It was a day never to be forgotten. It was September 16, 2021, when a former Edo State Commissioner for Health and super Pediatrics Surgeon with the University of Benin/University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Prof. David Osarumwense Osifo, was decorated and honoured with an international award of excellence.
The Uhunmwode born Physician of international repute, was honoured by the prestigious Ashanti Graham Health and Education Initiatives Foundation (AGHEIF) – an international NGO formed by UNIBEN’s medical school alumni.
The award ceremony which took place at the College of Medical Sciences UNIBEN, was attended by a galaxy of very important personalities, including top Academia.
Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin, Prof. Lilian Imuentinyan Salami was represented by, Prof. E. Oviasu, Provost of the College of Medicine while the Chief Medical Director of UBTH, Pprof. Darlington Obaseki was physically present at the ceremony.
AGHEIF, founded in 2010, on a yearly basis gives two awards to deserving academicians from the medical field; one to the best graduating student and the other to the best Lecturer/Mentor for medical students in surgery for the year.
But interestingly, Prof David Osifo won the award under the category of best Lecturer and best Mentor of medical students in surgery, the first lecturer since the inception of the body to win the award back to back (2020 & 2021).
Dr. Efe Erhus, was crowned the best graduating student in surgery for the year 2021.
The Chief Executive Officer of AGHEIF, Dr. Douglas Emeka Okor- a Consultant Neurosurgeon, is based in the USA with members spread across the globe. The objective of the NGO is to encourage students and lecturers in surgery to strive for excellence.
Prof. Osifo, has more than 100 research breakthrough articles which have been published in top class national and international journals.
Besides, he is one of the three Nigerian Paediatrics Surgeons to have published his research work in the Journal of Pediatric Surgery (the highest ranking international journal in the specialty).