By Hassan Zaggi
A lecturer at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Abuja, Prof. Titus Sunday Ibekwe, has been elected Chairman of the International Advisory Board (IAB) of the American Academy of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAOHNSF).
Ibekwe was elected into the position at AAO-HNS meeting held in Nashville Tennessee State, USA, recently.
This is the first time a black is being elected into the position in the history of the Academy.
The AAOHNS, the world largest gathering of ENT Surgeons and related disciplines celebrated its 125th anniversary this year.
Responding to questions from journalists, the highly elated Ibekwe disclosed that he had served as Vice Chairman of the group 5-years ago.
This, according to him, prepared him for the present position which tenure runs from 2024 to 2025.
He explained that the benefits of this appointment to Nigeria, Africa and beyond include enhancement of research, innovation, training and services of ENT surgeons; including promotion of global health and best practices.
According to him, the seat also seeks to continuously improve on the welfare of experts from Nigeria and other developing member-countries through exchange programs and transfer of technologies.
This position, Prof. Ibekwe said, is a great honour to Nigeria and Africa at large.
“The responsibility involves the coordination of the activities of the 77-member countries (corresponding societies) of the AAOHNS including Canada, England, Germany, Taiwan, China, Brazil, Nigeria among others.
“Also, l will be seating at the governing board of the academy as the Spokes-person for these countries within this tenure.
“This is the first time a black is being elected into the position, the closest being my serving as the Vice Chair 5-years ago. The journey started when I won the maiden ‘Humanitarian Scholarship award’ of the Academy in 2009.
“Secondly, I was inducted into the prestigious Nigerian Academy of Medicine (FNAMed) class of 2023 having been selected among the 20-finalists, for this purpose on October 26, 2023.
“I cherish this so much because one of the greatest honours is the recognition by ones colleagues,” he said.
