Prof AHANEKU Installed 3rd President, Academy of Medical Sciences

There has been a change in the leadership of the Academy of Medical Sciences, with Professor JOSEPH EBERENDU AHANEKU, FAMedS, FAS, as the new President.

Professor AHANEKU, who is the former Vice Chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, will lead the prestigious Academy for a period of two years.

Professor AHANEKU is the third President of the Academy, and he takes over from Emeritus Professor OSATO GIWA-OSAGIE, who stepped down over the weekend after completing a term of two years.

The Professor of Clinical Pathology was inaugurated during the Annual Convocation of the Academy of Medical Sciences held in Lagos, which focused on “The Genetics and Genomics of Non-Communicable Diseases: Integrating Science into Clinical Care.”

In his acceptance speech, Professor AHANEKU promised to build on the legacies of his predecessors and called for the support of all fellows, including the founding members.

“A vibrant Academy can only happen if there is an unwavering commitment from her members” he noted, stressing that the Academy, within the next two years, is expected to establish more visibility and impact in the various Universities, tertiary health facilities and research institutes across the Country.

He emphasized that all the sections of the Academy will be expected to have officers for advocacy and mobilization to encourage younger colleagues to share in the benefits of joining the Academy, as the average age of the Academy is currently “about 65 +- 5 years.”

The President said this is to avoid being labelled an Academy for the elderly or to be bugged by age-related fatigue in its activities.

In the next two years, Professor AHANEKU said he was going to explore what he called horizontal and vertical relationships to drive the activities of the Academy of Medical Sciences. “In the next two years, there will be massive interaction and partnership with Government ministries, agencies and development partners. The relationship between the Academy and NLNG, ADLM, EFLM, Nigeria Governors’ Forum and many private Company operators, will be deepened.”

The 2026 Annual Convocation of the Academy of Medical Sciences also featured the inauguration of thirteen leading medical science scholars as fellows, including Professor OKECHUKWU SAMUEL OGAH, who emerged as the maiden winner of Academy’s gold medal.

New Fellows

1. Dr. Abiola A. Adeniyi, who has made advances in dental public health, maternal oral health and early childhood caries through research and mentorship.
2. Professor Sunday O. Akintoye has his focus research on craniofacial disorders, jaw-bone regeneration and orofacial diseases.
3. Professor Emmanuel O. Balogun has made significant contributions to structural biology, drug discovery, diagnostic development and scientific mentorsh ip.
4. Professor Rasheed A. Balogun has worked on advancing kidney medicine through research on kidney disease outcomes and therapeutic apheresis.
5. Professor Ene l. Ette is an expert in pharmacometrics and drug development, and has worked on innovative hepatitis Ctreatment.
6. Professor Okechukwu S. Ogah has advanced cardiovascular research and leads Africa's largest single-centre hea rt-fa ilure cohort study.
7. Professor Omonike O. Ogbole promotes research into African medicinal plants and their therapeutic properties.
8. Professor Anthony O. Okorodudu has contributed to pathology and clinical chemistry while tra in ing scientists and serving professional orga nisations.
9. Professor Olusola O. Olawoye's research focuses on glaucoma and other genomic studies, providing innovative approaches to preventing blindness.
10. Professor Adebola E. Orimadegun Strengthens child-health research through clinical trials, epidemiology and postgraduate mentorship.
11. Professor Bamidele V. Owoyele advances neuroscience and pain research, with leadership in national and international pain organisations.
12. Professor Wellington A. Oyibo has advanced malaria and neglected tropical diseases' research, diagnostics and elimination strategies.
13. Professor Musa T. Yakubu majors on medicinal plant research, biochemical toxicology and evide nce-based herbal medicine

During the award presentation, the Chairman of the Board of the Academy, Ogbenioja Olor'ogun Dr. SONNY FOLORUNSO KUKU, OFR, FAMedS, said the Academy Gold Medal is reserved for the most outstanding, and he celebrated Prof OGAH for the double honour as an awardee and a fellow.

Dr KUKU described Prof OGAH as Consultant Physician/Cardiologist at University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan, and former President of the Nigerian Cardiac Society, Bernard Lown Scholar at Harvard, and a globally renowned researcher.

According to his citation, Professor OGAH is reputed for his work on "cardiac alterations and remodeling in hypertensive Nigerians and provided data on the best combination therapies for managing the condition in Africans. He has also provided data on the epidemiology, natural history, and management of tuberculous pericarditis, rheumatic heart disease, pulmonary hypertension, and atrial fibrillation in Nigeria and Africa. His project, The Ibadan Heart Failure Project, is the largest cohort study On heart failure from a single centre in Africa and has provided the lacking data on outcomes required for planning and policy."

Earlier, in his welcome address, the outgoing President of the Academy, Prof OSATO GIWA-OSAGIE outlined the achievements of the Academy under his leadership for the past two years, including the expansion of the Scientific Conference and Annual Convocation from a single day programme, as well as the inauguration of the Ohwovoriole annual lecture, and expanded visibility for the Academy through engagements with Federal Ministries.