5th Emeritus Prof. Festus Aghagbo Nwako Memorial Lecture
5th Emeritus Prof. Festus Aghagbo Nwako Memorial Lecture
The annual memorial lecture in honour of Emeritus Professor Festus Aghagbo Nwako — affectionately known as "Obata-Obie" — stands as one of Nigeria's most distinguished medical and academic gatherings. Now in its fifth edition, the series convenes leading surgeons, academics, and healthcare administrators to continue the intellectual tradition that Prof. Nwako himself embodied throughout his extraordinary career.
Prof. Nwako trained in Ireland in the late 1950s and early 1960s, returned to Nigeria to build paediatric surgery as a discipline, and went on to lead both the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital and Nnamdi Azikiwe University as Vice Chancellor. His legacy is one of institution-building, clinical excellence, and unflinching commitment to medical education.
Each lecture in the series invites a distinguished guest speaker to present on contemporary issues in surgery, public health, or academic medicine — areas where Prof. Nwako's influence is most deeply felt. The 2024 edition continues this tradition, drawing together scholars and practitioners from across West Africa.
The people behind the lecture
Documents, PDF & Video
Access the official lecture recording, PDF proceedings, and supplementary documents from the 5th Memorial Lecture, 2024.
Full Recording — 5th Memorial Lecture 2024
Watch the complete recorded lecture. The recording covers the opening proceedings, guest lecture presentation, panel discussion, and closing remarks.
Lecture Proceedings & Abstract
Citation of 5th Emeritus Prof. Festus Aghagbo Nwako Memorial Lecture
Download PDFOfficial Biography
The full academic citation published for the memorial lecture series, covering Prof. Nwako's career from 1940 to emeritus status in 2005.
View CitationPicture Gallery
Photographs from the event. Click any image to enlarge.
Download the full citation
The official biography and citation of Emeritus Prof. Festus Aghagbo Nwako is available as a PDF. It includes his complete academic record, appointments, publications, distinctions, and personal history.
Moments from the event
A curated collection of photographs and audio from the 5th Memorial Lecture, capturing the spirit of the occasion.
A reminiscence
Reflections from colleagues, students and distinguished surgeons whose lives were shaped by Professor Nwako.
Prof. Festus A. Nwako
Teacher • Mentor • Surgeon
I knew Professor Festus Nwako in the mid-seventies as a medical student. Ward rounds with him were unforgettable. He demanded excellence, discipline and compassion in equal measure. His greatest lesson was that medicine is not only about knowledge—it is about humanity. That lesson has guided my professional life ever since.
My next encounter with him was as a resident doctor where I served as his Senior Registrar. Professor Nwako remained a remarkable teacher, mentor and clinician whose influence helped shape paediatric surgery in Nigeria.
His calm leadership, fairness and compassion during difficult clinical situations left lifelong lessons that continue to inspire generations of surgeons.
Professor Roland Iheanyichukwu Osuoji
Professor & Consultant Paediatric Surgeon, Lagos State University College of MedicinePreserving a Legacy. Inspiring the Future.
The Foundation advances Professor Nwako's vision through education, mentorship, research and the annual memorial lecture series.
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