A medical expert, Professor Olusegun Akinyinka, said Nigeria faces a significant burden of liver diseases across the life cycle, with viral hepatitis and aflatoxin and their synergistic sequealae posing major public health challenges.
Professor Akinyinka, who disclosed this in his valedictory lecture titled “Serendipity and the Journey through Academia and Medicine: My Swan Song and Conversations with Tomorrow” at the Ibadan College of Medicine, said the burden of liver disease, underscored the urgent need for innovative solutions, including advanced care and preventive strategies in Nigeria.
In attendance at the valedictory lecture and book launch were eminent personalities, including Comrade a former governor of Edo state, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, Arch Bamidele Samson, a former deputy speaker of Osun State, Mr Adegboyega Alabi, Chief Wole Olanipekun, Chief Patricia Etteh and Dr Abib Olamitoye.
Professor Akinyinka said one transformative step to advance care and preventive strategies for liver diseases would be the establishment of an Institute for the Study of Liver Disease and Transplantation at the University College Hospital.
He, however called for concerted efforts of multiple stakeholders, including the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Nigeria Sovereign Wealth Investment Authority and philanthropic organization to establish the institute.
“Such an institute would significantly improve the quality of life of individuals and the population at large. It would position Nigeria as a leader in liver disease management in sub-Saharan Africa, ensuring access to advanced care for those who need it most.
“This initiative aligns with the broader goal of transforming Nigeria’s healthcare landscape. Our collaborators in leading institutions in the United Kingdom and India have expressed their willingness to support this initiative through structured training programmes and capacity-building efforts across the multiple disciplines involved in liver transplantation.”
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Chief Medical Director of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Professor Jesse Otegbayo, described Akinyinka as a high investor in human capital development, who dedicated a greater percentage of his career to medical education, research and care of children with gastrointestinal diseases.
He added that Professor Akinyinka’s pioneering effort to rejuvenate the liver transplant programme at the UCH, Ibadan is vital because many times, treatment of liver cancers has to do with liver transplantation.
“Left to us, we are ready to make sure that this liver transplant project takes off, and becomes a regular practice in Nigeria. Today, many of our patients go to Egypt to go and have that. But now our government has woken up to get involved in the liver transplant programme, and cancers also in general.”
Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan (UI), Professor Kayode Adebowale, who spoke through the University’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Professor Aderonke Bayeroju, said in Professor Akinyinka’s 36 years in the service of the university, he was known for his forthrightness and a stickler for time.
Adebowale said his giant strides as provost of the College of Medicine included the first competency-based medical curriculum, a landmark achievement and now a benchmark for other medical schools in Nigeria.
Chairman at the occasion, Chief Wole Olanipekun eulogized Professor Akinyinka, describing him as a gentleman, a man of honour, and a man of letters who has kept to fidelity, urged for different ethnic groups supporting their kinsman to ensure the development of their societies.
