Eminent Nigerians, on Thursday, came out to honour a former Chief Medical Director {CMD} of University College Hospital {UCH}, Prof. Abiodun Ilesanmi at his valedictory service and 70th birthday.
Professor Ilesanmi was bowing out of service after meritorious services to his fatherland.
Among them personalities are a former President Olusegun Obasanjo, a former Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, the Ashiwaju of Ijeshaland, Ashiwaju Yinka Fasuyi; the Director-General of the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs {NIIA}, Prof. Egbosa Osaghae; the Vice Chancellor of University of Ibadan, Prof. Kayode Adebowale; the Chief Medical Officer of UCH, Prof. Jesse Otegbayo; the Provost, College of Medicine, UI, Prof. Olayinka Omigbodun and others.
The programme took place at Emeritus Professor Theophilus Ogunlesi Hall, opposite UCH, Ibadan.
The eminent Nigerians described the Ijesa-born professor of medicine in superlative terms.
Leading the pack, Obasanjo, said Prof. Ilesanmi is a man of excellence.
The former professor lauded Ilesanmi’s contribution to humanity, achievements in Medicine and the academia.
The DG NIIA and the guest lecturer, Prof. Osaghae said Ilesanmi is a man of all seasons and a good man with milk of human kindness.
The CMD of UCH, Prof. Jesse Otegbayo said Ilesanmi is a kind hearted man to the core and committed to excellence and groundbreaking research and innovation.
The Provost of the College of Medicine, UI, Prof. Olayinka Omigbodun, was represented by Deputy Provost ,Prof. Fatai Adeniyi , said Ilesanmi has made a lot of impacts on many institutions and people.
The Vice Chancellor of UI, Prof. Kayode Adebowale was represented by DVC {Innovation, Research, Strategic Partnerships },Prof. Aderonke Baiyeroju described Ilesanmi as a quintessential personality.
Obasanjo was the distinguished chairman of the event while Osaghae delivered a lecture titled: ‘Impact of Brain-Drain on an Emerging Economy’.
The former president said scheduled brain movement into the where the brain can be enriched should be encouraged for any economy and particularly an emerging economy, saying intellectual property could be acquired by interacting, meeting and really through outreaching.
Obasanjo said: ‘’I want to thank God for making our path to cross through our mutual friend, Prof. Oshaghea. The title of the lecture is ‘impact of brain drain on an emerging economy’. I think I can guess some of the things that you will be saying. Unscheduled, unplanned brain drain for an emerging economy is like taking away the blood from that economy. But planned and scheduled brain movement into the where the brain can be enriched should be encouraged for any economy and particularly an emerging economy, because we need to have that property that anybody cannot take from you – intellectual property. And you get the better of it by interacting, meeting and really through outreaching with others. Our own misfortune is that our brain drain is involuntary.
‘’ Prof. Osaghae, I will like to have a copy of your lecture later. I will benefit from it. While appreciating the blessings of God on Prof. Ilesanmi and Mrs. Ilesansami, I also want to thank those working with him in this institution. He is a pillar of many innovations at the UCH’’.
In his lecture, the NIIA DG said people are pushed by market forces, saying brain drain is something that can should consider.
Osaghae said: ‘’Brain drain is the opposite of brain retention.Anything that is of value is a tradeable modity and it has a price. Let us have programmes that will incentivise this movement. The ones in high demands are the best of the best.We lose our very best to bigger partners that place more value on them. We are still going to lose more because the globalisation is there and incentives are even more.In the years of yore, people were into slavery.Today there is voluntary enslavement.The time has come to build Diaspora Pool for all African countries. Brain drain is not bad but a global phenomenon’’.