Igbinedion University Honours Retiring Obstetrics Professor, Reignites National Push Against Maternal Mortality

Igbinedion University, Okada, has held a valedictory session in honour of Prof. Jacob Aghomo Unuigbe, a distinguished Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, marking his retirement after decades of service in medical education and maternal health advocacy.

The ceremony, held on Wednesday, brought together academics, medical professionals, and stakeholders in Nigeria’s health sector to celebrate his contributions and renew focus on reducing maternal mortality in the country.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Lawrence Ezemonye, described Prof. Unuigbe as a globally respected scholar whose career has been defined by excellence in training medical professionals and advancing maternal health research. He noted that many of his former students now occupy key positions in healthcare delivery both within and outside Nigeria.

Prof. Ezemonye used the occasion to call for intensified national efforts to address preventable deaths associated with pregnancy and childbirth, describing maternal mortality as a continuing public health emergency.

He cited estimates indicating that Nigeria records about 1,047 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, translating to approximately 82,000 deaths annually from largely preventable causes such as haemorrhage, sepsis, and hypertensive disorders. He described the figures as a stark reflection of systemic failure and a national crisis requiring urgent intervention.

Delivering the keynote lecture titled “Reducing Maternal Mortality in Nigeria: What Still Works and What Must Change — A Journey Through the Evidence,” Prof. Dilichukwu Anumba described the situation as both a public health emergency and a structural challenge within the healthcare system.

He noted that while mortality linked to haemorrhage has declined in some contexts, it remains a leading cause of maternal deaths. He stressed that economic growth alone does not guarantee improved outcomes, pointing instead to the decisive role of healthcare quality, nutrition, and system efficiency.

Prof. Anumba advocated strengthened community-based health insurance, improved emergency response systems, task-shifting to trained personnel, regular clinical audits, structured mentorship programmes, and broader health system reforms as key interventions to reduce maternal deaths.

In his valedictory remarks, Prof. Unuigbe expressed appreciation to the university founder, Chief Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, CFR, the Esama of Benin Kingdom, for providing him with the platform to serve. He reflected on a career spanning 17 years at the University of Benin, 16 years in Saudi Arabia, and 19 years at Igbinedion University, where he also served as Provost of the College of Health Sciences.

He thanked colleagues, students, family members, and well-wishers, and affirmed his continued commitment to supporting the university’s growth even in retirement.

The event served both as a tribute to an accomplished academic and as a renewed call to action on one of Nigeria’s most persistent and preventable health challenges.