By Dianabasi Effiong
Prof. Samuel Odewumi, the Acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Uyo (UniUyo), has unveiled a professor of Radiology, Dianabasi Udoette Eduwem, as the 135th Inaugural Lecturer of the University.
Odewumi told invitees on Thursday that the topic for the Inaugural Lecture, slated for June 11, is “Seeing The Invisible: Unravelling The Myths, Mysteries, and Misconceptions About Health and Diseases.”
The lecture, holding at the 1000-capacity TETFUND Auditorium of the institution’s main campus, aims to debunk the misconceptions and encourage people to access health facilities for their medical needs.
“It is about *seeing* *the* *invisible*, using the technological eyes of the Radiologist through medical imaging to expose the *myths*, *mysteries*, *misconceptions* about health and diseases, especially the fact that most diseases are “not hospital treatable diseases (..idoho udoño ufokibok).”
“Most times, these assertions are borne out of ignorance and poverty, intertwined with superstitious beliefs. The lecture aims to debunk the misconceptions and encourage people to access health facilities for their medical needs,” the Consultant Radiologist, said.
Prof. Eduwem is a celebration of destiny whose life story reminds us that greatness is not an accident but a reward of vision, resilience, sacrifice, discipline, and unwavering commitment to service.
The Inaugural Lecturer, who was born on June 5, 1961, into the royal family of Nung Umo EkaObong, Mbiabong Ikono, attended the Christian Primary School Mbiabong, proceeded to Lutheran High School Obot Idim, where he graduated with a Division in 1979.
He also attended the Federal Government College, Ikot Ekpene, where he was the best A-level student in Chemistry in 1980; the same year, he secured a direct entry to study Medicine and Surgery at the University of Calabar (UniCal).
He completed his Residency to become the second Consultant Radiologist from UniCal and the first in the discipline from
Akwa Ibom.
He joined the teaching staff at UniCal as Lecturer 1 in 1998 and rose steadily to become the first professor of Radiology in the history of Cross River and Akwa Ibom (AkwaCross) respectively.
Prof. Eduwem was variously, Head of Department on multiple occasions, pioneer Head of Radiography and Radiation Science, Visiting Scholar and Head of Department at the University of Uyo (UniUyo), Adjunct Lecturer, Dean of Faculty, Chairman, Committee of Deans, Professor, College of Health Sciences, and Acting Deputy Vice- Chancellor, Academics.
He has consistently demonstrated a rare leadership philosophy: “Leave every institution better than you met it.”
Prof. Dianabasi Eduwem, fondly called ‘Oyobio’ (Ibibio for Hurricane) by his classmates at Lutheran High School, Obot Idim (Luthisco), has mentored more than 25 Resident Doctors to be Consultants, including several professors.
He is also credited with more than 50 scientific publications in reputable scientific journals, textbook contributions, international conference presentations, and two decades as Examiner for the West African College of Surgeons, has stood as a guardian of standards and custodian of excellence.
He has been the President of the Association of Radiologists of West Africa for seven remarkable years, and helped redefine and reposition the radiology practice across the African sub-region.
He will surely become, by God’s grace, the first professor of Radiology of AkwaCross extraction to deliver the 135th inaugural lecture at UniUyo.
Radiography, the art and science of using radiation (like X-rays) to capture images of the body’s internal structures, is primarily deployed by healthcare professionals to diagnose conditions, detect bone fractures, and monitor diseases.
A Radiologist is a medical specialist who utilises medical imaging – X-rays, MRI, CT, and ultrasound – to diagnose and treat diseases.
There are Diagnostic Radiology (identifying illnesses) and Interventional Radiology (using imaging to guide minimally invasive procedures).