The Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), Tunji Olaopa, has praised the founder of Nisa Premier Hospital, Ibrahim Wada, for his contributions to addressing infertility through In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF).
Speaking during a courtesy visit to Dr. Wada in Abuja on Friday, Olaopa described himself as a long-time admirer of the renowned medical practitioner, recalling that Wada gained national recognition in 1999 when Nisa Premier Hospital successfully recorded an IVF birth.
Olaopa said the importance of Wada’s contributions to reproductive medicine could be better appreciated when viewed against the stigma and societal pressure faced by women dealing with infertility in Nigeria.
“If one appreciates the stigma around infertility and the societal pressures it has created for women in Nigeria, it would be clear why the vision and contributions of Dr. Wada and his colleagues to reproductive medicine are so widely celebrated,” he said.
The FCSC chairman also recounted an earlier interaction with Dr. Wada and his wife, Mrs. Rabi Wada, noting that the encounter further deepened his respect and admiration for the couple.
“It is pursuant to that mission that I have made today’s courtesy call to Nisa Premier Hospital to pay my respect to a medical icon indeed, Dr. Ibrahim Wada,” Olaopa added, while encouraging the hospital founder to take a more active role in policy formulation and advocacy within the health sector.
Responding, Dr. Wada, alongside the hospital’s Group Managing Director, Moses Shuaibu, and Managing Director, Nonso Ogbueifi, expressed appreciation for the visit.
Shuaibu said the hospital remained committed to actualising Wada’s vision but stressed the need for stronger government support in areas such as electricity supply and taxation, noting that rising operational challenges were affecting healthcare delivery.
