When you ask people to make a choice between the gold and the good name, while some would go for the gold, others would rather go for the good name. Why? Because they know that it takes extraordinary efforts to have the two at one’s disposal. Guess what? I found a man who both possesses the gold and the good name.

Professor Emiola Oluwabunmi Olapade-Olaopa is the immediate past provost of the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan. He is an alumnus of the “Premier University” and also a professor of Medicine and Surgery.

During his time as the provost at the College of Medicine, Professor Olapade-Olaopa made significant impact and tremendous contribution towards the growth and development of the medicine institution. One of his laudable achievements was taking the institution from 10^th position in sub-Sahara Africa and 15^th position in Africa to the 1^st in Sub-Sahara Africa and 4^th in Africa respectively.

Talking about how he was able to achieve all these great feats which would only be achieved within a short period of time, the provost gave a comprehensive insight on how it was done

As a tertiary institution, the college plays a significant role in the economic life of its host community, the state and the country in general.

The road to success is undoubtedly narrow and wide but when you are blessed with a team of likeminded individuals of impeccable foresight, the whole journey becomes smooth and straight. Professor Olapade-Olaopa reveals how he and his formidable team jointly proved to critical stakeholders, the significance of wealth generation, through investment in intellectual expertise.

In every successful journey, there lies an inherent obstacle which might impede progression and bring a lot of setback. Professor Olapade-Olaopa and his team defied all odds by showing how obstacle could be transformed into tentacles of success. The erstwhile provost explains how they blocked several waste on the system to pave way for infrastructural development.

Even in the face of a global pandemic that silenced the world into a ‘new normal’ society, the ingenuity of the Medical Guru was put to bare. After testing positive for COVID-19 alongside his deputy, Dr Obafunke Denloye the ugly development brought about the creation of a novel COVID-19 testing laboratory at the College of Medicine.

Only a man with unique leadership and visionary quality would achieve all these great feats, together with his team in the space of 4 years.

The College of Medicine, University of Ibadan has indeed witnessed a historic administration under the leadership of a more determined, highly committed, very hardworking and exceptional Olapade-Olaopa whose stainless and sterling performance will continue to reverberate in the anal of the great University’s history.

His colleagues described him as a listening and very transparent leader who used his leadership position to effect critical changes such as transparency in the approval of funds and budgetary system for all Faculties and Departments, unique approach towards environmental hygiene and creating a peaceful atmosphere for staff, students and members of the community. The professor’s seamless relationship with the Alumni associations of the College cannot be over-emphasized as this reflects in their contribution towards the success of the administration and the growth and development of the institution as a whole.

Some laudable projects embarked upon and commissioned by his administration include, a decent security post; the newly renovated Alexandra Brown Hall; the renovated Prof. Akinkungbe Clinical Building; Wall of Laurettees; newly renovated Osuntikun Hall; Hall of Benefactor and Achievers; Prof. Latunde Odeku Medical Library, Department of Biochemistry; Nathaniel O. Idowu Multidisciplinary Translational Research Complex, Department of Physiology Research; Animal House comprising Pharmacology and Anatomy Freehold Animal House; Commissioning of the multi-million Nathaniel O. Idowu Multidisciplinary Translational Research Complex  in the Physiology and Pharmacology Research Unit by the Vice President of the Federation, Prof.  Yemi Osinbajo; Networking of Nathaniel O. Idowu Multidisciplinary Translational Research Complex; he secured the approval of the Senate for the modified Doctor of Medicine (MD) Degree programme of the University; Re-opening the E. Latunde Odeku Medical Library and improving library Facilities; Commissioning of the Nathaniel Idowu Clinical and Drugs Trial Unit which is First of its kind in Nigeria and; Pre-clinical Lecture Theatre and some ongoing gigantic projects all in the College of Medicine.

What more can we say of an upright man, who has always gone extra mile to achieve greater goal and put lasting smile on everyone’s face.

Thank you for your remarkable years in active service, sacrifice to humanity and the growth and development of the University College of Medicine.

We wish you more prosperous years ahead and life full of greater fulfillment and success.

Remember, it takes only a here to possess the gold and the good name just as professor Olapade-Olaopa holds good reputation, that is, the good name, and he took the institution from to 1^st and 4^th positions in from its previous ranking  of 10^th and 15^thpositions in Sub-Saharan Africa and Africa, that is the good name.