BENIN CITY – Professor (Mrs) Idia Ize-Iyamu has made history as the first woman to be appointed Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) since its establishment 52 years ago.

Her appointment was confirmed in an official letter signed by the Minister of Health, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate.

Dated August 8, 2025, the letter (reference number HMH/ABJ/471/3/22) stated:

“I am pleased to inform you that His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has approved your appointment as Chief Medical Director, University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, Edo State, for a tenure of four (4) years in the first instance, effective from 18th August 2025.

“This appointment is subject to the terms and conditions stipulated by the laws governing University Teaching Hospitals, or as may be determined by the government in the future.

“I congratulate you on this well-deserved appointment and urge you to enhance the hospital’s progress in line with its core mandate as a teaching institution.

“It is expected that you will work in harmony with all stakeholders to ensure the continued delivery of quality healthcare services.”

Prof. Ize-Iyamu began her career at UBTH in 1997 as a Junior Registrar and steadily advanced, becoming an Honorary Consultant by 2005. She served as Head of Department for over a decade, earning recognition for her principled leadership, institutional insight, and commitment to measurable outcomes.

She is also an esteemed educator and mentor who has shaped the careers of numerous doctors, many of whom are now practicing as consultants or working in prestigious hospitals globally.

An internationally trained Craniofacial Orthodontist and Commonwealth Fellow, Prof. Ize-Iyamu received advanced clinical training at Oxford University Teaching Hospital in the UK and the University of Washington in Seattle, USA. Her global exposure and expertise are expected to bring innovation and international best practices to UBTH.

As the current Dean of the School of Dentistry at the University of Benin, she has been lauded for her visionary leadership—successfully fostering public-private partnerships, attracting funding, enhancing facilities, improving staff welfare, and advancing student education.

She is also a prolific academic, with over 55 publications in respected local and international journals, contributing significantly to evidence-based healthcare and policy development.