In an inspiring and thought-provoking Inaugural Lecture titled, “Suffer Little Children to Come Unto Me…” – The Surgeries; The Surgeon’s Sojourn in Collaborative Research, Professor Adesoji Oludotun Ademuyiwa of the University of Lagos shared his vision for the future of paediatric surgery and the transformative power of collaborative research.
Delivered to a diverse audience on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, Professor Ademuyiwa’s Inaugural Lecture explored the need for unhindered access to surgical care for children, while also highlighting how collective research efforts ripple across individuals, families, communities, and even the world.
Aware that his audience included both academics and non-specialists, Professor Ademuyiwa opened by demystifying essential terms like “inaugural lecture,” “paediatric surgery,” and “research.” He brought attention to the vital role of research as the foundation of progress, especially in children’s healthcare.
Speaking from both a personal and professional perspective, he disclosed that this lecture marked his first engagement with a non-academic audience, a milestone in his journey to broaden understanding and support for his work.
Reflecting on his own path, Professor Ademuyiwa shared how paediatric surgery eventually became his calling, though it was not his initial choice. He cautioned parents against pushing children into career paths without their consent, emphasizing the importance of a passion-driven journey.
Professor Ademuyiwa also offered a glimpse into future innovations in surgery, from advanced laparoscopy to telemedicine and robotics. He revealed that these advancements, along with his team’s own research, could redefine the timeline and quality of surgical training and patient care. His vision included significantly reducing the time needed to train skilled laparoscopic surgeons, which is currently about ten years, by incorporating game-based learning and assessment technologies. Additionally, he highlighted how integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) in peri-operative monitoring could predict patient deterioration earlier than visible symptoms, potentially saving millions of lives.
The erudite Professor of Surgery also discussed ongoing research aimed at using advanced markers to better detect and address shock and organ failure in surgical patients. These advancements, he suggested, could shape surgical practices within the next few years, creating a more responsive, data-driven approach to healthcare.
Throughout his career, Professor Ademuyiwa and his team have consistently set new standards in paediatric surgery. From pioneering wound closure techniques to introducing tissue glues in African surgical settings, their contributions have revolutionized surgical care across Nigeria and West Africa. His team also achieved a first by performing the primary pull-through procedure for Hirschsprung’s disease in neonates in the region and by incorporating laparoscopy into treatment plans.
Outside paediatrics, his contributions extend to managing sickle cell patients and identifying key markers for bowel necrosis, which have set new precedents in surgery and patient care.
Professor Ademuyiwa’s impact reaches beyond the operating room. His team’s extensive research on surgically correctable conditions has provided essential data that informs health policy, while their studies on surgical site infections, cancer treatments, and surgical challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic have led to globally recognized findings. Notably, his team’s work was even featured in the Guinness Book of World Records for contributing to a large-scale collaborative study.
As a driving force behind educational progress at the University of Lagos, Professor Ademuyiwa spearheaded the Masters programs in Surgical Science and Global Surgery, expanding academic offerings and establishing a data center to support research. Through his network, he has led multi-center studies across Nigeria and facilitated opportunities for his colleagues to pursue PhDs abroad.
Professor Ademuyiwa concluded with a call for several recommendations aimed at advancing surgical care and medical research in Nigeria:
- Establishing a fast-track promotion system for exceptional talents within the university system.
- Ensuring safe and accessible surgery and anaesthesia for children across Nigeria.
- Improving conditions of service for Nigeria’s surgical workforce.
In sharing his journey, Professor Ademuyiwa not only highlighted the critical role of research in healthcare but also stressed the power of collaboration in achieving meaningful, lasting change. His work serves as a reflection of UNILAG’s mission to foster a global standard of excellence in education, research, and community service, challenging us all to envision a future where no child is denied the surgical care they need.
Professor Adesoji Oludotun Ademuyiwa was born on Saturday, June 16, 1973, in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, to Late Mr. Jeremiah Olabanji Ademuyiwa and Late Mrs. Esther Adesola Ademuyiwa of Aiyedire Local Government Area, Osun State. He is a visionary in the field of surgery, who graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (M.B: B.S) degree and Hendrickse prize in Obstetrics and Gynaecology from the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan in 1998; and obtained his Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree from the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria in 2021.
His postgraduate professional career commenced in 2001 at the Department of Surgery, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals, where he served as Surgical Registrar before becoming a Senior Registrar at the same department (2004–2007).
He joined the services of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) in 2007 as Lecturer I and was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2010; Associate Professor in 2015 and Professor of PaediatricSurgery in 2019.
Since then, he has served the University in diverse capacities, and the University is indeed proud of his accomplishments.
Author: Nike Ogunshakin
Photographer and Photo Editor: Ayomide Oloyede
Article Editor: Adejoke Alaga-Ibraheem
