UBTH REAWAKENS A DREAM: HOW PROF. IDIA IZE-IYAMU REVIVED A FORGOTTEN OXYGEN PROJECT AND TURNED IT INTO A NATIONAL MODEL
A remarkable story of renewal is unfolding at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH).
After more than 2 years of abandonment, the hospital’s Liquid Oxygen (LOX) project has been revived and completed under the visionary leadership of Professor Idia Nibokun Ize-Iyamu, Chief Medical Director of UBTH.
On October 24, 2025, UBTH received 10 tons of medical-grade liquid oxygen, marking the full activation of a once-forgotten facility. What had long stood as a symbol of neglect has now become a model of efficiency, integrity, and purpose.
The Federal Government, impressed by the transformation, recognized UBTH’s excellence by channeling its Global Fund-supported oxygen supply initiative through the hospital. The delivery, coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Health’s Oxygen Desk with support from NACA, CHAI, and APEX Gas, represents about 700 large oxygen cylinders, securing the hospital’s oxygen needs for critical and emergency care.
Beyond infrastructure, this milestone reflects the CMD’s hallmark of decisive leadership and her unwavering commitment to institutional excellence. Under her stewardship, UBTH has evolved into a beacon of innovation and accountability, attracting national recognition and global confidence.
The revived LOX system now complements the hospital’s two existing oxygen plants, creating a robust, cost-efficient, and sustainable oxygen network that strengthens patient care and operational efficiency.
UBTH’s transformation under Prof. Idia Ize-Iyamu’s leadership demonstrates how visionary governance can restore abandoned projects, rebuild public confidence, and redefine standards in Nigeria’s healthcare sector.
From neglect to national relevance, the UBTH Liquid Oxygen project stands as a symbol of what is possible when leadership meets purpose- a legacy of service, excellence, and renewal.
_Efosa Uhunamure writes from Uwelu, in Egor Local Government Area._
