The Faculty of Clinical Sciences, University of Ibadan College of Medicine, on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, held a faculty lecture at the Paul Hendrickse Lecture Theatre, College of Medicine Campus, with Dr Yewande O. Babalola delivering a lecture titled “Ocular Tuberculosis: Seeing the Unseen Through the Looking Glass.” The lecture brought together consultants, Heads of Departments, academic staff and other members of the College of Medicine community and Medical students to examine ocular tuberculosis and its clinical significance.
The event commenced at 3:00 p.m. sharp with the procession of principal officers and Heads of Departments of the College of Medicine into the venue. This was followed by the rendition of the National Anthem, the University of Ibadan Anthem and the College of Medicine Anthem.
The programme continued with the acknowledgement of distinguished guests and members present. Thereafter, the Provost’s address was read by Professor Temidayo A. Ogundiran, Provost of the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, who formally greeted those in attendance and welcomed them to the faculty lecture. This was followed by the reading of the citation of the lecturer, Dr Yewande O. Babalola, by the Dean of the Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Professor Taiwo A. Lawal, ahead of the commencement of the lecture.
Dr Yewande O. Babalola’s lecture focused on ocular tuberculosis (ocular TB), a relatively uncommon extrapulmonary manifestation of tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. She explained that while pulmonary tuberculosis remains the more common form of the disease, TB can affect other organs, including the eye, where it may present with a range of ocular manifestations. She emphasised the need for clinicians to maintain a high index of suspicion, particularly because ocular TB can be difficult to recognise and may require a combination of clinical assessment and appropriate investigations for diagnosis.
Drawing from her clinical experience and cited research, Dr Babalola also highlighted efforts to improve the recognition and management of ocular TB. She referenced her vitreoretinal surgical fellowship at the LV Prasad Eye Institute, Bhubaneswar, India, in 2017–2018, where she gained experience in the diagnostic work-up and management of ocular TB. She further discussed the POS-OcTB project, which promotes awareness among physicians and healthcare workers, screening for ocular manifestations and treatment-related eye complications, and health education for patients with TB. She also highlighted findings and recommendations from the Collaborative Ocular Tuberculosis Study (COTS), including ocular screening of patients diagnosed with TB, establishing baseline visual acuity, contact tracing and prompt referral to ophthalmology when ocular symptoms are present. The lecture concluded with an emphasis on awareness among healthcare workers and a high index of suspicion as important factors in achieving timely diagnosis of ocular TB.
Beyond her work in ocular tuberculosis, Dr Babalola has built a strong international profile through specialised clinical, academic and leadership fellowships. She completed a vitreoretinal surgical fellowship at the LV Prasad Eye Institute in Bhubaneswar, India, and has furthered her global health training through the NIH/Fogarty Global Health Fellowship at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. In 2025, she was also selected for the inaugural Stanford African Scholars in Global Health programme, while her professional development has included participation in WomenLift Health, reflecting her growing involvement in global health leadership and the advancement of eye care.
