By joshua 
Kogi @ 33: Prof Solomon Avidime, CMD Reference Hospital Okene Bags
The Nigerian Post Newspaper Award For Best Health Institution.
Prof Solomon Avidime, CMD Reference Hospital Okene, will on Monday be conferred with a prestigious award of the best health institution in Kogi State.
The award for the Reference Hospital Okene follows the health institution’s outstanding intervention since it debut in the State.
The award is also in recognition of the positive impact the Reference Hospital has made on the health needs of the people at subsidized rate, amidst it world class health facilities.
The Reference Hospital would be bestowed with the award at the forthcoming The Nigerian Post Newspaper annual public lecture slated for August 26.
The Nigerian Post is Nigeria’s fastest growing print and online newspaper, is set to hold the annual edition of its Lecture & Gold Prize Award themed:
Sustaining Kogi’s Unbroken Unity – Prospects & Possibilities, This House Must Not Fall.
The event is scheduled to take place at the EdgeDrive Hotel Lokoja on August 26, 2024 at 10:00am, will have Gov. Usman Ahmed Ododo as the Special Guest of Honour.
His Excellency, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, former Governor of Kogi State, the Minister for Steel Development, Prince Shaibu Audu Abubakar alongside other very important personalities within and outside Kogi State will also serve as Guests of Honour at the event.
The 2024 public lecture will be Chaired by Prof. Stephen Ikani Ocheni, former Minister of State, Labour and Employment.
His Royal Majesty, the Ohimegye Igu Kingdom, Alhaji Saidu Akawu Salihu would serve as the Royal father of the day.
Speakers at the event will include; Prof. Marietu Tenuche, Vice Chancellor, Prince Abubakar University, Anyigba, Prof. John Alabi, Dr. Salisu Usman Ogbo, Rector , Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja and Ambassador Hamza Aliyu, CEO, Connected Development.
Recall that in 2023, THE NIGERIAN POST held it Annual Lecture and Gold Prize themed “Sustaining Nigeria’s Democracy. This House Must Not Fall”, with Prof. Akinwumi Olayemi, Vice Chancellor, Federal University Lokoja as the guest speaker of the event.
The 2024 edition “aims to celebrate and critically examine the creation of Kogi State 33 years after, by discussing its unity as cardinal to future prospects and possibilities”.
According to a statement by the Publisher of THE NIGERIAN POST, Mr. Abu Michael, this year’s event will honour some distinguished personalities who have contributed to the development of the State.
Other individuals for the Gold Prize Award include: Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, Alhaji Abdulrazaq Isa Kutepa, CEO, Walter Smith Oil, Sen. Tunde Ogbeha while late Prince Abubakar Audu, first Executive Governor of the State would be honored posthumously.
“The Gold Prize Award for Grassroots Development will also be presented to some selected former Caretaker Council Chairmen in the State and other individuals who have demonstrated outstanding contributions to the development of the State.
The former Caretaker Committee Chairmen of Lokoja, Igalamela, Kabba Bunu, Ijumu, have been listed for recognition following their outstanding repositioning of their Council administration when they served.
“Our 2024 Awardees are persons who made the critical differences in the discharge of their duties, with uncommon zeal and commitment to the common good of the citizens and the State in particular,” the statement read.
PROFILE OF PROF. SOLOMON AVIDIME
FWACS (ObGyn), MBBS, MIAD, PGD Mgt, MPH, FICS.
Email:avidime01@yahoo.com
Prof Solomon Avidime was born on 9th March, 1969 in Ihima district of Okehi Local Government of Kogi State
He started his primary education in Holy Trinity Primary School Oboroke -Ihima and attended AbdulAziz Attah Memorial College Okene/CSS, Ogaminana where he obtained his General Certificate of Examination in 1986 as well as Higher School certificate at the Kwara state Poly, Ilorin in 1986.
He proceeded to the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University (A B U) Zaria in pursuit of Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, an award he bagged in 1998.
In 2001, his career in the university commenced when he was employed as an Assistant Lecturer in Obstetrics and Gynaecology as well as commenced Residency training in ObGyn in 2002
In 2006, he got a
Masters in International Affairs & Diplomacy still from ABU Zaria, a
Post Graduate Diploma in Management from the same institution in 2008. Residency training ended in 2009 with an award of Fellowship in ObGyn from the West Africa College of Surgeons,
Rising through the ranks in the University, he became a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in 2018 and a Fellow of the International College of Surgeons (FICS) in 2019.
Professor Avidime is also a public health practitioner awaiting award of Masters in Public Health from ABU Zaria
His objective at the point of duty is to work with dedication towards the achievement of organizational and corporate objectives, thereby obtaining high level of professional and personal development.
Prof Avidime has 25 cognate years of Research /Scholary experience and has attended several local and international conferences.
Publications: He has a total of 50 peer review articles to his credit in both local and international journals and 44 conference papers.
Working experience
He has worked with State/ and Federal Ministries of Health and development partners,
• served as an
Integrated supervisor of routine and national immunization days 2010-2013 WHO/NMA,
• Facilitator, FHi360 for the training of health workers of prevention of maternal to child transmission of HIV/AIDS
• Consultant/Supervisor to PATHS2 for integrated maternal and child death review for Kaduna state 2017/2018
• Facilitator UNFPA/FMoH for the finalization of FGM complication management document 2019
• Member of the technical working group of the FMoH on the development of document for the elimination of gender base violence (GBV)
He has interests in Health system management, Reproductive health and International Health
Prof Avidime’s administrative experience includes occupying positions as
• Member of NMA National Executive Council 2008 to date
• Chairman NMA Kaduna state 2010 – 2012
• Board Member, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital 2017 to 2022 and
• Chief Medical Director Reference Hospital Okene 2023 to date.
His current job description include-
• Chief Medical Director/CEO of the Kogi State Reference Hospital Okene
• Professor/Consultant and his activities includes healthcare management, training of undergraduate and postgraduate medical students, research and healthcare service delivery in the dept. of Obstetrics & Gynaecology.
His hobbies are Radio and Television information and reading News and Sports magazines
He is happily married to Dr (Mrs) Ohunene Makoju Avidime and is blessed with children.