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The Global Sponsor A Student Programme (GSASP) is an initiative of the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan (CoMUI), in partnership with the Ibadan College of Medicine Alumni Association – Worldwide (ICOMAA-WW). The programme aims to provide financial support to medical students of the University of Ibadan who face significant economic challenges, ensuring that financial constraints do not prevent them from achieving their dreams of becoming graduates of the Ibadan medical school.

GSASP covers essential needs such as tuition, accommodation, health professional training levy, and personal upkeep. This sponsorship enables students to focus on their studies without the constant worry of how to afford basic necessities. The programme is a lifeline for students from low-income families, orphans, and those facing difficult living conditions, who might otherwise be forced to abandon their education.

Since its inception, GSASP has supported over 229 students, and under the guidance of the College leadership, it continues to expand and thrive. The programme not only helps students stay in school but also empowers them to excel academically, with many recipients maintaining distinctions.

The Global Sponsor-A-Student Programme (GSASP) is built on a strong foundation of impact and sustainability, guided by its ACEIT mission — Awareness, Continuity, Empowerment, Inspiring Trust, and Transparency. Through increased awareness fostered by community involvement and active engagement with alumni and scholars, the programme continues to grow in reach and relevance. Its commitment to continuity is reflected in the deliberate effort to build upon existing structures. At the core of GSASP is empowerment — providing mentorship that extends support beyond financial aid. The programme also seeks to inspire a culture of giving back among scholars, encouraging them to uplift others. Underpinning all of these efforts is a steadfast dedication to trust and transparency, ensuring that every action is grounded in openness, integrity, and accountability.

History of SASP → GSASP evolution

The Sponsor A Student Programme (SASP) was established during the tenure of the 12th Provost of the College of Medicine, Professor Olayinka Omigbodun FAS, in response to the growing financial struggles of medical students at CoMUI. It was designed to assist students facing severe financial difficulties, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds such as orphans and children from low-income households.

In the early days, SASP was primarily focused on providing funds for tuition and basic living expenses. The programme was a success, as it prevented students from dropping out and allowed them to stay in school, often helping with daily meals, sanitary items, and data for educational purposes. This support has made a huge difference, and it is with great pride that we share that no student who has benefitted from SASP has ever dropped out due to financial hardship.
However, as the need for support grew and the visioner exited as Provost, it became clear that the programme needed to expand and be sustained. This led to the evolution of SASP into the Global Sponsor A Student Programme (GSASP). The rebranding to GSASP was not just a name change, it marked a new phase with global involvement, where alumni and other supporters from around the world could get involved. GSASP now covers a wider range of support, including tuition, accommodation, health fees, and personal upkeep, ensuring that students have the resources they need to focus on their studies and succeed.
With this evolution, GSASP is not only continuing the work of SASP, but it has become a more robust and far-reaching programme, giving hope to students and their families and creating opportunities for future doctors who might never have had the chance to pursue their education.

Global Sponsor-A-Student Programme Board Members

The GSASP Board as currently constituted includes Dr. Olabisi Oshikanlu (MBBS Class of 1985), who serves as the Chairperson, and Professor Olubukola Adesina (MBBS Class of 1991) as the Co-Chairperson. They are joined by a team of dedicated alumni, including representatives from ICOMAA chapters in North America, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Nigeria. These individuals bring a wealth of experience and a shared vision of uplifting the medical school and its students. Below are full profiles of the board members:

Dr Olabisi Oshikanlu

GSASP Chairperson
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Prof. Olubukola A. Adesina

GSASP Co-chairperson
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Dr Omofolarin Shitta-Bey

GSASP Board Member
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Olabisi Pearse (MD, FAAP, MBBS)

GSASP Board Member
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Dr. Adebanji Adeyoju

GSASP Board Member
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Dr. Bosede Adebayo

GSASP Secretary
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Dr. Gbolahan Oladele Obajimi

GSASP Board Member
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Dr. Jumi Banjo

GSASP Board Member
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Dr. Akinsola Akinbiyi

GSASP Secretary
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Dr. Adebola Hassan

GSASP Board Member
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Mr. Idowu Lawanson

GSASP Board Member
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Admin Support Staffs

Dr. Lola Victoria Akinnitere

GSASP Support Staff
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Eunice Umoren

GSASP Support Staff
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Mary Aladelua

GSASP Accountant
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Temidayo Olusade Ogundiran

Provost of College of Medicine UI
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Prof. Samuel Ilenre Omokhodion

