By Ikenna Nwokedi 

Erudite Scholar and Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Professor Joseph Ifeanyi Brian-D Adinma on Thursday, 22nd August 2024 made history once again by delivering his valedictory lecture.

The valedictory lecture with the title, "MY VADE MECUM ON LEADERSHIP AND LEGACIES" held at the University Auditorium was an academic harvest signifying that Prof. Adinma's service to University was about coming to a crescendo.

Declaring the colourful event open, UNIZIK Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Carol Arinze-Umobi described the day as a remarkable moment for celebration and thanksgiving for Prof. Adinma as well as a unique moment in the academic life of the institution judging by his immense academic and administrative contributions to the University and humanity at large.

Prof. Arinze-Umobi who acknowledged that the valedictory lecture is her first official function of this nature informed that Prof. Adinma played a key role in her life as he was the physician who played a pivotal role during her days of child bearing which includes both ante-natal and post-natal cares. The Acting VC encouraged all to sit back and listen to the teacher extraordinary and learn from his wealth of experience in both medical field and leadership positions.

Delivering his lecture, Prof. Adinma defined leadership as the ability of a person or group of persons to mold and mentor followers of a group or team for impactful outcomes. Prof. Adinma adduced that leadership is not necessarily in-born but a skill that is capable of being developed and improved upon overtime while also stating that good and painstaking followership often transforms into good leadership.

Prof. Adinma informed that good followership is characterized by an acronym S cube CISE with S1 being Sense of Duty, S2 being Sense of responsibility, S3 as Self-leadership, C meaning competence, I which stands for Initiative, S translating to Speaking truth to power and E as egolysis. The Consultant Gynecologist stated that in addition to possessing the characteristics of good followership, a good leader should possess characteristics such as patience, perseverance, being exemplary, ability to listen, yearn for excellence, assist, reward, punish and being strategic which he acronymed P Squared E.L.Y.C.A.R.P.S.

The former Anambra Commissioner for Health highlighted the five step process of strategic leadership such as identification of task (vision), current realities, root cause analysis, strategic planning and implementation with accountability.

Prof. Adinma also gave an insight about his leadership positions and contributions at UNIZIK, Anambra State Ministry of Health, Professional bodies and Non-governmental organizations such as SOGON (Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria), AWASOG (Association of West African Societies of Obstetrics and Gynecology) and PAC-NET WH/YDI (PAC-Net Women's Health and Youth Development Initiative) as well as the traditional and religious institutions.

Prof. Adinma concluded by stating that strategic leadership should be predicated on shared vision which should be legacy in nature as every leader or aspiring leader amongst any group should strive towards achieving legacy vision.

The Valedictory Lecture also featured a book review and presentation by Prof. Emeka Ezeama  which was authored by Prof. Adinma with the title, "The Total Woman and Her Man." Prof. Ezeama during the review disclosed that the book has three volumes, the first volume which harped on Woman Features and Fantasies; the Volume 2 on Pregnancy and Child Births while the Volume 3 is about the Life of the more matured woman.

Other highlights of the valedictory lecture were official unveiling of the book by the Acting Vice-Chancellor and the management team, launching of the book, presentation of gift item from the Department of Obstretics and Gynaecology to Prof. Adinma and glowing tributes from top scholars, medical professionals, friends and well-wishers.