By Adekola Afolabi &  Sade Adewale

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Chairman, Ministerial Expert Advisory Committee on COVID-19 and professor of Virology, Prof Oyewale Tomori, has hailed the state Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, over the progress recorded at the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo, over the years.

Prof. Tomori specifically saluted Governor Akeredolu for the expansion of the institution despite inheriting it from his predecessor in office.

Prof Tomori who was the Convocation Guest Lecturer, spoke at the 2nd and 3rd combined convocation of UNIMED held at the Main Auditorium, UNIMED Odosida Campus, Ondo.

He called on Nigeria’s leaders to emulate Governor Akeredolu on sustaining public institutions irrespective of political differences.

Speaking at the convocation, Governor Akeredolu called on universities in the country to rise to the challenges of the 21st century, including the global pandemic.

He particularly charged the universities to be at the forefront of national development in this age of knowledge economy, also reiterated his administration’s commitment to the funding, resourcing and overall development of the university within the limit of the state’s resources.

Akeredolu, who is also Visitor to the University, noted that the graduands from UNIMED will contribute towards filling some of the vacuums left behind by exodus of health professionals to other countries presumably for greener pasture.

He also commissioned some projects including the Academic Office building, lecture theatres and Faculty of Dental Sciences in University .

Present at the event are former governor of the state, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko; Osemawe Of Ondo, Oba Victor Kiladejo; Academicians among other dignitaries.

The Governor said, “history will forever bear witness to the fact that the Sunshine State blazes the trail of establishing Nigeria’s first specialised Medical and Health Sciences University, which was established  December 8, 2014, UNIMED commenced academic activities in the 2015/16 session.

“Thus, the institution was in its infancy when we came to the saddle on February 24, 2017. It has been a great delight watching this university grow and our government is very proud to have funded the university for most of its existence.

“The recent ranking of Nigerian universities by the National University Commission bears eloquent testimony to UNIMED’s phenomenal growth and achievement.

“Currently, UNIMED is ranked as the fourth best state university in the country, the third best specialised university, the second best university in Ondo State (after the 40-year old Federal University of Technology, Akure), and the overall 19th highest-ranked university in Nigeria. What a feat in just seven years! We are proud to be associated with this trailblazing university.

He appreciated Chief Olu Akinkugbe, for the initiative of the Chief Olu Akinkugbe Faculty of Pharmacy Building which is currently ongoing in the University permanent site, while also thanking Chief (Dr) Isaac Akintade for promising another building for the permanent site, in addition to the one he had already built at the Laje Medical Campus.