By Opeyemi Glory Aregbesola, Ph.D.
The appointment of Professor Biliaminu Sikiru Abayomi as Acting Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) came as welcome news to many who have followed the institution over the years. For those familiar with his journey, the appointment feels less like a surprise and more like the natural progression of a career built on dedication, competence, and years of committed service.
Professor Biliaminu is not new to UITH or its challenges. He has spent over two decades within the institution, growing through its ranks and gaining firsthand experience of its strengths, shortcomings, and opportunities. His understanding of the hospital is not based on theory but on years of practical involvement in its daily operations.
His career at UITH began in 2002 as a Registrar in the Department of Chemical Pathology and Immunology. From there, he steadily advanced to become Chief Resident and Senior Registrar, Hospital Consultant, Honorary Consultant, Head of Department, and eventually a Professor of Chemical Pathology. His rise was gradual, earned through hard work, consistency, and professional excellence.
Beyond his academic achievements, Professor Biliaminu has also built an impressive leadership record. He has served as Head of Department on several occasions and has held key administrative positions within the hospital. Most notably, between August 2023 and February 2026, he served as Acting Chief Medical Director for more than 180 days across different periods whenever the substantive CMD was unavailable. That experience speaks volumes. It shows that when the hospital needed someone to provide stable leadership, he was repeatedly trusted with the responsibility.
His service as Deputy Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee and later as its substantive Chairman further reflects the confidence the institution has placed in his leadership. In many respects, he has already been helping to steer the affairs of UITH long before his current appointment.
As a scholar, Professor Biliaminu has also made remarkable contributions. He has published more than 165 research papers in local and international journals, with work covering endocrinology, chemical pathology, assisted reproductive medicine, and clinical embryology. His research has not remained within the pages of academic journals alone. It has translated into better healthcare services, particularly in fertility medicine, where his specialized training in India helped strengthen UITH’s Assisted Reproductive Unit and expand treatment options for many families.
His commitment to developing future medical professionals is equally commendable. Over the years, he has supervised numerous postgraduate research projects and Fellowship dissertations, mentoring young doctors across different medical specialties. Many of those he has trained now serve as consultants in hospitals across Nigeria.
Away from the lecture halls and hospital wards, Professor Biliaminu is known for his active involvement in several professional bodies and community-focused organizations. His career has also been recognized with several awards for academic and professional excellence, reflecting a lifelong commitment to doing things well rather than seeking recognition.
Perhaps one of the strongest reasons many believe he is well suited for this role is his clear vision for the future of UITH. His plans focus on improving patient care, reducing waiting times, embracing digital health systems, strengthening research, upgrading infrastructure, supporting staff development, improving financial sustainability, and building stronger partnerships. These are practical priorities shaped by years of working within the system, not lofty promises made from a distance.
Like many teaching hospitals in Nigeria, UITH faces significant challenges, including funding constraints, infrastructure needs, workforce shortages, and the growing demand for quality healthcare. Addressing these issues requires more than ambition. It requires experience, institutional knowledge, and calm, steady leadership.
Professor Biliaminu Sikiru Abayomi brings all three. His appointment as Acting Chief Medical Director represents the continuation of a long journey of service rather than the beginning of one. His years of clinical practice, academic excellence, administrative experience, and proven leadership have prepared him for this responsibility.
As UITH enters another important phase in its history, there is every reason to believe that the institution is in capable hands. For many observers, Professor Biliaminu is not only the right man for the job, but he is the leader whose preparation has long matched the moment.
