Professor Oyebanji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka, the newly appointed Chairman of the Governing Council for Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital, has presented an ambitious development vision that connects world-class healthcare with broader industrial and community transformation.
A Development Philosophy for Second-Tier Regions
During his first press briefing since the appointment by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, Professor Oyelaran-Oyeyinka explained that establishing elite institutions like LAUTECH Teaching Hospital outside major capitals is a deliberate development strategy. His focus extends beyond hospital administration to champion inclusive development, rural renewal, and industrial growth.
"For me, one of Nigeria's biggest challenges is driving sustained economic growth by leveraging industrialization to transform our rural and peri-urban communities, areas we often overlook," he stated.
Replicating Global Success Models in Nigeria
The chairman pointed to China's successful poverty reduction model as his inspiration. "Look at China, they lifted millions out of poverty by creating 'transformation zones,' training ordinary people with basic skills to produce low-tech goods like textiles and leather," he explained. "My vision is to replicate that kind of change here, turning our peri-urban areas into productive hubs."
He emphasized the critical need for infrastructure investment in these regions, arguing that development cannot remain concentrated in big cities but must reach where most Nigerians live and work.
Distinguished Background for Transformational Leadership
Professor Oyelaran-Oyeyinka brings exceptional qualifications to this role. He was a First-Class and best graduating student in Chemical Engineering from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University). He holds advanced degrees from the University of Toronto and earned a Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) in Development Economics from the University of Sussex, UK.
His professional experience includes over two decades in international development, having served as:
- Senior Special Adviser on Industrialization to the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB)
- Director of the Regional Office for Africa at UN-HABITAT
- Senior Economic Adviser at UNCTAD
At AfDB, he notably led the US$1 billion Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) initiative, demonstrating his capacity for large-scale development projects.
The goal of his tenure is to establish LAUTECH Teaching Hospital as a world-class health and knowledge hub that simultaneously drives local enterprise, skill development, and industrial linkages, creating a sustainable model for regional transformation.
