“When beggars die there are no comets seen, the heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes”.
This quote by Williams Shakespeare can best describe the atmosphere when Emeritus Professor Oladipo Olujimi Akinkugbe bowed out gloriously on Monday, 15th June 2020, exactly thirty two days to his 87th birthday.
Oladipo Akinkugbe, a Professor of Medicine, majoring in Nephrology and hypertension was born in the city of Ondo, Ondo State Southwest Nigeria on the 17th of July, 1933 to the family of Chief and Mrs O.O Akinkugbe.
His father was a chemist, so one cannot but wonder if the emeritus professor of medicine got from his father the inspiration to walk the path of medical practice.
After a brilliant secondary school career, he got admitted into the University of Ibadan in 1951 where he studied medicine and was posted to the University of London for his clinical studies in 1958 where he obtained his MBBS of London.
After traversing many countries, emeritus professor returned to Nigeria to take up a lecturing job at the Department of Medicine, University of Ibadan in January 1965 and this kick-started what many have described as a brilliant career for the Ondo-born scholar.
As his career flourished, he was made Dean of Medicine, 1970-74, Head of Medicine, 1972, taking special interest in hypertension and kidney diseases, two areas where the renowned academic made tremendous contributions.
While in active service, Professor Akinkugbe attended over one hundred national and international professional, scientific, educational and health conferences.
He was a member and fellow of over twenty international organisations, societies and institutions.
He was also a recipient of national honours of Commander of the Order of Niger, CON and was so honoured in Côte d’Ivoire.
Part of these positions were, foundation chairman, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, principal and foundation Vice Chancellor, University of Ilorin, Vice Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Pro chancellor and chairman of council, University of Port Harcourt, pioneer pro-chancellor of the University of Medical Sciences, UNIMED, Ondo among others.
Emeritus Professor akinkugbe was also a visiting professor to many universities both in Nigeria and abroad, in fact, he was the first Professor of Medicine that has ever been appointed by any African country.
Outside his medical career, Professor Akinkugbe was an excellent family man as he kept the home front intact with his lovely wife, Sade, also a professor and their two sons.
His involvement in the development of Ondo Town was unprecedented.
He was an active member of Ondo Development Committee, ODC, a body saddled with the responsibility of mobilizing and harnessing both human and material resources for the economic wellbeing of the kingdom.
This eventually earned him the Chieftaincy title of Adingbua of Ondo kingdom, a title he held till he breathed his last.
The emeritus professor, a staunch member of the Anglican Communion was also a developer of men and women as he was instrumental to the success of many, no wonder a former governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko described his death as “a loss of monumental dimension not only to Nigeria and the world of academia, but to countless protégés who have been mentored under his multidisciplinary talent”
Emeritus Professor Oladipo Olujimi Akinkugbe was indeed, a bouquet of success in all areas of his life.
Adieu Emeritus Professor Oladipo Olujimi Akinkugbe!
Adieu ekimogun ara ijama!
Adieu omo a mula meji oju seye!
Bukola Bardi
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