A total of 103 Nigerian dental professionals were inducted on Tuesday as Fellows of the International College of Dentists (ICD) at the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Edo State, in a ceremony marking a significant milestone for the country’s dental profession.
The induction, conducted under the supervision of the Regent of the ICD West Africa Sub-region, Prof Gbemisola Oke, was part of activities marking the 50th anniversary and alumni reunion of the UNIBEN School of Dentistry.
Among those inducted as Fellows of the ICD were the President of the Nigerian Dental Association, Dr Elias Emedom; Prof Matthew Sede; Prof Ese Anibor; Prof Mercy Okoh; Dr Benneth Uwakwem; Dr Adesina Ayodele; Dr Chris Eyikor; Dr Ejiro Idiga; and Dr Adewuwa Abe.
Also honoured with honorary fellowships were the Vice-Chancellor of UNIBEN, Prof Edoba Omoregie (SAN); Prof Sanni Shehu; and the former Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Prof Kabiru Bala.
The Fellowship of the International College of Dentists (FCID) is bestowed on dentists who have made significant contributions to the profession or their communities. Founded in 1920 and formally established in 1927, the ICD is a global, non-profit professional association headquartered in Flint, Michigan, that seeks to honour outstanding professional achievement, meritorious service, and dedication to the continued progress of dentistry for the benefit of humankind. The organisation has more than 12,000 members across 140 countries and is divided into autonomous regional sections. Fellowship in the college is extended strictly by invitation.
The event was attended by several dignitaries, including UNIBEN Vice-Chancellor Prof Omoregie; Chief Medical Director of the UNIBEN Teaching Hospital, Prof Idia Ize-Iyamu; Provost of the College of Medical Sciences, Prof Wilson Sadoh; Dean of the School of Dentistry, Prof Joan Enabulele; Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Prof Sede; keynote speaker Dr Jerome Mafeni; and President of the Benin University Dental School Alumni Association, Dr Anthony Osaguona.
Speaking at the event, the UNIBEN Vice-Chancellor said the School of Dentistry had lived up to its vision of producing highly skilled dental personnel capable of addressing the country’s oral health needs, noting that the school had evolved from its early beginnings into one of Nigeria’s foremost institutions for dental education, producing generations of dentists, specialists, educators, researchers, administrators and leaders.
The mass induction represents one of the largest single cohorts of Nigerian dentists to receive ICD Fellowship at once, underscoring the growing recognition of Nigerian dental professionals on the international stage and reinforcing UNIBEN’s standing as a foremost centre for dental training in West Africa, coinciding with the golden anniversary celebrations of its School of Dentistry.
