By Otitoju Femi and Osesusi Olubukola
The Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences (BMS), Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, hosted its 3rd Faculty Lecture alongside the official flag-off of its maiden Medical Outreach Programme, reinforcing the institution’s commitment to preventive healthcare, public health advocacy, and community service.
The event, themed “The Burden of Non-Communicable Diseases Among the Working Class: Medical Laboratories to the Rescue,” was held at the Faculty of Social Sciences Auditorium, Phase III, Oye Campus, and attracted academics, health professionals, students, and invited guests from within and outside the university community.
As part of the programme, the Faculty unveiled its maiden medical outreach initiative, designed to provide health screening, early disease detection, and public health awareness on non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The outreach is scheduled to run from January 14 to 23, 2026, at the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Oye Campus.
FUOYE Reaffirms Commitment to Preventive Healthcare
Speaking at the event, the Provost of the College of Medicine, Professor Olusola Atilade Adeeyo, who represented the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina, described the programme as a strategic component of FUOYE’s mission to advance community-oriented healthcare and multidisciplinary collaboration.
According to him, “This programme is part of the university’s deliberate efforts to deepen public health awareness, promote preventive healthcare, and expand community engagement through medical science and multidisciplinary collaboration.”
Professor Adeeyo further noted that the initiative underscores FUOYE’s dedication to community service, health education, and the strategic role of medical laboratory sciences in tackling non-communicable diseases, particularly among Nigeria’s working population.
He encouraged staff and students to remain calm, hopeful, and actively engaged, assuring them that the initiative would have lasting positive impacts. “At the end of the day, participants will not remain the same,” he assured.
Delivering the faculty lecture, the guest lecturer, Professor I. O. Omotosho, Head of the Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, University of Ibadan, provided an extensive and data-driven analysis of the growing burden of non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancers, and chronic respiratory conditions, particularly among Nigeria’s working class.
Professor Omotosho described NCDs as one of the most pressing public health challenges of the 21st century, noting that their chronic, progressive, and often silent nature makes them particularly dangerous.
“Unlike communicable diseases, non-communicable diseases develop gradually and often remain undiagnosed for long periods. This makes their impact especially severe among the working population, who are the most economically productive segment of society,” he explained.
The guest lecturer identified several factors responsible for the rising prevalence of NCDs among workers, including sedentary work routines, unhealthy diets, psychosocial stress, delayed health screening, and urban lifestyles. He stressed that these conditions have profound socioeconomic consequences, such as increased healthcare costs, reduced productivity, absenteeism, and loss of skilled manpower.
Emphasising the pivotal role of laboratory medicine, Professor Omotosho described Medical Laboratory Scientists as the backbone of early detection, accurate diagnosis, and long-term monitoring of non-communicable diseases.
“Routine biochemical and laboratory investigations often reveal hidden metabolic abnormalities long before symptoms appear. Early detection through laboratory testing remains the most effective strategy for reducing the burden of NCDs,” he stated.
He further advocated for the integration of laboratory-based screening into workplace health programmes, noting that periodic employee health checks could significantly reduce disease burden and support evidence-based occupational health policies.
Professor Omotosho acknowledged the contributions of his students and research collaborators over the past two decades and expressed gratitude to FUOYE for the invitation.
“I commend Dr. Ajayi and his team for the honour of this assignment and for their commitment to advancing medical science and public health,” he said.
In his vote of thanks, the faculty Officer of the. College, Comrade Olufemi Akinropo expressed appreciation to the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina, for his unwavering support for the College of Medicine. He also thanked the guest lecturer for delivering what he described as an “insightful and impactful lecture,” and commended the Provost, Professor Olusola Adeeyo, for his leadership and dedication to the growth of the college.
Comrade Akinropo further acknowledged the efforts of Dr. D. D. Ajayi for successfully coordinating both the faculty lecture and the medical outreach, while appreciating staff members, dignitaries from the Faculty of Social Sciences, and students for their active participation.
The event concluded with a renewed call for sustained investment in laboratory services, preventive healthcare, and public health education as critical tools for safeguarding the health, productivity, and economic stability of Nigeria’s workforce.
