The Kogi Elders’ Forum has called on the Federal Government to confirm the Acting Chief Medical Director of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, Dr. Ojochide Sunday Ebune, noting his notable achievements within a short period. The call was made during an advocacy visit to the hospital led by the Forum’s Chairman, Chief J. A. N. Elukpo, Esq., PhD, alongside other members.
Chief Elukpo said the Forum has observed “a renewed sense of purpose and direction” at FTH Lokoja over the past six months under Dr. Ebune’s leadership. He commended the Acting CMD’s vision to build “a reputable institution that is staff‑centric and patient‑focused, delivering quality services, training, and research,” and praised his five core policy thrusts of maintaining uninterrupted services, minimizing redundancy, strengthening operational efficiency, adopting data‑driven decision‑making, and going digital and deploying renewable energy solutions.
The Forum highlighted concrete improvements recorded in the period, including restoring calm and order in the institution, reforms that have enhanced emergency care and response, and upgrades to infrastructure such as solar installations and power backup systems. It noted a renewed prioritization of staff welfare, training, and professional development; enhanced diagnostic capacity with the introduction of a CT scan centre; improved laboratory and radiology services with sustained availability of critical reagents and consumables; and strengthened dialysis services that have increased access to life‑saving treatment.
They further acknowledged the re‑accreditation of training departments for residency programmes and the increase in internship slots, aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda for healthcare, and commended the supportive posture of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo towards improving the health system.
“In light of these gains, we urge the Federal Government to confirm Dr. Ojochide Sunday Ebune as substantive CMD so that these reforms can be consolidated and expanded for the benefit of Kogi State and the nation,” Chief Elukpo stated.
Responding, Dr. Ebune who thanked the Elders forum for the visit and kind words reaffirmed a vision to lead and create a reputable, staff‑centric institution that delivers patient‑focused quality services, training, and research. He said the hospital is aligning and mobilising human and material resources within and outside the facility, while leveraging existing and emerging information and communication technologies to improve outcomes and efficiency.
He explained that the vision is guided by five core policy thrusts: ensuring no disruption of services; minimising redundancy in human and material resources; adopting protocols to enhance system profitability and sustainability; embedding data‑driven decision‑making; and accelerating the transition to renewable energy and digital operations.
Reporting on interventions to date, the Acting CMD highlighted active engagement with stakeholders and union leaders to restore calm, order, and peace in the institution; inspiring top management and departmental heads to align with the hospital’s mandate; major reforms in emergency care and theatre services; steps to reduce stock‑outs of medicines and critical consumables; creation of back‑up systems and an emergency response fund to guarantee uninterrupted services; and donor‑supported installation of solar and power‑backup systems for emergency and operating theatre areas.
He added that orientation and training for new staff and interns have been institutionalised; staff and client welfare have been prioritised; ease of access to care has improved; and laboratory and radiological services have been strengthened with sustained availability of critical reagents and consumables. Dialysis services have been enhanced, and innovative service packages have boosted internally generated revenue, enabling more timely payments to suppliers and contractors.
In their separate remarks, Elder Seyi a retired first Auditor General of Kogi State, Dr. Victor Ibrahim and Hon. Mrs. Gloria Ategbe commended the Acting CMD for restoring efficient service delivery in the Teaching Hospital, urging him to sustain the tempo.
In a vote of thanks, the deputy CMAC Dr. Patricia Medupin described the visit of the Chairman and members of the kogi state Elders’ forum as a morale booster and a beautiful way to end the year 2025.
She thanked the forum for being a pillar of support to the Teaching Hospital, urging kogites to support the growth of the hospital.
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