In a plausible and rancor-free relay race, where batons are exchanged with the next runner for continuation, if the baton proceeded well to an equipped athlete with a track record of achievements, then huge success is assured.
In consonance with the succinct assertion and reality conception derived from the context is the successful handover of baton from Prof. Silas Ochejele, the acting Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital (FUHSTHO), Otukpo, Benue State to Prof Teddy Eyaofun Agida as the substantive Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital which is quite a lofty strategy and in tandem with fixing the round peg in a round hole, putting the baton in a sublime realm for further productivity.
Prof. Teddy Eyaofun Agida is a renowned professor of O&G and a well cultured and consummate intellectual who was born on 21st November, 1965 and hailed from Ogoli in Ugboju district of Otukpo local Government, Benue state.
The polymath of repute started his early education at Wesley Primary School, now LGEA Primary School, Ogoli and obtained First School Leaving Certificate in 1977.
He obtained his GCE O’Level Certificate from Mount Saint Gabriel Secondary School, Makurdi in June 1982 and was the best graduating student of the set.
Thereafter, he gained admission into the University of Ibadan in October 1982 and graduated with MBBS degree in July 1988.
He did his one-year Housemanship with the then General Hospital Makurdi (now Federal Medical Centre), from September 1988 to September 1989.
National Youth Service program followed with the Nigerian Airforce Medical Center, Maiduguri from October 1989 to October 1990.
The result-oriented Doctor commenced his residency training with the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital from 1991 to 1998.
Prof. Agida obtained the Fellowship Certificate of the West African College of Surgeons (FWACS), qualifying him as a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist in October 1998.
He has worked as Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist with the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri (January 1999 – October 1999), Federal Medical Centre Makurdi (November 1999 – October 2007) and University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (November 2007 till the new deserved appointment).
The meticulous mentor has trained many Obstetricians and Gynecologists in these Institutions and made indelible marks to identify with.
Some of his students are already Professors and others are Chief Executive Officers of Public Tertiary Hospitals in Nigeria.
The Academic firmament acquired a certificate in Assisted Reproductive Technology (Cert.ART) from Al-Azhar University, Cairo Egypt in 2010, and trained as a Fertility Specialist with the West African College of Surgeons between 2021, and in 2022, he acquired the Post-Fellowship Certificate in infertility and Assisted Reproductive Technology of the West African College of Surgeons [PF_IART(WACS)], thereby qualifying him as a Fertility Expert.
With this ample experience, Professor Agida has been putting smiles on the faces of couples who have difficulties to conceive and bearing children of their own.
Professor Agida is a reputable academic scholar who rose through the ranks and has been an Associate Professor with the College of Health Sciences, University of Abuja since October 2019.
He was recently appointed as a full Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology by the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, Benue State.
The mental investor has attended several local and international scientific conferences where he also presented professional papers. He has published over sixty papers in both local and international scientific Journals, and also contributed creditably in many chapters of medical textbooks.
Between 2015 and 2019, Professor Agida has worked as a Consultant to various International Agencies such as Marie Stopes International Organization Nigeria (MISION), Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), John Hopkins Program for International Education in Gynecology and Obstetrics (JHPIEGO) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Sierra Leone as a Master Trainer in areas of Reproductive Health.
The Laurel has also consulted for the Federal Ministry of Health in areas of Reproductive Health and Family Planning.
Administratively, he has held positions as;
Head, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Makurdi (2000 – 2005.
Deputy Head of Clinical Services, FMC Makurdi (2003 – 2005)
SERVICOM Nodal Officer, FMC Makurdi (2004 – 2007)
– Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee/Director of Clinical Services and Training, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Abuja (2010 – 2012)
– Head, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Abuja/University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (2019 – 2023)
He was appointed a member of the Governing Board of the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital by President Muhammadu Buhari from March 2018 to June 2023.
Professor Agida is a devout Catholic. He is a member of the Order of the Knights of St. Mulumba (KSM) Nigeria.
The empathic and brilliant consultant is married with Children.
Congratulations on your well-deserved lofty heights and compendium of remarkable academic performance.
As he settles down for more onerous task of providing offices for the doctors, construction of administrative blocks, transformer, internal solar lights, internal Road Network, water reservoir, modem toilet facilities, provision of quality services to patients etc., we are appealing to donors for medical equipment, partnership, grants and fervent prayers to God Almighty to grant him the courage, more knowledge and wisdom to transform the hospital to greater heights. Amen!
Adikwu Samuel Ebo
Public Affairs Analysts writes from Abuja
