The University of Ibadan Medical Students’ Association (UIMSA) Senate convened its 2026 Senate Leadership Summit today, 1st of August, 2026, at the Paul Hendrickse Lecture Theatre, UCH, bringing together medical students, healthcare professionals, and other stakeholders to examine the role of doctors in leadership and governance. The summit, themed “If Doctors Ran Nigeria: Leadership, Ethics and Governance Beyond the Stethoscope,” featured keynote and panel discussions on leadership beyond clinical practice.
The event, which was billed to begin at 9:00 a.m., commenced at about 10:41 a.m. and was anchored by Senator Ayegboyin Elizabeth, Chief Whip of the UIMSA Senate, and Senator Bolaji Abdulsamad of the 400 Level Constituency. This was followed by the introduction of the keynote speaker, panelists, and members of the Senate leadership. Shortly after, in his welcome address, the Chairman of the UIMSA Senate, Senator Abgoke Emmanuel, welcomed participants and underscored the importance of the summit’s theme. The citation of the keynote speaker was subsequently read.
Dignitaries as introduced include the keynote speaker, Prof. Temitope Oluwagbenga Alonge, former CMD, UCH, alongside panelists Prof. Victor I. Akinmoladun, former CMD and CMAC, UCH and Prof. Olubukola A. Adesina, current CMAC, UCH. Also in attendance were the UIMSA President, Folusho Olu-Adegbola, the UADS President, Patrick Okelue, senators representing the various constituencies, and other student leaders within the Association.
In his keynote address, Prof. Temitope Oluwagbenga Alonge explored the principles of effective leadership, distinguishing between leadership by choice and leadership by coercion while emphasizing that leadership is fundamentally a one-to-many relationship. He highlighted character, life experiences, cognitive ability, maturity, leadership training, and environmental factors as major influences on leadership, stressing the importance of sound decision-making. He also discussed the DiSC leadership styles; Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Conscientiousness; and identified bold vision, clear alignment, and effective execution as the defining characteristics of successful leaders. Concluding his presentation with the affirmation, “Yes, you can,” Prof. Alonge received a standing ovation and sustained applause from the audience.
A brief question-and-answer session followed the keynote address, during which participants sought further insights from Prof. Alonge on leadership and governance. The session culminated in the presentation of an award to the keynote speaker in recognition of his contributions. This was immediately followed by a panel discussion, moderated by Senator Nadra Ibrahim-Oladosu of the 300 Level Constituency, which featured an engaging exchange between the panelists and the moderator. Discussions extended beyond the summit’s theme, touching on the panelists’ experiences in leadership, the challenges of public service, what they would do differently if entrusted with the leadership of Nigeria as doctors, and their perspectives on the place of medical professionals in national governance. Another prompt question-and-answer session followed and then the Panelists were presented with awards.
The next activity which could arguably be termed as the highlight of the summit was a mock Senate sitting designed to give participants a practical understanding of legislative proceedings in Nigeria. In this Model Nigerian Senate, attendees were assigned to the country’s various senatorial districts and divided into Majority and Minority caucuses, after which they observed Senate protocols, including the mode of address and standing orders. Using a proposed Mandatory National Health Service Bill as a case study, participants debated the bill extensively, raising motions in support of and against its provisions in a simulation that closely mirrored proceedings in the Nigerian Senate.
The summit drew to a close with appreciation and closing remarks delivered by Senator Moses Ojile, Deputy Senate Chairman and Chairman of the Senate Leadership Summit Committee. Participants thereafter gathered for a group photograph, bringing the event to an end at approximately 3:05 p.m.
Speaking after the summit, Senator Moses Ojile, Deputy Senate Chairman and Chairman of the Senate Leadership Summit Committee, described the event as “the fourth Senate Leadership Summit, but the first of its kind,” noting that previous editions had been held as in-house programmes before this year’s expansion to a wider audience. He acknowledged that scaling up the summit came with challenges, particularly in fundraising, logistics, and resource mobilisation, but credited the support of alumni senators, patrons, faculty members, and UIMSA for making the event a success. Reflecting on the day’s proceedings, Ojile remarked, “People who missed the summit have missed a lot. Those who attended can testify that every aspect of the Leadership Summit; from the keynote speech to the panel session and the Model Nigerian Senate; proved to be very impactful.” He encouraged students to look forward to future editions and to join the UIMSA Senate, describing it as “a great act of service to the Association.”