Meet Prof Innocent UJAH: The New President, Nigeria Medical Association
Prof Innocent UJAH is an unparalleled Professor of Obstetrician and Gynaecologist who is the new President, Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), and Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Medical Sciences, Otukpo, Benue State.
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| PROF. INNOCENT UJAH |
The Consultant Obstetrician/Gynaecological Surgeon was born on 6th November 1954 in Aidogodo-Okpoga, Okpokwu LGA, Benue State. Prof Innocent UJAH started his education at Our Lady of Lordes, Primary School, Aidogodo, Okpoga from1960-1963. He attended St Mary’s Primary School, Otukpo from 1964-1966, and between 1967-1971 was at Government Secondary School, Katsina-Ala for his School Certificate. He subsequently attended Government College Keffi from 1972 to June 1973 for his HSC. Prof Ujah was at the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria from Oct.1973 to June 1978 where he graduated with an MBBS Degree. He attended the University of Jos, Nigeria from 1990 to 1991 for a Postgraduate Diploma in Management (PGDM). He was also at the University of Uppsala, Sweden in 1993 for a Diploma in International Maternal Health Care, (Dip IMH) and at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru in 1995 for his Senior Executive Course.
Prof Innocent UJAH started his career from July 1979 – June 1980 as an NYSC Medical Officer in charge of District Hospital Ila-Orangun, Oyo State. Between October 1981 to December 1984, he was Registrar in Obstetrics & Gynaecology at ABU Teaching Hospital, Zaria where he rose to Senior Registrar. He moved to the University of Jos and Jos University Teaching Hospital in December 1988 as a Lecturer/Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology where he rose to Associate Professor in October 1998 and Professor of Obstetrics & Gynaecology in October 2001. As an Expert with proven progressive experience in National Maternal Health policy development in Nigeria including national integrated planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation activities in 36 states of the Federation and FCT, he contributed to the institution of safe motherhood activities in Nigeria commencing 1990.
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| PROF. INNOCENT UJAH |
He was the Chairman, Safe Motherhood Committee in Nigeria; Member, Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria (SOGON) and has participated actively in the development, policy formulation, field-testing of certification criteria and implementation of Women and Children friendly health services.
Prof Innocent UJAH has participated in administering the affairs of professional Associations including 17 consecutive years of membership of the National Executive Council (NEC) of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), part of which was served as 2nd and 1st National Vice-President of the Association at different times. Has served on the Council of the Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria (SOGON) consecutively for 19 years and part of which included serving in the capacity of Assistant Secretary-General of the Society and later served as the Secretary-General of the Society of Gynaecology & Obstetrics of Nigeria (SOGON) from 2005 to 2011.
He has over 17 years of experience in developing Situation Analysis reports at national and sub-national on the state of women and children’s health. Extensive multi-sectoral collaboration with governments, universities, UN agencies, and NGOs on the use of situation analysis reports for the improvement of maternal, neonatal, and children health programming. He has Contributed to the development and setting up of quality assurance standards through the use of quality assurance tools including Client-Oriented Provider Efficient Services (COPE tool), Certification Criteria for Women and Children Friendly Health Services with 10 years active implementation and evaluation. He has consulted for NACA on the review of antiretroviral therapy in the North-central state in 2005, SNR/USAID on the needs assessment of national response to HIV/AIDS in Benue and Kaduna State in 2005, as well as Society for Family Health (SFH), HERON, etc.
Prof Innocent UJAH was Dean, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Jos, Jos Plateau State (2006-2008), and successfully established the Department of Medical Laboratory Science (Undergraduate programme) and the Master in Public Health (MPH) (Graduate) programme. He also served as Head Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, and member, Governing Council, University of Jos (1997-1999).
Prof Innocent UJAH was appointed Director-General/CEO, Nigeria Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Yaba- Lagos in May 2010. He also serves as Co-Chairman, Treatment Research Group (TRG) on Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Nigeria and Member, Presidential Project Implementation Committee (PIC) on the establishment of University Teaching Hospital, Otukpo. He was recently appointed as the pioneer Vice Chancellor of the University of Health Sciences Otukpo.
He has attended several specialist courses and training among such as: Advanced course on Reproductive Endocrinology, Middlesex Hospital, London, England (April 1986); Advanced infertility workshop (sponsored by Serono (UK) Laboratories) Flitwick, Bedfordshire, England (1986); Gynaecological Endocrinology course, at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, London, England (1986) Reproductive Epidemiology course (Rockefeller New York Sponsored) University of Dar Es Salaam, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania (1989); V.S.C. course on Minilap/LA (Sponsored by AVSC New York) FPAK Nyeri, Kenya (1990), Visiting Research Fellow, Minority International Research Training (MIRT) Programme, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, USA (2004).
Prof Innocent UJAH’s HONOURS/AWARD:
He is a recipient of Oyo State (NYSC) Chairman’s Award, 1980; Life membership award: National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria (NARD), 1987; NMA Merit Award by Nigerian Medical Association, Plateau State Branch, Jos, 1999; JUMSA Merit award by Jos University Medical Students‟ Association, Jos, 1999; Merit Award by Okpoga Development Community (ODC) on the contribution to the establishment of Community Bank in Okpoga, Okpokwu LGA, Benue State, 2001; Distinguished Honours award by Okpoga Development Community, Benue State, 2005; Distinguished Honours‟ Award for Educational Development in Okpoga, Okpokwu LGA, Benue State, 2008; Distinguished KOABA ’71 (DK‟71) by Class 1971 of Government College Katsina-Ala, Benue State, 2009; Award of Recognition by Idoma National Forum (INF) on my appointment as Director General, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Yaba-Lagos; Honours award by the Aidogodo Development Community on my appointment as Director General, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NMIR), Yaba-Lagos, 2010; Member, Consultative Scientific Committee, West African Health Research Network (WAHRNET), 2010; Honours Award and recognition by Okpoga Development Community (ODC) on my appointment as Director General, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Yaba-Lagos, 2011; Merit Award by Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, 2011; Honorary Fellow of Health Writers‟ Association of Nigeria (HEWAN) for Outstanding Contribution to Health Journalism, 2011.He is a Distinguished Scholar and Guest Lecturer Award by the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, 2011; Distinguished Award of Excellence by National Association of Benue State Students (NUBESS), University of Jos, Jos, 2012; ICON of Nation Building of the year award by League of Democratic Students, 2013; Honours Award for contributing to the building of the College of Medical Science, University of Jos by the College of Medical Science, University of Jos, 2013; Award for Professional Excellence in the Health/Medical Sector in Nigeria by Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN), 2013; Award of Excellence by Aidogodo Development Community, Okpoga North, Benue State, 2013; and Award of Excellence by the Alumni of University of Jos of Okpoga District, Okpokwu LGA, Benue State, 2014.
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