Healthcare leaders are urging a renewed focus on empathy in medicine, warning that a lack of compassion can erode patient trust, worsen health outcomes, and endanger service delivery nationwide.
This call to action came at the inaugural Dr Mustapha Faiz Alimi Colloquium, held in Lagos under the theme “Competence, Character & Compassion as Critical Components of Nation Building: Dr M.F. Alimi Legacy.”
Organised by Muslims in National Development (MIND), in partnership with the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi (NOHIL), the event celebrated the life and legacy of the late Dr. Alimi, a renowned orthopaedic surgeon and former Chief Medical Director at NOHIL.
Distinguished speakers from healthcare, civil service, and the non-profit sector paid tribute to Alimi’s enduring commitment to ethical leadership, professional discipline, and his deeply compassionate approach to patient care.
Dr. Wakeel Lawal, the current CMD of NOHIL, emphasized that true competence in healthcare extends well beyond clinical ability; it includes sensitivity to patients’ backgrounds, clear communication, and unwavering ethical standards. He highlighted that fostering compassion in care helps build trust, improve recovery rates, and even alleviate burnout among health professionals.
Lawal called on policymakers and healthcare organisations to promote these values, suggesting reforms such as integrating character assessment in performance reviews and investing in the professional development of staff. He credited Dr. Alimi’s legacy as proof that competence, character, and compassion are fundamental for societal progress and unity.
Professor Wasiu Adeyemo, CMD of Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), shared concern over declining empathy in the medical field, warning that the absence of compassion jeopardises both patient satisfaction and results. “Patients are our kings. Without them, there is no hospital,” he remarked, advocating for ongoing training in ethics and patient-focused care.
Sulaiman Olokodano, MIND’s Executive Secretary, described Alimi as a mentor and loyal friend whose career demonstrated that it is possible to combine expertise, integrity, and heart even in difficult circumstances within Nigeria’s healthcare system.
Dr. Sola Labinjo, chairman of the occasion, stressed that Nigeria cannot achieve the nationhood and unity it deserves without deliberate efforts to strengthen integrity, build compassionate leadership, and develop ethical capacity in its workforce.