President of ICOMAA Worldwide
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Dr Olabisi Oshikanlu

Dr. Olabisi Oshikanlu, member of the graduating MBBS Class of 1985, University of Ibadan, FAAP, MBA, CPE, is an esteemed medical doctor, certified physician executive, and MBA graduate. She is the newly appointed Chairperson of the Global Sponsor A Student Programme (G-SASP). She is a Medical Director of the Special Investigations Unit at Aetna-CVS, USA. Dr. Oshikanlu has significant experience in healthcare leadership, having founded Shalom Clinic for Children in 1996.
She is a John Maxwell-certified coach, speaker, and trainer. Dr. Oshikanlu’s commitment to education is demonstrated through her involvement with the Empowered for Greatness Foundation, which sponsors medical and law students at Olabisi Onabanjo University and Cecilia Oshikanlu scholars at the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan. Her expertise, leadership, and philanthropic work have significantly impacted the healthcare and education sectors.

Prof. Olubukola A. Adesina

Professor Olubukola A. Adesina, a graduate of the MBBS Class of 1991 from the University of Ibadan, is the Co-Chairperson of the Global Sponsor A Student Programme (G-SASP). She is an alumna of Government College Agege, Lagos, where she served as Head Prefect, she was admitted to the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan in 1985, winning awards for her excellence in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. After completing her internship at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan (1991-1992), she served at the Specialist Hospital, Sokoto, and later worked at a private hospital in Lagos (1993-1995).
In 1995, she began her residency in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at UCH, completing it in 2002. She then managed the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV program under the HARVARD-APIN program (2002-2004). Appointed Lecturer I at the University of Ibadan’s College of Medicine in 2004, she achieved the rank of Professor in 2019.
Professor Adesina has held numerous roles, including congregation representative to the Senate, Faculty representative to the UCH/UI ethics committee, Chairman of the COMUI student welfare committee, Deputy Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee at UCH, Chairman of the Undergraduate Departmental Committee, and Chairperson of the Society of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of Nigeria (SOGON) Western Sector. She is married with children.

Dr. Omofolarin Shitta-Bey

Dr. Omofolarin Shitta-Bey, MBBS (Ibadan 1986), MPH, MBA, is a seasoned healthcare executive and successful entrepreneur with a diverse background in aviation consulting, public health, and corporate finance from George Washington University (MPH) and the Johns Hopkins University (MBA). Dr. Shitta-Bey has demonstrated exceptional leadership and expertise, serving as a Board Member of the Global Sponsor A Student Programme (G-SASP) and a director on several boards. His contributions to the healthcare and business sectors have made him a valuable asset to the communities and organizations he serves.

Olabisi Pearse

Olabisi Pearse, MD, FAAP, MBBS (CoMUI 1987 Alumnus), is a distinguished medical professional and dedicated Board Member of Global Sponsor A Student Programme (G-SASP). She has also served as ex-officio member and former secretary of ICOMAA. Dr. Pearse’s dedication to quality healthcare is evident in her positions as Area Practice Director for Urgent Care at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Chair of the Clinical Care committee. As a Quality Champion, she has demonstrated her commitment to patient safety and throughput, applying her expertise and leadership to drive improvements in these areas and become an essential contributor to the organizations she serves.
Dr. Adeyoju specializes in non-surgical and minimally-invasive endoscopic surgery for prostate enlargement and urinary tract stones, and he pioneered laparoscopic surgery for upper urinary tract conditions in North-west England. He was the Clinical Director of Urology from November 2011 to February 2018. He has significantly contributed to the field through teaching, training, and committee involvement, including serving on the executive committee of the British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS) and the question-writing committee for the FRCS(Urol.) examination.
Dr. Adeyoju has published over 45 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters and served as the editor of yearbooks for the Ibadan Medical Specialists Group (IMSG-UK). He is the immediate past President and current IMSG-UK representative on the Sponsor a Student committee. He has actively supported the College of Medicine, Ibadan, for over two decades. Dr. Adeyoju is married to Dr. Olubunmi Adeyoju, and they have two sons who are both medical graduates.
His accolades include several Clinical Excellence Awards and a Medal Award for 1st position in the FRCSI exam (1992). He has published over 45 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters and served as the editor of yearbooks for the Ibadan Medical Specialists Group (IMSG-UK). Dr. Adeyoju is the immediate past President of IMSG-UK and current IMSG-UK representative on the Sponsor a Student committee. He is married to Dr. Olubunmi Adeyoju, and they have two medical graduate sons.

