Oladipo Ogunlesi

He was the pioneer head of the University College Hospital, Ibadan and the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria.

Early life and education

Ogunlesi was born on 12 July 1923 to a blacksmith father in Sagamu, Ogun State. Between 1931-35, he attended St. Paul Primary School in Sagamu and obtained his secondary school certificate at CMS Grammar School in Lagos in 1940. He obtained his post-secondary school certificate from Higher College in Yaba in 1942. Ogunlesi began his journey in the medical profession in 1947 through the Yaba Medical School and later attended the University of London in 1953 where he eventually qualified as a medical officer in Britain.

Career

Ogunlesi began his career in Nigeria as a specialist in the Western State Civil Service. He was a medical officer of the Western Nigeria Civil Service (WNC) from 1950-56. He joined the University of Ibadan in 1961 and became a professor four years later. He was the first Nigerian lecturer of medicine and also became the first Nigerian professor of medicine. During his teaching career he taught such notable people as former Vice-chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Isaac Folorunso Adewole, a founding member of Pan African Association of Neurological Sciences, Professor Kayode Oshuntokun, and the late Professor Yombo Awojobi, who was a distinguished surgeon. He retired in 1983 at age 60.

Death

Ogunlesi died on 19 January 2023, at the age of 99. The Ogun State governor Dapo Abiodun remarked:

As a state, we take solace in the fact that our great professor lived a life dedicated to medicine aimed at making breakthroughs that would enhance human health and wellbeing. He was the first Professor in the field of Medicine, a feat which further reinforced the spirit of excellence the people of Ogun are reputed for... He will continue to be remembered as an illustrious son of Ogun, highly respected citizen of Nigeria and a world renowned specialist in the field of Medicine. Adieu Papa Medicine.

— Daily Post, NEWS Abiodun mourns passing of first Nigerian Professor of Medicine, Ogunlesi

The president of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari also stated:

Ogunlesi brought pride and honour to Nigeria in scholarship and practice, training many students that have become Ministers of Health, Vice Chancellors of universities, and medical practitioners in different specializations, serving in various parts of the world.

— Premium Times, Nigeria’s first professor of medicine, Theophilus Oladipo Ogunlesi, dead; Buhari mourns

In 1977 he was inducted as a fellow into the Nigerian Academy of Sciences.

Ogunlesi married Susan Olorunfemi Peters in 1950. They had seven children including Adebayo Ogunlesi, a member of Donald Trump's economic team.