On Wednesday, July 24th, 2025, the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo, made history as it inaugurated its third substantive Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ebunoluwa Aderonke Adejuyigbe. This momentous occasion was particularly significant as she became the first female to ever occupy the position since the university’s establishment, ushering in a new chapter of leadership, inclusion, and academic transformation.
In her inaugural address titled “The Light We Now Walk In: A Vision for Peace, Progress, and Transformation”, Professor Adejuyigbe laid out a comprehensive and inspirational vision for the university. She emphasized her unwavering commitment to institutional peace, purposeful leadership, and fostering a learning environment where innovation, excellence, and human dignity thrive. The address drew applause for its clarity of purpose and deep emotional resonance.
Professor Adejuyigbe promised to renew UNIMED’s focus on academic excellence and to enhance the student experience across all disciplines. She highlighted the importance of reinvigorating the university’s curriculum and investing in student support services. According to her, “Our students deserve more than degrees; they deserve a transformative experience that shapes them into global health leaders.”
She also pledged to strengthen the university’s research capacity through increased funding, strategic collaborations, and faculty development. Highlighting the role of innovation in solving health challenges, the new Vice-Chancellor assured the university community of her plan to promote cutting-edge research in medical sciences that will contribute directly to national and global health solutions.
In her message, Prof. Adejuyigbe stressed the importance of collaboration with government agencies, private sector stakeholders, and international partners. She assured that under her leadership, UNIMED would build bridges with the global health and research community to attract funding, expertise, and opportunities for staff and students alike.
A significant portion of her speech was dedicated to the welfare of staff. She pledged her commitment to fair and inclusive policies that support academic and non-academic staff through training, capacity building, health insurance, and improved work environments. She acknowledged that institutional success is inseparable from staff motivation and well-being.
Prof. Adejuyigbe also called for infrastructural expansion and sustainability. She promised to prioritize the upgrading of laboratories, lecture halls, hostel accommodations, and medical training facilities. This, she said, is crucial in maintaining the integrity of UNIMED’s unique mission as a health-focused institution.
During the event, she paid a heartfelt tribute to the late Registrar of the university, Mr. Ezekiel Imole Adeniran, describing him as a tireless administrator and a quiet force behind many institutional achievements. She also extended her deep gratitude to the Governor of Ondo State for the trust reposed in her and the opportunity to serve the university and the state.
Before her appointment, Professor Adejuyigbe was a Professor of Paediatrics and Child Health at the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, and a consultant neonatologist at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC). With decades of academic and clinical experience, she is highly regarded for her contributions to neonatal health in Africa and globally.
Her academic leadership record includes serving as Dean of the Medical School at OAU and as Chair of the OAUTHC Ethics and Research Committee. She has also been a member of the management boards of reputable institutions including the Equitable Health Access Initiative and the StopTB Partnership Nigeria. Currently, she serves as the Vice-President of the African Society of Paediatric Infectious Diseases and Co-Chair of Nigeria’s National Child Health Technical Working Committee.
As a global health expert, Professor Adejuyigbe has participated in international research networks and technical working groups. She serves on the WHO-convened STAGED KMC Working Group and the planning committee of the IPA-IAP workshop on the Newborn Health and Survival Project. Her participation in these initiatives has positioned her as a strong advocate for policy-relevant research in child and maternal health.
She has served as Principal Investigator on several groundbreaking research projects such as the Neonatal Emollient Exploratory Study funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the African Neonatal Sepsis Trial (AFRINEST), the IKMC (Immediate Kangaroo Mother Care) trials, and the ACTION trials. Her research spans across three African countries and continues to inform best practices in neonatal care.
Beyond academia, she has contributed to national development by serving as a government nominee on visiting panels to tertiary institutions and as Chair of the Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) for several high-profile clinical trials. Notably, she chaired the NACOVID Clinical Trial Board, which investigated the use of Nitazoxanide and Atazanavir/Ritonavir for COVID-19 treatment. Her leadership in research ethics and medical innovation is widely acknowledged.
In recognition of her contributions to global health, Professor Adejuyigbe was awarded the prestigious International Women Leadership Forum Fellowship based in Washington D.C. This accolade underscores her dedication not only to science but to transformative, ethical, and inclusive leadership. As she takes the reins at UNIMED, the institution and indeed the academic community across Nigeria look forward with optimism and resolve to the light she has promised to walk and lead with.
