By Aderogba Georg
The Association of Resident Doctors, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (ARD-UATH) branch, has elected Dr Adewale Adeleye, popularly known as ‘Premiere’, as its president.
Premiere, who defeated his closest rival, Dr Wisdom Njoku, with 115 votes to 80, will lead the association from December 2024 to December 2025.
Other elected members of the executive council include Dr Eno-Abasi Etuk as Vice President, Dr Aisha Abdulahi as General Secretary, and Dr Abubakar Aliyu as Assistant General Secretary.
Also elected are Dr Adebanjo Temitope as Treasurer, Dr Ameh Sunday as Financial Secretary, and Dr Alao-Victor Opeyemi as Welfare Officer.
The cabinet also includes Dr Ogunfowokan Oluwasegun as Public Relations Officer, Dr Abah Ochigbo (the immediate past president) as Ex-officio 1, and Dr Wisdom Njoku as Ex-officio 2.
In his acceptance speech, Premiere expressed his gratitude to the members of ARD-UATH for entrusting him with the honour and privilege of serving as president for the next year.
“I am overwhelmed by the trust and confidence placed in me to lead the association forward,” he said, extending his heartfelt gratitude to the outgoing executive for its dedication and sacrifice.
“You have steered this association with integrity and a deep commitment to our shared goals by raising the bar astronomically. Your legacy will always be a guiding light as we chart a new course for ARD-UATH”.
He also commended his opponent’s courage and passion, urging him to continue contributing to the growth and development of the association.
Premiere described the election as more than just a contest, calling it a “celebration of collective commitment” to the association’s mission and vision.
“Your contributions and energy during the campaign have inspired me, and I assure you that your voices will always be valued as we move forward within the association.
“As I step into this role, I pledge to serve with integrity, humility, and an unyielding dedication to the cause and course of developing ARD-UATH.
“I am committed to fostering a culture of inclusiveness, mutual respect, professionalism, advocacy, genuine care, and transparency (IMPACT), which is my agenda.
“Our association’s strength lies in its members, and I will ensure that every voice is heard, every idea is valued, and every effort is recognised. As we all know, a tree cannot make a forest; everyone’s contribution put together will make a whole”.
Premiere further pledged to build on the foundations laid by his predecessors and take ARD-UATH to new heights.
Earlier, in his handover notes, the outgoing president, Dr Abah Ochigbo, highlighted the achievements of his administration, stating that it delivered on its campaign promises of improving the welfare of ARD-UATH members.
“According to Helen Keller, the welfare of each is bound in the welfare of all. To this end, over the last year, we have tactfully and deliberately focused attention on the welfare of all our members.
“We secured an alternative power source for our lounge through the installation of the solar inverter donated to us by our benefactor, Dr Charles Ugwuanyi.
“We also renovated sections of our lounge and secretariat, giving the secretariat a new look.
“Our greatest achievement in the last year has been deliberately repositioning our association to be truly responsive to the needs and welfare of all members, making membership more attractive,” he said.
NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA