Abiodun Extols Virtues of Late Oladipo Ogunlesi

James Sowole in Abeokuta

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has described the late Emeritus Professor of Medicine in Nigeria; Oladipo Ogunlesi, as a deep intellectual and an astute administrator who lived a good and faithful Christian life.

Abiodun stated this during the funeral service of late Ogunlesi held at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Sagamu, yesterday.

He noted that the late Professor of Medicine was also a caregiver and a community man.

The governor, who also disclosed the late professor was the first Nigerian to be elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Physicians, London, added that late Ogunlesi was a mentor of men who was also passionate about community medicine.

“He was the first Nigerian to be elected a fellow of the Royal Academy of Physicians, London, he was the first Nigerian Professor of Medicine, Baba was a teacher of men, he was a mentor of men and was very passionate about community medicine.

“Baba was a deep intellectual, he was an administrator, he was a caregiver, he was a community man, he was a good and faithful Christian,” he said.

In his remarks, the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, charged the younger generation in the country to learn from the life and time of Professor Ogunlesi and live up to the high values necessary to build institutions.

He added that the late first Professor of Medicine in the country lived a life dedicated to public service.

“Professor Ogunlesi lived a life completely dedicated to public service that has strong values like hard work, selfless service, transparency and propriety.

“The likes of Professor Ogunlesi and those of his ilks challenged this generation to live up to the high values necessary to build institutions and our society,” he said.

Earlier in his sermon entitled ‘In Jesus Christ, Life is Restored Back to Man’, the Diocesan Bishop of Remo; The Most Rev’d Olushina Fape, who read from the Book of John, Chapter 3, Verse 36, disclosed that there were no coincidences in the plan of God.

Bishop Fape, while noting that Professor Ogunlesi despite his tight schedule as a medical person, created  time to serve God through the numerous activities he participated in during his lifetime, urged the congregation to ensure they find time to serve God while they are still alive.

Fape urged the privileged in the society not to allow their education, wealth and position to lie to them, pointing out that at death, all positions, fame, wealth and honours would become vanity.

Professor Oladipo Ogunlesi was born on the 12th of July, 1923 and died on the 19th of January, 2023 at the age of 99.