L-r… Chairman, Local Organizing Committee, Convocation Ceremony of the Academy of Medical Sciences .Prof Adejuwon Adeneye; Dr (Mrs) Fisayo Ogah; her husband, Prof. Okechukwu Samuel Ogah : President, Academy of Medical Sciences.Emeritus Professor Frank Osata Giwa-Osagie, Foundation President, Academy of Medical Sciences.Prof. Oladapo Ashiru, during the Press Conference/Lunch with Journalists to formally announce the forthcoming Convocation Ceremony of the Academy held in Lagos on 22/10/2026…Photo: Chinyere Ikeanyi.
Chinyere Ikeanyi
The Academy of Medical Sciences of Nigeria has announced a N10 million Gold Medal Award for Professor Okechukwu Samuel Ogah, a cardiologist recognised for his contributions to cardiovascular research, medical education and healthcare in Africa.
Ogah, a Professor of Medicine at the University of Ibadan and University College Hospital, Ibadan, will receive the award at the Academy’s 2026 Convocation Ceremony, alongside a medal, as the institution moves to strengthen medical research, recognise scientific excellence and expand its influence on health policy.
The announcement was made by the Academy’s Foundation President, Professor Oladapo Ashiru, at a pre-convocation press briefing in Lagos on Thursday.
The award is the inaugural edition of the Academy’s Gold Medal Award, established to honour individuals whose work demonstrates sustained impact, innovation, integrity and national or international distinction in medical science.
Ogah, a former president of the Nigerian Cardiac Society, has published more than 120 peer-reviewed papers in cardiovascular medicine. His research interests include hypertension, heart failure, cardiomyopathies and cardiovascular epidemiology in Africa.
He is a Fellow of the West African College of Physicians, American College of Cardiology and European Society of Cardiology, and a Bernard Lown Scholar at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Beyond the award, the Academy will induct 13 distinguished researchers into its Fellowship, covering disciplines including cardiology, nephrology, dentistry, clinical pharmacology, molecular biology, ophthalmology, paediatrics, neuroscience and medical parasitology.
The induction, according to the Academy, recognises exceptional professional achievement and scholarly contributions to medical science. Fellows are also expected to contribute their expertise to national health priorities and initiatives aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system.
The convocation programme will feature the 2026 Annual Scientific Conference, the second Augustine Ohwovoriole Memorial Lecture, the investiture of a new president and the Academy’s Annual General Meeting.
The scientific conference, scheduled for October 30 at Marriott Lagos Hotel, Ikeja, will focus on “The Genetics and Genomics of Non-Communicable Diseases: Integrating Science into Clinical Care.”
The programme will bring together eight distinguished speakers from different parts of the world to examine how advances in genetics and genomics can inform clinical practice and improve the understanding, diagnosis and management of non-communicable diseases.
Professor Azeez Butali, a professor of craniofacial genetics at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry, will deliver the keynote lecture titled “The Joy of the Human Genome: Discovery to Clinical Care.” Poster presentations will also provide researchers with an opportunity to showcase their findings.
The second Augustine Ohwovoriole Memorial Lecture will be delivered by Professor Sunday Chinenye, an endocrinologist at the University of Port Harcourt. The lecture honours Professor Augustine Ohwovoriole, a founding member of the Academy’s Board of Trustees.
The convocation will also mark a leadership transition, with Professor Joseph Eberendu Ahaneku, a renowned chemical pathologist and former Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, scheduled to be invested as the Academy’s new president for a two-year term.
Ahaneku previously served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the university and national president of the Association of Clinical Chemists/Chemical Pathologists in Nigeria.
As president, he is expected to lead the Academy’s work in medical research, innovation, education and evidence-based policy advice to government.
Established in June 2019, the Academy of Medical Sciences of Nigeria is an independent, non-profit institution that provides expert advice on medical care, public health, medical education and research.
The Academy also highlighted its recent research-support initiatives, including grants awarded through its dental section. The successful applicants received $3,850 in 2025 and $4,580 in 2026 to support oral-health research, with plans to extend the annual initiative to other areas of medical science.
It has also participated in the development of a proposed national framework for point-of-care testing, intended to guide quality control and assurance for testing devices and equipment across the country.
Through its rapid-response initiative, the Academy issued advisories in 2026 on Ebola, Lassa fever and diphtheria, while its inaugural biennial colloquium examined Nigeria’s health challenges under the theme “Nigeria’s Health at a Crossroad: Confronting Workforce Shortages, Epidemic Risks, and Maternal Mortality.”
The Academy said it would continue to work with government institutions, professional bodies, research organisations and development partners to advance medical education, support impactful research and improve healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
The 2026 convocation activities are expected to reinforce its commitment to scientific excellence and the application of research to the country’s most pressing health challenges.
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