Former Health Minister, Professor Isaac Folorunso Adewole, has been elected as the new President of the Nigerian Academy of Medicine (NAMed) — an institution committed to improving the quality of healthcare delivery in Nigeria through education and research.
Prof. Adewole succeeds Emeritus Professor Samuel C. Ohaegbulam, following his election during the Academy’s Annual Lecture, Induction Ceremony, and Scientific Conference held in Abuja.
In his acceptance speech, Prof. Adewole expressed gratitude for the confidence reposed in him and promised to build on the solid foundation laid by his predecessor, pledging to advance the Academy’s mission and impact within the nation’s health sector.
Delivering the keynote address titled “Healthcare Financing in Nigeria: Are We Getting It Right?”, Dr. Francis Ukwuije, a health economist with the World Health Organization (WHO), emphasized the urgent need to strengthen healthcare funding mechanisms in Nigeria. He highlighted that inadequate financing continues to expose citizens to heavy out-of-pocket spending, often leading to financial hardship.
A subsequent scientific session featured a panel discussion with notable experts, including Dr. Kelechi Ohiri (Director-General, National Health Insurance Authority), Dr. Sir Frank Odafen (medical entrepreneur), Dr. Joyce Barber (HMO provider), Dr. John A. Onyeokoro (public health physician), and a health insurance specialist.
The panelists examined the state of health insurance in Nigeria, assessing its achievements, challenges, and future prospects. They jointly advocated for stronger policy action and broader advocacy by the Academy to expand health insurance coverage, which currently reaches only about 10% of the population.
In his valedictory remarks, Emeritus Prof. Ohaegbulam noted that the conference theme, “Emerging and Re-emerging Diseases,” was deliberately chosen to draw attention to the increasing prevalence of new and recurring illnesses across the country.
The event also featured the induction of 20 new fellows into the Academy. The inductees include prominent physicians, seasoned academics, and distinguished medical scientists who serve as chief medical directors, vice-chancellors, and other senior figures in the Nigerian healthcare and academic systems.
