Prof. Olubunmi Olapade-Olaopa, the Provost of the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, has said that the 71-year-old medical college has clinche
Prof. Olubunmi Olapade-Olaopa, the Provost of the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, has said that the 71-year-old medical college has clinched the fourth position in Africa in the 2019 World University Ranking. He disclosed this in Ibadan at the end of the Innovative Research Fair of the college, a three-day fair with the theme: ‘Innovation for Development.’
According to the provost, the premier Nigerian college which is also the first in sub-Saharan Africa fell behind Stellenbosch University in Cape Town, South Africa as well as Cairo and Mansoura Universities in Egypt in the World University Ranking. Olapade-Olaopa said that the College of Medicine had inched forward from its previously held eighth position in Africa.
“What better way to celebrate this than for us to receive the announcement yesterday, that the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, is the primus inter pares, in the area of medicine, in sub-Saharan Africa. I promised my constituency that we would no longer be looking at the tail light of Makarere before I left this office and yes Makarere is now looking at our tail lights, as we have overtaken Makarere,” he said.
Olapade-Olaopa attributed the leap to innovative research.
“Why is it important that this has happened today. I have absolutely no doubt that our research efforts, having been enhanced in the last couple of years, have been responsible for not only maintaining our position in Nigeria, but topping Makarere.
“College of Medicine jumped ranks from eight to four in the ranking of medical schools in Africa because of the added impact of our researchers, our students and alumni who go out to demonstrate that we are actually a world standard medical school. Most of the things we do here are of international standard. Of course, we must not rest on our oars. We must stay consistent and continue to advance. We shall increase funding to one of our research partners by another N2 million next year,” he said.
Prof. Jesse Otegbayo, the Chief Medical Director of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, said that the success of the teaching hospital, as a leader in healthcare delivery was not unconnected with the many evidence-based researches from the College of Medicine.
NAN
