UMTH: Prof. Ahmed Ahidjo, Eight Years of Productive Leadership

UMTH: Prof. Ahmed Ahidjo, Eight Years of Productive Leadership

By Balami Lazarus

Every stage of human life opens a new chapter of experience, responsibility, and opportunity. In positions of leadership, these opportunities become particularly significant because they provide individuals with the power to influence institutions, improve systems, and contribute meaningfully to society. For Prof. Ahmed Ahidjo, his eight-year tenure as Chief Medical Director of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) represented an important period of service, innovation, and institutional transformation.

Prof. Ahidjo served as the eighth Chief Medical Director of UMTH from 4 September 2018 to 4 September 2026. During this period, he used his professional knowledge, administrative experience, and leadership position to advance medical services, improve healthcare delivery, and provide modern infrastructure and equipment for the hospital. His tenure was marked by a clear determination to strengthen UMTH as a center of healthcare, medical education, research, and professional development.

The conclusion of his tenure was commemorated through a weeklong program of activities in Maiduguri. The program brought together government officials, medical professionals, traditional rulers, academics, hospital staff, and members of the public. It included project commissioning, conferences, lectures, inspections of medical facilities, a book launch, and an award ceremony. These events provided an opportunity to assess the achievements of the outgoing Chief Medical Director and to celebrate his contributions to the development of UMTH.

As a consultant interventional radiologist, Prof. Ahidjo brought specialized medical knowledge to the administration of the hospital. Interventional radiology is a field that uses imaging techniques to guide minimally invasive procedures for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. It requires advanced technology, specialized training, and strong institutional support. Prof. Ahidjo’s professional background therefore influenced his vision for improving not only radiology services but also the general quality of healthcare available at UMTH.

One of the significant achievements associated with his tenure was the advancement of interventional radiology. During the period under review, UMTH hosted the first national conference of the Association of Radiologists in Nigeria in northern Nigeria. The conference brought together experts in radiology from Europe, Egypt, Asia, and Nigeria. Its location in Maiduguri demonstrated the growing importance of UMTH as a center for medical learning and professional exchange.

The conference also created an opportunity for radiologists and other healthcare professionals to examine new developments in medical imaging and minimally invasive treatment. Participants discussed ways of improving standards, expanding training, and strengthening the practice of radiology in Nigeria. By facilitating such a gathering, UMTH positioned itself as an institution capable of hosting major national and international medical events, despite the challenges associated with operating in the region.

Infrastructure development was another important feature of Prof. Ahidjo’s leadership. Among the projects commissioned during the handing-over activities were the Fertility Care Centre, the En-Suite Maternity Complex, and the Animal House. These facilities are relevant to both clinical services and medical research.

The Fertility Care Centre is expected to support individuals and families requiring specialised reproductive health services. Its establishment represents an important step in responding to the medical and emotional needs of couples facing fertility challenges. By providing services within the hospital, patients may have greater access to professional care, counselling, diagnosis, and treatment.

The En-Suite Maternity Complex is also significant. Maternity services require safe, comfortable, and properly equipped environments for mothers and newborns. A modern maternity facility can improve the quality of antenatal care, delivery services, postnatal care, and emergency obstetric interventions. In a region where maternal and child health remain important public health concerns, the development of such a facility is a valuable contribution to healthcare delivery.

The commissioning of the Animal House further reflected the hospital’s interest in research and medical education. Selected animals kept in the facility will be used by medical experts and researchers for experiments and other approved scientific activities. Research facilities of this kind help institutions generate knowledge, test ideas, and train future medical professionals. They can contribute to the development of evidence-based medicine and improve the capacity of healthcare workers to address complex medical conditions.

Prof. Ahidjo’s leadership was not limited to buildings and equipment. His tenure also encouraged academic and intellectual activities. One of the major events during the transition program was the 84th inaugural lecture of the University of Maiduguri. The lecture was delivered by Prof. Ahidjo under the chairmanship of Prof. Muhammad Laminu Mele, the vice-chancellor of the university.

The lecture, titled “Interventional Radiology in Nigeria: The Journey So Far, My Aspirations, and My Visionary Concept,” provided an opportunity for Prof. Ahidjo to reflect on his professional journey and his aspirations for the future of interventional radiology in Nigeria. He discussed the progress made in the field, the challenges that remain, and the need for continued investment in specialized training and modern medical technology.

