, ensuring every voice, from draughts virtuoso Mr Afolabi to e-football ace Oluwaseun Adedeji—shapes the agenda. Let post-match debriefs evolve into dialogue circles, transforming competition into collaboration. And let management lead by example, pledging time and resources, modelling the humility of runners-up and the grace of champions.
None of this would have been possible without the tireless vision and execution of the Professor Marcellina Ijadola-led 50th Anniversary Committee and the Professor Rufus Adedoyin-led Sports Sub-Committee. To both teams: a thunderous #Kudos – you orchestrated magic!
The sporting flame does not extinguish here. Our bi-weekly Saturday morning exercises continue with vigour, led by our dedicated physiotherapists at the Ife Hospital Unit (IHU) and Wesley Guild Hospital (WGH). Come one, come all—lace up your trainers, bring your energy, and join the movement. This is your invitation to sweat, smile, and strengthen the bonds that make us unstoppable.
Beyond the pitch, I call for renewed participation in our corporate governance and institutional activities. Too often, our committees, town halls, and strategic retreats suffer from sparse attendance and muted voices. This must change. Your ideas, your presence, and your passion are the oxygen of progress. Whether refining quality assurance, streamlining patient flow, or innovating resident training, every cadre holds a piece of the puzzle.
I welcome, indeed, I earnestly solicit your suggestions. Submit them via departmental heads, suggestion boxes, or directly to my office. Let us crowdsource excellence: propose new sports formats, wellness initiatives, or governance reforms that bind us closer. An open-door policy is not rhetoric; it is our pledge.
In sustaining this spirit of friendly competition and amplifying our corporate engagement, we do more than honour our past; we propel our future. Picture an OAUTHC where industrial harmony is our hallmark, where productivity soars because trust flows as freely as goals in open play. Our patients deserve this, exemplary care born of unity. Our nation needs this—a healthcare powerhouse unburdened by division. And we, the stewards of this legacy, owe it to ourselves: the joy of belonging, the thrill of collective ascent.
Fellow warriors of the white coat and the whistle, the crown is ours to wear, but the true victory lies in continuity. Let us run this race together, not as rivals, but as relay partners in an endless pursuit of excellence.
Onward, OAUTHC, from heartbeats to heatmaps, scrubs to stardom. Our best is yet to come.
Professor John A. O. Okeniyi
Chief Medical Director