Dr. Adebanji Adeyoju

Dr. Adebanji Adeyoju graduated from the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, in 1988. He completed his house job at University College Hospital, Ibadan (1988-89), and pursued surgical training in Dublin, Ireland, before advancing to higher surgical training in Urology in the North-west of England, which he completed in 2002. Since October 2002, he has been a Consultant Urological Surgeon at Stepping Hill Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, providing services across multiple hospitals.

Dr. Bosede Adebayo

Dr. Bosede Adebayo is a graduate of CoMUI MBSS Class of 2000. She is a passionate Paediatric Cardiologist committed to the health and well-being of children.
Dedicated to improving pediatric health, Dr. Adebayo is a lecturer and coordinator of undergraduate medical students at the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan. A Fellow of the National Postgraduate College of Paediatrics, she is also an honorary consultant at the University College Hospital, Ibadan. Dr. Adebayo is deeply involved in the Global – Sponsor, a student programme (G-SASP) board of the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, serving as its secretary.

Dr. Obajimi pursued a Sub-Specialist program in Assisted Reproduction at Nordica Fertility Centre, Lagos, in 2008, and completed a Mini-Fellowship at McGill University, Canada, in 2011. He worked at Reddington Multi-Specialist Hospital before becoming a Lecturer I at the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, and an Honorary Consultant at UCH in August 2012. He was promoted to Senior Lecturer in October 2018.
Dr. Obajimi has published over 60 papers and book chapters, focusing on infertility, assisted conception, and gynaecological endoscopy. He has participated in over 2000 IVF cycles and has research interests in andrology and reproductive endocrinology. He is a member of numerous professional associations, including the Nigerian Medical Association, Society for Gynaecology and Obstetrics in Nigeria, and the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology.
Dr. Obajimi enjoys traveling, listening to music, and swimming. He is a visiting consultant to several health institutions and an examiner with the West African College of Surgeons. He has held various administrative roles, including General Secretary and Vice-Chairman of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association, UCH Chapter. He is currently the Sub-Dean Undergraduate of the MBBS program at the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan. He is happily married to Dr. Olukemi Obajimi, and they have two children, Toluwanimi and Kanyinsola.

Dr. Gbolahan Oladele Obajimi

Dr. Gbolahan Oladele Obajimi, of the CoMUI MBBS Class of 2000, is the Secretary-General of ICOMAA Worldwide. He graduated from the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, in November 2000 and completed his internship at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan. He participated in the National Youth Service Corps at the National Hospital, Abuja, and began his residency in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at UCH in October 2002, earning the Fellowship of the West African College of Surgeons in April 2008. He also holds a master’s degree in Population and Reproductive Health.

Dr. Jumi Banjo

Dr. Jumi Banjo is a member of the MBBS Graduating Class of 1990. She is a dedicated Consultant Psychiatrist at Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane, Australia, and a Senior Lecturer at the University of Queensland. With her extensive experience in General Adult Psychiatry and passion for education, Dr. Banjo has become an invaluable asset to both the healthcare and academic sectors

Dr. Akinsola Akinbiyi

Dr. Akinsola Akinbiyi is of the MBBS Class of 1990 and represents the ICOMAA Australia & New Zealand chapter. Dr. Akinsola Akinbiyi is a dedicated psychiatrist with over 30 years of experience, specialising in adult and cross-cultural psychiatry. He holds fellowship qualifications from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (FRANZCP) and the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (FMCPsych).

Currently, Dr. Akinbiyi serves as a Consultant Psychiatrist at Mercy Mental Health, Wallace Avenue Specialists Suite, and Wyndham Clinic Private Hospital, where he also directs the Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) program. Additionally, he is an Adjunct Lecturer at the University of Notre Dame Australia. His previous roles include Staff Psychiatrist, Clozapine Consultant, and Director of ECT at Mercy Mental Health.

Dr. Akinbiyi is committed to mentoring and supporting the next generation of medical professionals. He is the President of the Ibadan College of Medicine Alumni Association Australia/New Zealand (ICOMAA AUS/NZ) and the Director of the Foundation at the Rotary Club of Wyndham Harbour. His leadership and dedication to mental health care and medical education have made a significant impact on both his community and the broader medical field.

