Gbenro Adesina
Foremost Nigerian Professor of Medicine at the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan, Emeritus Professor Oladipo Olujimi Akinkugbe is dead.
He passed on this afternoon, June 15 2020 in Ibadan, capital of Oyo State at the age of 86.
Professor Akinkugbe was born on July 17, 1933, at Ondo, Ondo State.
He attended Ondo Boys High School in 1944 and later Government College, Ibadan, 1946-51, where he excelled in the sciences.
He gained admission into the University College Ibadan in 1951 to pursue a career in Medicine. After various achievements outside Nigeria as a medical scholar, upon return to his home country, he took up a job at the Government Specialist Hospital, Adeoyo, Ibadan, after which, he went back to England for his Dphil. Programme at Oxford. When he returned, he took up an appointment as a lecturer of Medicine at the University of Ibadan in 1965.
He was promoted to chair of medicine at the University of Ibadan at the age of 35.
While at the University of Ibadan, he made significant impact in the areas of hypertension and kidney ailments.
A recipient of many awards, local and international, Professor Akinkugbe is also an author, and a fellow of many international organisations and institutions.
To mention a few of his appointments in the Nigerian scene, he has served as the Foundation Chairman, Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB); Principal and Foundation Vice Chancellor, University of Ilorin; Vice Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria; Chairman, Planning Committee, Ondo State University; Chairman, Planning Committee, University of Abuja and Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, University of Port Harcourt.
In the international quarters, he has held various laudable positions, some of which include, Rockefeller visiting fellow at John Hopkins, Yale and Washington, Seattle Medical School; member, University Grants Commission, Uganda government ; visiting professor of medicine, Harvard University and Senior Associate in Medicine, Peter Bent Brigham Hospital, Boston Massachusetts, USA; visiting Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine and fellow of Balliol College, University of Oxford; Secretary to the World Health Organisation (WHO) Technical Discussions on Universities and Health for All, Geneva; member, WHO Advisory Committee on Health for Research and visiting Professor of Medicine University of Cape Town.
Professor Akinkugbe is a recipient of several Honorary Doctorates in Science, including Ibadan, the Searle Distinguished Research Award and the Boehringer lngelheim Award of the International Society of Hypertension.
He was former Vice-Chancellor of the University of lIorin; former Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University; former visiting professor of Medicine at Harvard University; former Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of council of the University of Port Harcourt as well as Emeritus Professor of Medicine, University of Ibadan.
Professor Akinkugbe has served as World Health Organization Expert on Health Manpower and WHO Council Member on Health Research.
He was the President of the Nigerian Association of Nephrology (1987-90); Member of the Governing Council and Board of Trustees; Obafemi Awolowo Foundation (1992); International Society of Hypertension (1982-90); and Board of Trustees of the African Association of Nephrology (1986).
Prof Olu Akinkugbe was a first-class teacher, clinician, administrator, father, husband and mentor.
Reacting on Twitter, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank said, “I am saddened by the death of Prof Oladipo Akinkugbe today at the age of 86 years. Prof was a rare gem. An exceptionally brilliant and globally acclaimed Professor of Medicine. He made Nigeria proud and served selflessly. Thank you Sir for your life of immense service. RIP”.
