The Alumni Association of the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo, has announced the launch of the Olusegun Mimiko Distinguished Alumni Lecture, a new initiative set for October 3, 2026, to celebrate the legacy of the university’s founder, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko. The event, themed "Advancing Health Equity and Innovation: The Legacy of a Caring Heart," aims to reflect on UNIMED’s origins while fostering dialogue on contemporary healthcare challenges and solutions.",
The keynote speaker for the inaugural lecture will be Friday Okonofua, the university’s first Vice-Chancellor, who played a pivotal role in establishing UNIMED. Isaac Oluyi, UNIMED’s Public Relations Officer, stated the event will bring together alumni, healthcare professionals, policymakers, and academics to "reflect on the evolution of UNIMED and the continuing relevance of its founding ideals."
Adedayo Adesida, president of the UNIMED Alumni Association, emphasized that the lecture is not merely an alumni gathering but a platform to "preserve the history of the institution and reconnect successive generations with the vision that gave birth to the university." He highlighted Mimiko’s broader impact, stating, "Dr. Olusegun Mimiko did not just build a university; he planted a tree so that a whole generation of medical and science professionals could sit in its shade."
The theme of the lecture, Adesida noted, underscores the connection between Mimiko’s people-centered healthcare philosophy and modern efforts to use innovation and technology to address healthcare disparities. He added that the event provides alumni with an opportunity to "contribute meaningfully to the continued development of their alma mater," ensuring the university’s values endure. "Celebrating the founder is also about accepting the responsibility to sustain the values upon which UNIMED was established," Adesida said.
Ebunoluwa Adejuyigbe, UNIMED’s Vice-Chancellor, described the lecture as a significant moment for the university community to "reflect on the institution’s origins while looking towards its future." She emphasized that the theme "reflects the caring heart behind the establishment of UNIMED," noting the university’s mandate extends beyond education to research, community service, and healthcare transformation. "The vision remains relevant to our current drive to achieve excellence in teaching, research, innovation, and community impact," she said.
Adejuyigbe highlighted the importance of understanding an institution’s history to inspire its future. "Celebrating our founder is not simply about looking back; it is about drawing inspiration from that vision as we build the UNIMED of the future," she stated. She also outlined the university’s commitment to leveraging technology and innovation to enhance its global visibility and impact. "Our responsibility today is to build on that foundation, strengthen excellence in teaching and research, and position UNIMED as an institution whose contributions to health and medical education resonate nationally and internationally," she added.
The choice of Okonofua as keynote speaker carries symbolic weight, as he was instrumental in translating Mimiko’s vision into an operational academic institution. Adejuyigbe expressed hope that the lecture would strengthen ties between the university and alumni while fostering a culture of service and innovation. "We want this lecture to become part of the identity of UNIMED," she said, "a platform where great minds interrogate healthcare challenges, propose solutions, and inspire the next generation of medical professionals."
The event comes as UNIMED seeks to balance its founding ideals with emerging challenges in healthcare and medical education. Adesida reiterated that the lecture is a "call to action" for alumni to uphold the university’s mission. "The best way to honor that legacy is to ensure that the institution continues to produce professionals, ideas, and innovations that improve lives," he said.
With its focus on equity, innovation, and legacy, the Olusegun Mimiko Distinguished Alumni Lecture underscores UNIMED’s role in shaping Nigeria’s healthcare landscape. The event promises to bridge past and future, ensuring the university’s founding principles remain central to its ongoing mission.