The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode Adebowale, has described the late pioneer radiologist, Professor Sulaiman Botsende Lagundoye, as an academic giant whose enduring legacy and foundational contributions to radiology and medical education in Nigeria will continue to inspire generations.
Professor Adebowale made this remark during the commissioning of the S.B. Lagundoye Museum and Library, held on January 8, 2026, at the main foyer of the Department of Radiology, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan. He was represented at the ceremony by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Professor Peter Olapegba, FNPA.
According to the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Lagundoye’s illustrious career offers a clear blueprint for academic excellence and professional distinction. As Nigeria’s first Professor of Radiology, he not only pioneered specialist radiology training in the country but also set enduring academic and ethical standards through his humility, discipline, and unassuming disposition.
“This project represents far more than a physical structure,” Professor Adebowale said. “It embodies the values of scholarship, service, mentorship, and leadership that define the University of Ibadan and the University College Hospital.”
He added that the museum and library celebrate the life and work of a man whose influence transformed radiology practice, medical education, and healthcare delivery in Nigeria and beyond through teaching, mentorship, and exemplary leadership.
“By institutionalising his legacy through this museum and library, we are ensuring that his remarkable achievements, principles, and values remain accessible to scholars, students, and professionals for decades to come,” he noted.
Professor Adebowale stressed that universities are custodians of knowledge and history, and that preserving Professor Lagundoye’s legacy honours not only an individual but also the enduring principles of lifelong learning, integrity, and service excellence.
“This centre is more than a tribute; it is a place for reflection and inspiration that connects generations and reminds us that the pursuit of knowledge and professional excellence is continuous,” he said.
The Vice-Chancellor commended the project engineers, the Lagundoye family, the Department of Radiology, the management of UCH, and the project committee chaired by Professor Ahmed Ahidjo, Chief Medical Director of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, where Professor Lagundoye served as Provost and CMD in the 1980s.
He also congratulated the donors, mentees, and all stakeholders whose vision and perseverance brought the project to fruition, describing the facility as a beacon that will continue to guide and inspire radiology practice in Nigeria and beyond.
Professor Adebowale further acknowledged the presence of Professor Lagundoye’s family, including his son, Dr. Olawale Lagundoye, a renowned psychiatrist practicing in Nigeria and the United Kingdom, and expressed gratitude to the Lagundoye family for their enduring support.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the S.B. Lagundoye Museum Project Committee and Chief Medical Director of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Professor Ahmed Ahidjo, described the late professor as a leader of impeccable character and uncommon discipline.
He said the commissioning ceremony was not merely the unveiling of a physical structure but a celebration of legacy, preservation of history, and immortalisation of excellence.
“Professor Lagundoye was a visionary who laid enduring foundations for radiological practice in Nigeria at a time when medical imaging was still evolving,” Professor Ahidjo said. “He taught, researched, innovated, and set standards that continue to guide the profession today.”
According to him, the museum and library serve as a powerful symbol of Professor Lagundoye’s intellectual discipline, professional integrity, and selfless service, ensuring that future generations connect not only with knowledge but also with the heritage and sacrifices of pioneers who built the institution.
Speaking on the history of the project, Professor Abiodun Adeyinka, Consultant Radiologist at UCH, explained that the S.B. Lagundoye Honours Project Committee was inaugurated in January 2025 by the then Head of Radiology, Professor Godwin Ogbole, following a departmental resolution.
He noted that while the initial plan was to commission the project by October 2025 to coincide with Professor Lagundoye’s birthday, funding constraints necessitated a new completion date of January 2026, aligning with the birthday of his widow, Mrs. Ajike Lagundoye.
Professor Adeyinka disclosed that the project was executed in three phases, covering structural works, installation of displays and commemorative busts, and the provision of electronics, power supply, internet connectivity, and furniture, with strict financial transparency and cost control maintained throughout.
In her welcome address, the Head of the Department of Radiology, Professor Atinuke Agunloye, described Professor Lagundoye as a unique professional whose influence extended far beyond radiology.
She noted that he was the first indigenous Professor and Head of Radiology in Sub-Saharan Africa, a Foundation Fellow of the West African College of Surgeons (FWACS) in 1980, and a mentor loved by staff and students alike.
Professor Agunloye explained that the museum and library transformed Professor Lagundoye’s former office into a serene and welcoming centre for learning and research, serving as a constant reminder of excellence and dedication.
In her tribute, his wife, Mrs. Adejoke Lagundoye, described her late husband as loving, kind, and accommodating, whose friendly nature endeared him to many. She expressed gratitude to the organisers and all contributors to the success of the project.
Also speaking, his son, Dr. Olawale Lagundoye, thanked members of the organising committee and guests for honouring his father, noting that Professor Lagundoye’s contributions would continue to strengthen medical practice in Nigeria.
The ceremony featured a guided tour of the museum and library facility by dignitaries and guests.
Professor Sulaiman Botsende Lagundoye passed away in July 2020. The commissioning ceremony attracted dignitaries, faculty members of the Department of Radiology, medical professionals, and other guests from across the country.
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