UCH CMD: After Decades Without Muslim, Agunbiade Demands Fair Chance

UCH CMD: After Decades Without Muslim, Agunbiade Demands Fair Chance

‘Let Merit, Not Religion, Decide Next Appointment’

IBADAN — A Muslim stakeholder, Mallam Ibrahim Agunbiade, has called for a transparent and merit-driven process in the appointment of the next Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, saying a qualified Muslim candidate should be given a fair chance to lead the institution.

Agunbiade, in a statement on Monday, argued that the leadership history of the premier teaching hospital showed that Muslims had not occupied the position of Chief Medical Director for decades.

He said the situation deserved serious consideration as the process for selecting a successor to the incumbent CMD, Prof. Jesse Abiodun Otegbayo, gets underway.

According to him, Otegbayo, who became CMD in 2019, was reappointed for a second term in 2023.

Agunbiade said the succession of UCH chief executives had included Prof. E. O. Akande (1978–1984), Prof. A. O. K. Johnson (1984–1985), Prof. B. O. Osuntokun (1986–1990), Prof. O. O. Ajayi (1990–1998), Prof. M. O. Olatawura (1998–2003), Prof. A. O. Ilesanmi (2003–2011), Prof. T. O. Alonge (2011–2019) and Otegbayo.

He stressed that his intervention was not intended to question the professional records or achievements of the past CMDs.

Rather, he said, the issue was whether a qualified Muslim professional should continue to be excluded from the highest executive position at the institution.

“How long should a qualified section of the institution’s community wait before it sees one of its own given a genuine opportunity to lead?”

Agunbiade said the question was particularly important because UCH was a federal teaching hospital with a national mandate, serving Nigerians irrespective of religion, ethnicity or background.

‘Not Asking For Religious Favour’

The stakeholder rejected the suggestion that his position amounted to a demand for religious preference.

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He said his argument was that merit and representation should work together, rather than treating them as opposing principles.

“The demand, therefore, is not that UCH should appoint a Muslim because he is Muslim,” he said.

“The demand is that if a Muslim candidate is professionally qualified, experienced, competent and suitable, his religion must not become an invisible barrier to his appointment.”

He noted that the advertised position carried stringent requirements, including medical registration, post-qualification experience, specialist fellowship, consultancy experience, integrity and administrative competence.

According to him, once a candidate meets the professional requirements and emerges as the best person through a credible selection process, religion should not disqualify the candidate.

‘Muslim CMD Will Serve All Nigerians’

Agunbiade also dismissed the notion that appointing a Muslim as CMD would change the character of UCH.

He said the successful candidate would remain the head of a federal institution responsible for providing healthcare to Nigerians of all faiths.

“A Muslim CMD will not turn UCH into a Muslim hospital. He will remain the Chief Medical Director of a federal institution serving every Nigerian who walks through its doors,” he said.

He argued that religious identity should not be an obstacle to professional service.

“Just as a Christian CMD can serve Muslim patients without difficulty, a Muslim CMD can serve Christian patients with the same professionalism,” he added.

‘Let Credentials Decide’

Agunbiade urged the authorities to ensure that all qualified candidates are subjected to the same standards during the selection process.

He called for candidates’ academic and professional credentials, experience, integrity, administrative competence and vision to be carefully assessed.

“Let every qualified candidate compete. Let credentials be examined. Let professional experience be assessed. Let integrity and vision determine the outcome,” he said.

He also referred to wider concerns about religious representation in the leadership of institutions linked to UCH and the University of Ibadan, saying the issue had generated concerns among Muslim stakeholders.

He, however, warned against turning the matter into a religious confrontation.

“This is not a call for religious confrontation. It is not an attack on Christians. It is not a rejection of merit. It is a call for inclusion within merit,” he said.

Agunbiade maintained that if a Muslim candidate emerged as the strongest candidate through a transparent and credible process, his faith should not count against him.

He said giving a qualified Muslim a genuine opportunity after decades without a Muslim CMD would send a powerful message about inclusion and equal opportunity in Nigeria’s public institutions.

According to him, UCH belongs to all Nigerians, and its leadership selection should reflect that principle.

UCH CMD: After Decades Without Muslim, Agunbiade Demands Fair Chance