OAU Student Launches Book, Hosts Symposium and Birthday Celebration

Benjamin Oluwakasayo Emmanuel

On April 23, 2025, the College of Health Sciences at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) held an event that combined a book launch, a symposium, and a birthday celebration. The event was organized by Sunday Osuntoye, a final-year medical student and author of the newly published book, An Epistle to Medical Students: Making the Most of the Long Years. The gathering included medical students, lecturers, and professors from different departments in the college.

The program started with an opening prayer led by Emmanuel Owowolu, a 600-level medical student. After the prayer, Sunday Osuntoye gave the welcome address, explaining the purpose of the event and how he wrote the book. The foreword, written by Dr. Olalekan Olasehinde, a well-known consultant general surgeon and researcher at OAUTHC, was read in his absence by Monisola Adejumobi, a 100-level medical student.

Several students then reviewed different chapters of the book. Precious Salako covered chapters one and two, "Understanding Time and Seasons" and "The Foundation Years." John Faniran reviewed chapters three and four, "The Medical School Through a New Lens" and "The Paradox of Plenty and No Time." Gideon Aduroja presented chapters five and six, "The Path to Fulfillment" and "Carpe Diem – Making the Most of the Years." Adeola Abe reviewed chapters seven and eight, "Discovering Purpose" and "Applying Our Hearts Unto Wisdom." Oluwagbeminiyi Ajeleti finished with chapters nine and ten, "Better is the End of a Thing" and "Physician, Heal Thyself."

The present guests included Prof. A.O. Salako, Dean of Clinical Sciences, who represented the Provost of the College of Health Sciences; Prof. T.A. Esan, Dean of Dentistry; Prof. A.O. Ijarotimi, who was recently announced as the first female professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at OAU; and Dr. Collins Adumah, a consultant pediatric surgeon and chairman of the CMDA OAUTHC Doctors' Arm.

During the symposium, invited speakers gave goodwill messages encouraging students to focus on their goals and manage their time well.

After the formal sessions, friends and colleagues held a birthday celebration for Sunday Osuntoye, the birthday celebrant. The event ended with a vote of thanks from Sunday Osuntoye, who encouraged everyone to find their purpose and live productive lives.