Aiyedatiwa Reaffirms Healthcare Commitment at UNIMED’s 7th Convocation

​ONDO CITY – Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa has reiterated that the strength of any healthcare system is fundamentally tied to the quality of its personnel. Speaking at the 7th Convocation Ceremony of the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo, on Thursday, February 26, 2026, the Governor pledged continued “robust support” for medical education and human capital development.

​Serving in his capacity as the Visitor to the University, Governor Aiyedatiwa described the ceremony as a milestone for the state’s healthcare trajectory. He emphasized that UNIMED remains a visionary project that has positioned Ondo State as a premier hub for medical research and training in Africa.

​Boosting Infrastructure and Welfare

​Highlighting his administration’s “walk-the-talk” approach, Aiyedatiwa confirmed that construction is in full swing on the new Senate Building, a project for which the government recently released an initial ₦500 million tranche of a ₦1 billion commitment.

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​The Governor also assured the university community of the prompt release of subventions to maintain global academic standards. This support extends to staff welfare, with the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Aderonke Adejuyigbe, noting the recent implementation of the new minimum wage under CONMESS and CONHESS, alongside the settlement of 2019 wage arrears.

​Academic Excellence in Numbers

​The 7th Convocation saw the graduation of 771 students, including:

• ​598 Undergraduates: 33 earned First Class honours, while 267 achieved Second Class Upper.
• ​173 Postgraduates: Including a significant jump to 13 PhD graduates, compared to just one in the previous year.
• ​Historic Milestone: The graduation of the inaugural candidate from the UNIMED-West African College of Surgeons/Physicians collaboration, marking a new era for academic medicine in the sub-region.

​A Call to Service

​The Chancellor, Oba Adesimbo Victor Kiladejo, the Osemawe of Ondo Kingdom, urged the new professionals to prioritize ethics and professionalism to help bridge Nigeria’s healthcare gap.

​Closing the event, Governor Aiyedatiwa charged the graduands to view their degrees as a “call to service” and to explore entrepreneurship within the health sector. “The future belongs to those who combine knowledge with integrity to solve real-world problems,” he stated.