Professor Allen Bankole Oladunmoye Olukayode (ABOO) Oyediran’s autobiography titled ‘He Leadeth Me: Autobiographical Testimonies of Olukayode Oyediran’, is ready for public presentation. It is to be unveiled on Tuesday, May 16 at Oritsejolomi Thomas Hall, University of Ibadan International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan
(UNIBADAN), Oyo State, as part of the activities to mark his 78th birthday.
To present the remarkable story of a celebrated medical administrator at the unveiling ceremony scheduled to begin at 11am are: Professor Akinlawon Mabogunje, (Chairman); Professor Oyinade Odutola-Olurin
(Chief Presenter); Chief Akin Dosu and Dr. Oba Otudeko, who will stand in as co-presenters. Professor Oyewole Tomori will have the singular honour of reviewing the 17-chapter book that vividly captures the remarkable adventure of the medical scholar.
After successfully completing his secondary education at CMS Grammar
School, Lagos in 1954 and the Cambridge Higher School Certificate
(HSC) at King’s College, Lagos, the young Oyediran had opted to study medicine, therefore, fulfilling his father’s career wish for him. This plan was bolstered when, through the interplay of divine consideration and hard work, he won a scholarship from the United African Company (UAC) to study Medicine at London University (Guy’s Hospital Medical
School); interestingly, Oyediran had earlier been offered admission by the University of Ibadan to study the same course. Thus began his adventure in medicine in 1959, reluctantly though at first, but which
he finished with remarkable success in 1964 and went on to acquire a higher degree with distinction from Edinburgh University in 1969;
London University (School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene) 1970 and Nigerian’s premier university, University of Ibadan, 1975.
The story of Oyediran is an interesting one, which has even become
more cinematic with age, a well-scripted happy-ending drama, an uncommon tale of grace and achievements and honour. It is a story that would not have been complete without the equally outstanding support
from his soul-mate and companion, Reverend Omotola Oyediran and their children. Her solid support provided the needed elixir and boost for
his academic and medical profession conquest. Today, though retired as a public servant, Professor Oyediran has
continued his life of service by promoting a non-government organisation, Nigeria Network for Awareness and Action for
Environmental Health (NINAAFEH), whose interest is primarily to draw
attention to the health benefit of a cleaner environment in the promotion of good health. He is a member of Rotary Club and a former President of the Ibadan West of the social organisation in the 1992-1993 Rotary Year.
He is the ‘Ba’asegun’ of Offa, a chieftaincy title that recognises his
sterling contributions to medicine and scholarship and has served his country well in many areas of health, environment and other interventions.
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
