Retired Professor Of Obstetrics, Otolorin Identifies Ways Medical Practitioners Can Prepare For Post Retirement
A retired professor of obstetrics and gynecology and keynote speaker at the 2025 Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, Oyo state Annual General Meeting and scientific conference, Professor Emmanuel Otolorin has passionately advised medical practitioners to give priority to their pre retirement plan.
Professor Otolorin who spoke on the topic “After the final rounds: Finding Fulfillment Post Retirement” at the NMA house, Total Garden, Ibadan, venue of the event said many medical practitioners forget to have adequate pre retirement plan while working so hard to care for others.
Professor Otolorin said, to live a decent life in post retirement, physicians must not to start planning for retirement when they are almost exiting the system, urging them not to rely on Nigeria’s pension scheme.
The retired professor of obstetrics and gynecology who said gone are the days where parents rely on their children to live a decent life during retirement, hinted that young couples are faced with numerous challenges that unable them to care for themselves and their parents.
He said “This lecture is to tell my colleagues that don’t be late to start planning when it’s very late, don’t do a last minute planning, you should start very early, and don’t rely on Nigeria pension scheme, the salary doctors get in this country is very small, so the pension is small too.”
“You must make sure that you prepare for retirement, you have to invest in other means of income, it could be stocks, agriculture or anything, just make sure you have a plan. And don’t rely on children maintaining you, it doesn’t work that way anymore.
“The children of these days have their numerous problems and parents are even helping them, to solve some of those problems.
“Real estate, land speculations, these are long term investments that have proven to be very lucrative.
“And Inheritance, many of us are beneficiaries of inheritance from our parents, you should do the same for your children by investing while you still have the energy ” Professor Otolorin concluded
Professor Otolorin also identified some of the post retirement challenges to include financial, health and emotional issues giving boredom, identity loss, lack of engagement as examples.
He advised retired physicians to engage in writing and publishing, volunteerism seminars/webinar, and personal interests such as home farming, sports and social connections to keep themselves busy
Chairman on the occasion and President, Centre for Palliative Care, Nigeria, Professor Olaitan Soyannwo said life is good at retirement if only physicians prioritize their pre retirement plan.
Earlier in an address of welcome, the Oyo state chairman, Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, Dr. Happy Adedapo said the choice of the theme was borne out of the need to discuss matters beyond medical issues.
Other stakeholders, including representatives of the Chief Medical Director, CMD UCH Ibadan, and Oyo state commissioner for Health stressed the importance of care for the senior citizens.