Dr. Adebola Hassan

Dr. Adebola Hassan, CoMUI MBSS Class of 2002, is a highly accomplished Public Health Executive and Global Health leader. As the Title V MCH Director for the state of Illinois, USA, she applies her expertise to improve public health outcomes.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Dr. Hassan dedicates her time to various voluntary roles, including serving as chair of the POUCH ’98 scholarship committee and Upwardly Global. She is a self-described “family enthusiast,” and she also enjoys gardening.

Mr. Idowu Lawanson

Mr. Idowu Lawanson graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from the University of Ilorin and a Master’s degree in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Ibadan. Since then, he has built a distinguished career in the chemical industry. After starting his career as a lecturer, he joined the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), retiring as Manager of Supply Chain Management

Dr. Lola Victoria Akinnitere

Dr. Olabisi Oshikanlu, member of the graduating MBBS Class of 1985, University of Ibadan, FAAP, MBA, CPE, is an esteemed medical doctor, certified physician executive, and MBA graduate. She is the newly appointed Chairperson of the Global Sponsor A Student Programme (G-SASP). She is a Medical Director of the Special Investigations Unit at Aetna-CVS, USA. Dr. Oshikanlu has significant experience in healthcare leadership, having founded Shalom Clinic for Children in 1996.

Eunice Umoren

Eunice Umoren is a dedicated and results-driven administrator with over four years of experience supporting the Global Sponsor-A-Student Programme (G-SASP). She currently serves at the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan. Eunice holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Ibadan and is a certified Child and Adolescent Mental Health Professional. Passionate about helping young people develop a healthy sense of self, she combines her strong administrative skills with a deep commitment to youth development and well-being.

Mary Aladelua

With over 15 years of experience in banking operations, Mary Aladelua excels in diverse finance roles, including Finance Team Member on Centre for Child and Adolescents Mental Health grants, Accountant on Global Sponsor a Student Programme, and Ibadan College of Medicine Alumni Association Hostel Project at the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan. Holding a B.Sc. in Accounting from Ekiti State University (formerly University of Ado-Ekiti), Mary brings a strong work ethic, attention to details, and problem-solving skills to her finance and administrative responsibilities.

He received further academic and professional training among which are the Final FRCS Course at Caithness General Hospital, Wick, Scotland (1999); a full semester studentship in Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, USA (2001), the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) training in Molecular Biology in Clinical Oncology at the University of Colorado, Aspen, USA (2006); Oncology preceptorship at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, all in Boston, USA (2006), MacArthur Foundation Fellowship Cancer molecular biology training at the Cancer Signaling Unit, Department of Clinical Oncology, Chinese University of Hong Kong (2007); Wellcome Trust Advanced Course on Genomic Epidemiology in Africa, KEMRI/Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya (2010), and Breast cancer clinical observer program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre, New York City, USA (2013). In 2003/2004, he utilized a Fogarty International Fellowship to obtain a Master of Health Science degree in Bioethics from the Joint Centre for Bioethics, Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Canada.

Dr. Ogundiran’s interests are in Surgery, Oncology and Bioethics. His main research focus is on genetics of breast cancer in Blacks. He collaborated with Dr. Funmi Olopade of the University of Chicago USA to explore the roles that genetics and environmental factors play in breast-cancer risk in Nigerian women and in women of African ancestry. They further correlated their work with findings in women of European and Asian extractions and developed a breast cancer risk-prediction model for Sub-Sahara Africa that can identify high-risk individuals for targeted screening and follow-up.

Dr. Ogundiran is a foundation member of the West African Bioethics (WAB) Training Program, an NIH-funded initiative, now called Center for Bioethics and Research, Nigeria. He is the Academic Director of the Center to date. The WAB established a postgraduate program in Bioethics in 2007 at the University of Ibadan, which has grown into a full Department of Bioethics and Medical Humanities with Dr. Ogundiran serving as its first Head of Department.

He has contributed to more than 125 book chapters and journal articles, has a Google Scholar citation of 5585, h-index of 38 and i10-index of 73 as at September 2025. He has received many scholarships and awards, supervised over 30 postgraduate and fellowship research projects, and has contributed to the training of more than 20 General Surgeons. He was promoted full Professor of Surgery in 2014.

Dr. Ogundiran has served on many academic, professional and editorial committees locally and internationally. He was a co-winner of the 2018 Nigerian Academy of Science Gold Medal Prize in Life Sciences, and a recipient of the Academy’s Fellowship in 2024. He is the immediate past Dean of the Faculty of Clinical Sciences and the current Provost of the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan.

