President Bola Tinubu has hailed Nigerian-born Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at the Memorial University of Newfoundland, Dr Bolu Ogunyemi, on his election as the President-Elect of the Canadian Medical Association (CMA).
Tinubu congratulated Ogunyemi in a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, titled, “President Tinubu Commends Dr. Bolu Ogunyemi on Emergence as President-Elect of the Canadian Medical Association” dated Sunday December 8, 2024, but released on Monday.
According to the statement, Tinubu described Ogunyemi’s emergence as a “testament to visionary leadership, dedication to excellence, and compassionate commitment to enhancing the welfare of others.”
“The President celebrated this historic milestone, noting Ogunyemi’s remarkable contributions as a dermatologist based in St. John’s, Newfoundland, and his role as a visiting specialist in Labrador City since 2018,” Onanuga said.
Onanuga added that due to Ogunyemi’s extensive background and 15 years of leadership experience, President Tinubu is confident that he will lead the CMA to greater heights once his election is confirmed at the association’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in May 2025.
The President also called for inclusivity and collaboration, advising Dr. Ogunyemi to “embrace those who vied for the position as partners in progress” and focus on a unifying mandate.
“The prayers and unwavering support of the Nigerian government and its people accompany Dr. Ogunyemi as he takes on the mantle of leadership,” Tinubu assured.
A Nigerian-born physician and educator, Ogunyemi has made history as the president-elect of the Canadian Medical Association.
His election is not just a career milestone but a powerful moment of Nigerian representation in global healthcare leadership.
The announcement followed a vote between November 20 and December 4, 2024, with Ogunyemi emerging victorious over Dr Susan MacDonald, a palliative care advocate.
Currently a clinical associate professor of medicine at Memorial University of Newfoundland, Ogunyemi also practises dermatology in St. John’s and has been a visiting specialist in Labrador City since 2018.
Over his 15-year career, he has taken on multiple leadership roles, including serving as the inaugural Assistant Dean of Social Accountability at Memorial University from 2020 to 2023.
In 2024, he completed a Fellowship in Health Services Improvement at the University of Alberta.
