The University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) has appointed its first female Chief Medical Director (CMD), Professor Idia Ize-Iyamu. She promised to improve the hospital’s infrastructure and ensure better welfare for staff, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Professor Ize-Iyamu officially took over the position in a colorful ceremony attended by staff and students of UBTH in Benin City.
She is not only the first female CMD of UBTH but also the first dentist and first orthodontist to hold the office. She said she is committed to excellence and to supporting Nigeria’s goal of providing affordable, reliable, and quality healthcare for all.
“I am very grateful to President Bola Tinubu for trusting me with this appointment. I pledge my full commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda, especially in healthcare, which aims to restore confidence in public hospitals and make healthcare accessible and affordable,” she said.
She also thanked the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, for recommending her for the role and promised to justify the confidence placed in her.
Professor Ize-Iyamu admitted that the race for the CMD position came with challenges, but she appreciated her colleagues, including the immediate past CMD, Professor Darlington Obaseki, and others who contested for the position.
“To my predecessors, especially Professor Obaseki, I salute your efforts. You built strong foundations for UBTH, and it is now my responsibility to strengthen those foundations and create new ones for the future,” she said.
She outlined her vision for the hospital, which includes improving clinical care, investing in research, and training the next generation of healthcare leaders. She also promised a patient-first approach with shorter waiting times, safer surgeries, and friendlier wards.
On infrastructure, she said UBTH will work towards providing clean water, stable electricity, stronger emergency services, and a healing environment. She added that the hospital will partner with the Federal Government, Edo State, the University of Benin, medical associations, philanthropists, and the diaspora to achieve these goals.
Professor Ize-Iyamu stressed that no CMD can succeed alone and that UBTH’s real strength lies in its people. “UBTH is not just buildings or machines. It is the doctors, nurses, pharmacists, lab scientists, administrators, cleaners, students, and patients who bring life to the hospital. If you wear a UBTH badge, you are part of the cure,” she said.
She acknowledged her colleagues, including those who also aspired to the position, and called for their cooperation to move UBTH forward.
As the first woman to ever lead UBTH, she said her appointment should serve as an inspiration to young girls in Nigeria. “I stand not as an exception but as an example of what is possible when merit meets opportunity. To every girl-child, I say there are no ceilings too high, no doors too heavy, and no dreams too distant if you work hard,” she declared.
