By Chigozie Chukwuleta
Professor Joseph I. Ikechebelu, former Acting Vice‑Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University has been formally admitted as a Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) in London.
The RCOG citation described him as “a visionary leader, pioneering clinician and transformative educator whose work has influenced women’s health and shaped medical education across Nigeria, West Africa and beyond.”
He becomes the third member of UNIZIK’s community to receive this prestigious fellowship, one of the highest global honours in obstetrics and gynaecology.
Professor Ikechebelu has devoted 29 years to service as a consultant in reproductive medicine and women’s health across the West African sub‑region.
A Professor of Obstetrics & Gynaecology since 2008, he has authored over 170 journal articles (90 indexed in PubMed) with more than 3,500 citations, an h‑index of 26 and an i10‑index of 69.
He pioneered operative laparoscopy in Nigeria, trained over 300 doctors and 40 peri‑operative nurses at the Life Institute for Endoscopy, and has delivered more than 300 IVF babies, earning him the nickname “father of IVF” in Anambra State.
In his acceptance remarks, Professor Ikechebelu expressed gratitude to God and to UNIZIK and its Teaching Hospital, stating, “I am grateful to God and to my University and Teaching Hospital, where it all began.”
He reaffirmed his commitment to advancing women’s health worldwide and thanked the institution for providing a supportive environment that enabled his achievement.
The fellowship not only celebrates Professor Ikechebelu’s distinguished career but also highlights UNIZIK’s growing reputation for producing world‑class medical professionals and contributing to global healthcare leadership.