His vision included the development of interventional radiology and the training of more radiologists in Nigeria. This emphasis on human capacity development is particularly important. Medical infrastructure can only achieve its full purpose when trained professionals are available to operate, maintain, and effectively use it. By promoting education and professional development, Prof. Ahidjo highlighted the need to combine physical infrastructure with knowledge and expertise.

The inaugural lecture also demonstrated the connection between hospital administration, professional practice, and academic responsibility. As a medical specialist and university professor, Prof. Ahidjo was able to bring together his experience in clinical medicine, teaching, research, and hospital management. His public presentation of these ideas reinforced the role of teaching hospitals as institutions that must provide healthcare while also producing knowledge and training professionals.

Another notable event was the launch of the book titled “Duty and Courage: The Story of Prof. Ahmed Ahidjo,” written by Dr. James Bwala. The book documented aspects of Prof. Ahidjo’s professional and administrative journey. Its title captured two qualities that are essential in public service: a commitment to responsibility and the courage to act in difficult circumstances.

The book launch, like the other activities, allowed colleagues, staff, and members of the wider community to reflect on the impact of Prof. Ahidjo’s leadership. It also ensured that the experiences and lessons of his tenure would be preserved for future generations. Institutional history is important because it helps succeeding leaders understand the decisions, sacrifices, challenges, and achievements that shaped an organization.

The handing-over ceremony attracted prominent personalities, including the Governor of Borno State, Babagana Umara Zulum; the Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai; ministers; emirs; members of the National Assembly; and other senior government officials and community leaders. Their presence demonstrated the importance of UMTH to Borno State and the wider northeastern region.

The hospital serves a large population and remains a vital institution in the provision of specialized healthcare. Its role extends beyond Maiduguri because patients from other parts of Borno State and neighboring states depend on its services. Any improvement in the hospital’s infrastructure, equipment, professional capacity, and administrative structure therefore has implications beyond the institution itself.

The climax of the weeklong program was the presentation of awards and recognitions to current and former staff members who served under Prof. Ahidjo. This gesture acknowledged the fact that institutional progress is rarely the product of one individual. Although a chief executive provides direction, the achievement of organizational goals depends on the commitment of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory scientists, technologists, administrators, cleaners, security personnel, and other workers.

Recognizing staff members also promoted a culture of appreciation and teamwork. Employees who feel valued are more likely to remain committed to their responsibilities. In this regard, the awards ceremony was not only a farewell activity but also a reminder that the progress of UMTH rests on collective effort.

Prof. Ahidjo formally handed over the administration of the hospital on 3 September 2026, one day before the official gazetted end of his tenure. In his brief speech, he expressed appreciation to the hospital community for its support. He then handed over the institution, including its staff, structures, equipment, and facilities, to Dr. Abubakar Mohammad Abiso, the Acting Chief Medical Director.

Dr. Abiso had previously served as Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee and is a consultant family physician with extensive medical and administrative experience. In his response, he thanked Prof. Ahidjo for considering him suitable for the position. His words reflected both humility and an awareness of the responsibilities associated with leading the hospital.

One of the most symbolic moments of the transition occurred when Dr. Abiso asked how Prof. Ahidjo would be remembered. He answered by naming the Interventional Radiology Centre after the outgoing Chief Medical Director. The decision was appropriate because it connected Prof. Ahidjo’s legacy with the medical specialty to which he devoted his professional life and which he promoted during his leadership of UMTH.

Naming the center after him also created a permanent institutional reminder of his contributions. It ensured that future staff, students, patients, and visitors would encounter his name in a place associated with innovation, specialized care, and medical advancement. More importantly, it placed his legacy within the continuing work of the hospital rather than treating it as a closed chapter.

The end of Prof. Ahidjo’s tenure provides an opportunity to consider the meaning of productive leadership in a teaching hospital. Such leadership involves more than managing daily operations. It requires strategic planning, resource mobilization, staff motivation, professional competence, accountability, and the ability to respond to the healthcare needs of the community. It also requires leaders to build systems that can continue to function after their departure.

By commissioning new facilities, promoting medical conferences, supporting research, delivering an inaugural lecture, and encouraging professional development, Prof. Ahidjo contributed to several dimensions of institutional growth. 

Balami, Publisher/Columnist 08036779290

UMTH: Prof. Ahmed Ahidjo, Eight Years of Productive Leadership