Temidayo Olusade Ogundiran

MBBS (Ibadan), MHSc (Toronto), Cert. Epid & Global Health (Dundee), FWACS, FRCS (Edinburgh), FACS, FAMedS, FAS

Provost of College of Medicine UI

Temidayo Olusade Ogundiran attended the University of Ibadan and graduated MBBS with a prize in Medicine in 1988. He won a University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan prize as one of the two Best House Officers of the year 1988/89. Thereafter, he trained in General Surgery at the UCH Ibadan and became a fellow of the West African College of Surgeons (WACS) in 1996, the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 1999, and the American College of Surgeons in 2011.

Professor Omokhodion obtained his MBBS degree from the University of Ibadan in 1977 and went on to complete postgraduate training in Paediatrics and Paediatric Cardiology at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, earning both the Fellowship of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (FMCPaed) and the West African College of Physicians (FWACP). His advanced training took him across the globe, including the University of Amsterdam, Hadassah University Hospital (Hebrew University, Jerusalem), and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, United Kingdom. He holds several prestigious fellowships and honours, including FNCS, DSc (Honoris Causa), MD, and FNAMed.

His area of specialisation is Paediatric Cardiology, with special interests in Childhood Myocardial Biomarkers, Childhood Heart Failure, Interventional Cardiology, Echocardiography, and Cardiovascular Imaging, as well as the epidemiology of paediatric structural heart diseases. He is credited with developing the Ibadan Childhood Heart Failure Severity Scoring System, a pioneering tool in paediatric cardiology.

Professor Omokhodion’s visionary leadership led to the establishment of the proposed Centre for Cardiovascular Diseases at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, a 100-bed facility designed as a one-stop centre for cardiovascular care across the lifespan. He also pioneered the Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, University of Ibadan, which serves as a research and training hub housing a Clinical Trial Unit. Under his leadership, several postgraduate programmes were developed, including MSc Cardiac Rehabilitation and MSc Geriatric Cardiovascular Sciences, with others in progress.

In 1998, he founded the Save a Child’s Heart Nigeria Initiative, a not-for-profit organisation that facilitated access to life-saving open-heart surgeries for over 700 children and adults in collaboration with hospitals in Israel, India, and Ghana. His advocacy and fundraising efforts significantly contributed to the revival of open-heart surgery at the University College Hospital, Ibadan.

Throughout his illustrious career, Professor Omokhodion has held numerous academic and professional leadership positions. He has served as Head of the Department of Paediatrics (Acting Head, 1998 to 2000; Head, 2011 to 2015), Secretary General of the Nigerian Cardiac Society (2002 to 2006), and Secretary General of the Pan African Society of Cardiology (PASCAR) (2004 to 2014). He later became Chairman of the Pan African Network of Paediatric Cardiologists (2009 to 2015) and Member of the Governing Council of PASCAR (2013 to 2017).

He is the Pioneer Director of the Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases (since 2018) and Chair of the Cardiovascular Team at UCH. He currently serves as Chair of the Paediatric Cardiology Training and Examinations Committee of the West African College of Physicians and was recently appointed to the Court of Governors of the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan (2025). In November 2024, he was elected President of the Ibadan College of Medicine Alumni Association Worldwide (ICOMAA WW).

A seasoned mentor, Professor Omokhodion has supervised and mentored 37 Fellowship candidates to successful dissertation defence, seven of whom are now Professors. He has authored or co-authored over 110 peer-reviewed scientific papers, 15 book chapters, and several scholarly monographs, including a Handbook on Childhood Heart Failure. He also served as Editor in Chief of Paediatric Cardiology in the Tropics and Sub-Tropics (2020) and continues as Deputy Editor in Chief of the Nigerian Journal of Cardiology.

Beyond academia, Professor Omokhodion is deeply committed to community and spiritual service. Since 2002, he has served as a Senior Pastor and Chaplain at the University College Hospital, Ibadan Christ’s Chapel, and chairs the UCH Chaplaincy Services Committee.

His hobbies include photography, swimming, travelling, and reading about historical and archaeological discoveries.

Prof. Samuel Ilenre Omokhodion

President of ICOMAA Worldwide

Emeritus Professor Samuel Ilenre Omokhodion is a distinguished Paediatric Cardiologist and academic leader with a career spanning over four decades at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. He was promoted to the rank of Professor on 1 October 2006 and retired on 9 March 2023, after nineteen years as a Professor, all of which were spent at the University of Ibadan. In February 2025, he was appointed Emeritus Professor of Paediatrics.