The Dean, School of Dentistry, University of Benin (UNIBEN), who is the incoming Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Prof. Idia Ize-Iyamu, on Thursday charged alumni of the institution to commit to the development of their alma mater as a way of giving back to the society.
Prof. Ize-Iyamu made the remarks in Benin, while delivering the opening address at the 14th annual scientific conference/10th distinguished lecture series and alumni reunion of the School of Dentistry, University of Benin, with the theme: “Oral health in Africa: The state of affairs, emerging trends, and future prospects.”
Prof. Ize-Iyamu, who said this year’s conference theme, was carefully chosen to embrace the community, appreciated a distinguished alumnus, Prof. Christopher Okunseri of Marquette University, USA, for his unwavering support for the University and the School of Dentistry over the years.
The university don said alumni play a very important role in their alma mater, and urged the alumni of the institution to engage with the school of dentistry in the needs assessment and identify landmark projects for expansion, quality in teaching, training, and mentorship as part of their corporate social responsibility.
“In my six months as dean, alumni have assisted the school in the acquisition of equipment, provision of an 18-seater Toyota Hiace bus, dental loupes, rotary endodontic handpieces, mobile dental units, books, journals, computer training of non-academic staff, and renovations of the school of dentistry transcript room, BUDSA office and Students’ classroom.
“As part of our corporate social responsibility as a school, we also gave back to the academic community by carrying out a free oral health outreach and treatment programme at the faculty of law on the 13th of August 2025.
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“I am grateful to our volunteers, donors, sponsors, and students who were there in large numbers as a team, working together to make it successful,” Prof Ize-Iyamu said.
Prof. Ize-Iyamu, who reiterated the need for research and funding in the health sector, said that research plays a large and major role in any university.
“To inculcate a culture of research, prizes have been instituted for research, diligence, and specialty in our annual scientific conference, namely the Prof. Obuekwe prize for both undergraduate and postgraduate research with a prize award of $100 and the NDA award for the best-case report in dentistry with a prize of N100,000,” she disclosed.
Also speaking, Prof. Christopher Okunseri said oral health remains a low priority in many African countries, which undermines prevention, treatment, and oral health promotion.
