…Ibadan May Not Have Qualified Applicants in Next 20 Years For UCH CMD, Stakeholders Warn
Concerned indigenes of Ibadan have raised alarm over the unfolding controversy surrounding the appointment of the next Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, following reports that the only Ibadan indigene who applied for the position maybe chicken out for consideration due to some high profile political actors outside the state.
The development has reportedly generated apprehension among critical stakeholders in Ibadan land, who consider the situation as a matter urgent attention, particularly against the background of the longstanding agitation for Ibadan indigenes to have an opportunity to occupy the institution’s top administrative position.
The controversy has also reopened conversations about fairness, equal opportunity, institutional inclusiveness and the place of host communities in the leadership of major federal institutions established on their ancestral lands.
For many concerned indigenes, the issue goes beyond the ambition of an individual applicant. It raises fundamental questions about whether qualified professionals from Ibadan are being given equitable opportunities to compete for the leadership of an institution that has operated in the ancient city for decades.
UCH remains one of Nigeria’s foremost tertiary healthcare institutions, with a historic mandate covering medical education, research and specialised healthcare delivery. Its establishment and continued presence in Ibadan have also made it an important part of the city’s identity, academic heritage and contribution to Nigeria’s healthcare development.
Consequently, stakeholders argue that the relationship between UCH and its host community should reflect mutual recognition, institutional inclusiveness and respect for the aspirations of the people.
A review of UCH’s official historical records shows that the institution has been led by eight prominent medical professionals in the position of Chief Medical Director since the emergence of the statutory leadership structure in the late 1970s.
According to the UCH records, the succession of Chief Medical Directors and their respective tenures are as follows:
1. Emeritus Professor E. O. Akande (1978–1984) – Ekiti State.
2. Professor A. O. K. Johnson (1984–1985) – Lagos State.
3. Professor B. O. Osuntokun (1986–1990) – Ekiti State.
4. Professor O. O. Ajayi (1990–1998) – Ogun State.
5. Professor M. O. Olatawura (1998–2003) – Ekiti State.
6. Professor A. O. Ilesanmi (2003–2011) – Osun State (Ilesa).
7. Professor Temitope O. Alonge (2011–2019) – Ondo State.
8. Professor Jesse Abiodun Otegbayo (2019–Present) – Osun State.
The succession, spanning several decades, has become a significant reference point in the renewed agitation by Ibadan indigenes for an opportunity to produce the next head of the institution.
Stakeholders drawing attention to the geographical backgrounds of previous CMDs argue that the historical record deserves consideration in the ongoing conversation about inclusiveness and representation, particularly given Ibadan’s status as the host city.
They maintain that while UCH is a federal institution open to qualified Nigerians irrespective of their state of origin, the continued absence of an Ibadan indigene from its highest administrative office raises legitimate questions about access, representation and the opportunities available to professionals from the host community.
To them, the aspiration is not to undermine the professional contributions of previous CMDs or question their individual qualifications. Rather, it is to draw attention to the need for an inclusive system in which qualified professionals from Ibadan can also aspire to the institution’s highest leadership position.
The agitation for an Ibadan indigene to emerge as UCH Chief Medical Director is not entirely new as in August 2020, the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), the apex socio-cultural organisation representing Ibadan indigenes, publicly appealed to the Federal Government to consider Ibadan indigenes for the leadership of both the University of Ibadan and UCH.
At the time, the organisation expressed concern that, despite the contributions and hospitality of Ibadan people towards the establishment and development of these institutions, indigenes of the ancient city had not occupied the respective leadership positions.
The CCII specifically recalled that Ibadan provided a large expanse of land for the establishment of UCH, yet, according to its historical account at the time, no Ibadan indigene had emerged as the institution’s Chief Medical Director.
The organisation’s intervention reflected a broader concern about representation, recognition and the need to ensure that opportunities within major institutions are not perceived as inaccessible to qualified members of their host communities.
Six years after that public agitation, the reported controversy surrounding the current CMD selection process has once again brought the question to the forefront.
While stakeholders acknowledge that the appointment of a Chief Medical Director must be guided by professional competence, administrative experience, integrity and the requirements established by law and the relevant authorities, they insist that these standards must be applied fairly and consistently to every applicant.
The argument being advanced by concerned Ibadan indigenes is not necessarily that an applicant should be appointed simply because of his or her place of origin. Rather, they contend that an applicant who satisfies the prescribed requirements should be afforded a fair opportunity to participate in the selection process without discrimination, undue political considerations or arbitrary exclusion.
The position of Chief Medical Director carries enormous institutional responsibilities. The officeholder is expected to provide strategic leadership, oversee the hospital’s day-to-day administration, promote quality healthcare delivery, strengthen medical training and research, and ensure effective management of the institution’s human and material resources. These responsibilities make competence and professional credibility indispensable considerations.
However, stakeholders maintain that merit cannot be meaningfully defended where the process through which candidates are assessed is perceived as unfair, selective or influenced by considerations unrelated to the advertised requirements as published in August 31st, 2026 of Nigerian Tribune.
The Ibadan stakeholders call on the President Bola Tinubu, Minister of Health, Prof. Tunji Alausa and other relevant authorities to ensure transparency in the selection process, clarify the circumstances surrounding the rumoured disqualification of the Ibadan applicant and demonstrate that every candidate is being assessed against the same established criteria.
To Ibadan people, one of the concerns reportedly expressed by some stakeholders is the possibility that Ibadan could lose an important opportunity to produce a qualified candidate for the position for another considerable period. Because aside from the lone applicant, it will take more than a decade for other Ibadan indigenes to be able to qualify for the position from the present ranks and qualifications of Ibadans in the UCH system.
The concerned Ibadan stakeholders’ argument is that professional opportunities at this level are influenced by several factors, including career progression, years of consultancy experience, postgraduate professional qualifications, administrative exposure and the availability of vacancies.
Some concerned indigenes have consequently warned that if the reported exclusion of the only Ibadan applicant is not properly addressed, the city may find itself waiting another 20 years before producing another applicant who meets the stringent requirements for the position.
For stakeholders, the issue is not merely about who occupies the office today but also about creating an institutional environment in which qualified Ibadan professionals can aspire to leadership positions without feeling disadvantaged.
Against this background, concerned indigenes are calling on the Federal Ministry of Health, the relevant UCH authorities and other stakeholders involved in the appointment process to ensure that the controversy is addressed in a transparent and credible manner.
They also insist that the process should not be reduced to political calculations or interests capable of undermining confidence in the institution’s leadership-selection procedures.
Ultimately, they demand for an appointment process that commands public confidence, protects professional standards and recognises the importance of fairness and inclusiveness.
For Ibadan, the agitation represents a longstanding aspiration for recognition within an institution that has become an integral part of its history.
For UCH, the unfolding controversy presents an opportunity to demonstrate that institutional excellence and fairness can coexist, with appointments determined by transparent procedures and the qualifications of candidates.
The central question, therefore, is not whether Ibadan should be handed the position irrespective of merit, but whether an Ibadan indigene who meets the stipulated requirements deserves the same fair opportunity as every other qualified Nigerian competing for the office
