1st October 1945 - 13th of February 2024
FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS
Wednesday 17th April 2024
Evening of tributes (Jointly organized by the Departments of Physiology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti at the Pre-clinical Lecture Theatre, Department of Physiology, University of Ibadan. Time – 2.00 p.m – 5.00 p.m
Thursday 18th April 2024
Christian Wake at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan.
Friday 19th April 2024
Lying in State at Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan @ 8.00a.m
Burial Service at the Chapel of the Resurrection, University of Ibadan @ 10am.
Interment and reception at Daylan Events Centre, Eleyele Road, Ijokodo, Ibadan
The College of Medicine, University of Ibadan mourns the passing into eternity of Professor David Dada Oyewusi Oyebola, a distinguished teacher of teachers, mentor of mentors, a highly esteemed member of our academic community and a Living Legend in our midst. Professor Oyebola departed this world peacefully on Tuesday, 13th February 2024, leaving behind a legacy of exceptional contributions to the field of Physiology and medical education.
I have taken the liberty to start this accolade with a heartfelt and personal tribute from his friend and colleague, a teacher of teachers and mentor of mentors, Professor Adeyombo F Bolarinwa, a retired Professor of Physiology and former Dean of the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences to give a window into the kind of man the late Professor Oyebola was. I also share his profile as contained in the internal memorandum shared by Professor Samuel B. Olaleye, the Head of the Department of Physiology, on the notice of his passing including information about the events to celebrate this life and times.
Professor Oyebola joined the Department of Physiology at the University of Ibadan in 1973, and he had an exceptional research career that spanned over four decades. He held various leadership roles within the department, including Acting Head and Head of Department, and demonstrated very sound administrative and visionary leadership. He is a very respected educator who inspired countless students and colleagues through his profound wisdom, kindness, and dedication to excellence.
Indeed, Professor Oyebola's impact extended far beyond the confines of the university walls. His kindness, generosity, and unwavering support endeared him to all who had the privilege of knowing him. As a mentor, he nurtured talent, encouraged excellence, and instilled values of compassion and integrity in all who crossed his path.
In his passing, we mourn not only the loss of a remarkable academician but also a beloved husband, father, colleague, and friend. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, colleagues, friends, and the entire University community as we bid farewell to a cherished member of our College of Medicine family.
May the gentle soul of Professor David Dada Oyewusi Oyebola find eternal rest in the embrace of the Almighty God. Amen.
Olayinka Omigbodun FAS
Professor of Psychiatry &
Provost, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan
REMEMBERING PROFESSOR DDO OYEBOLA:
A TRIBUTE FROM A DEAR FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE
The news about the passing of my colleague and very close friend, Professor DDO Oyebola came to me as a rude shock. We worked closely together in the Department of Physiology UI for over thirty years. We were like brother and sister, and we spent many hours together sharing personal challenges and the Word of God to combat the challenges. I feel very devastated.
For many years the three of us, Late Prof Elegbe, now late Prof Oyebola and my humble self, taught the whole of Physiology in the medical schools in Sokoto University (Usman Danfodio) and the University of Jos. For a very long time, the three of us taught the various categories of students, Physiology in our Physiology Department in UI.
Professor Oyebola was a very dependable friend. He would go an extra mile to see that you achieve your goal. While in the department we had each other's backs and whatever action he took on my behalf particularly when I was the Head of the Department was flawless. He was always encouraging me, being the only female faculty member in the department for a very long time.
He was instrumental in my decision to stand an election to the post of the Dean of our Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences in 1998. He kept insisting that he saw me as a Dean who had a lot to offer our faculty. I thank God I listened to him and got confirmation from God.
Oye, as I used to call him, was not only very brilliant and thorough, he was also very kind. He had a very soft heart for his students. Behind the no-nonsense look was a very kind and soft heart. He loved and taught Physiology with a passion.
I recall that in his BSc class, he was a lone student because he chose to spend an extra year studying Physiology after the 2nd MB examination before proceeding to the hospital for his clinical training. He was a very brilliant student, and he got a 1st class degree in Physiology. He was one of the very few to obtain the 1st class in the department for a very long time. He was the pioneer Editor-in-chief of the Nigerian Journal of Physiological Sciences (NJPS).
Professor Oyebola was a very important member of the Physiology family; having served the profession in several capacities including: President, Physiological Society of Nigeria and Member, International Union of Physiological Sciences (IUPS) council. He was highly respected by them and his faculty colleagues. He was a Fellow of the Physiological Society of Nigeria. Oye was also an author, not only in Physiology but Religious books. I was privileged to read and write the "forward" to his book on Jonah. Oye was also a poet. He was a man of many parts.
My thoughts are for his nuclear family, the Physiology Department UI and the Physiological Society of Nigeria. I bless the name of the Lord that Oye knew Him and gave his life to Jesus while here on earth.
May his soul rest in peace.
Professor Adeyombo F Bolarinwa
Retired Professor of Physiology (1973-2014).
OBITUARY
PROFESSOR DAVID DADA OYEWUSI OYEBOLA (1945 – 2024)
Professor Oyebola was born at Ogotun-Ekiti in Ekiti Southwest Local Government area, Nigeria on 1st October, 1945. He attended St. Paul’s Primary School, Ogotun-Ekiti (1952-1958) and had his secondary education at Christ’s School Ado-Ekiti (1960-1964), where he had the best prizes in Biology and Geography. He taught briefly (as Mathematics teacher) at Amoye Grammar School, Ikere-Ekiti (January – September 1965) and as Senior Biology Teacher at Ise/Emure Grammar School, (July – September 1969). He attended the University of Ibadan medical school between 1965 and 1972. Throughout his undergraduate years, he enjoyed scholarship made on merit to outstanding candidates in each faculty in the concessional entrance examination to the University of Ibadan. As a result of his outstanding performance in the Part 1 MBBS examination in March 1968, he was invited to do an extra year for the intercalated B.Sc. Med. Sci. degree in Physiology and graduated with a first class Honours degree in the B.Sc programme in Jine 1969. He was also a part-time demonstrator in Physiology from 1968 to 1973. He eventually obtained the M.B.B.S degree in June,1972. He was a House Physician in Medicine, Surgery and Paediatrics at the University College Hospital between July 1972 and June 1973. He later obtained the M.D. degree in Physiology from this University in April, 1978.
Professor Oyebola started his career in the University of Ibadan as a Lecturer II in the Department of Physiology in July 1973. He had a break of three years from full-time Physiology teaching between January 1975 and March 1978) when he was a Research Fellow Grade 1 in the Department of Medicine and University College Hospital. During this period, he taught Internal medicine to Clinical students at the university of Ibadan. He came back again to full-time Physiology teaching in March 1978 as Senior Lecturer in Physiology. He was promoted Reader in 1980 and Professor in 1983.
During his lifetime, Prof. Oyebola served the Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences and the University of Ibadan in various capacities before he retired from active service. He was Acting Head of Department (1978 – 1980). He was also acting Head of Department between January 1982 and January 1983; Head of Department (August 1986 – September, 1989); Head of Department (Nov 1, 1995 – Oct. 31, 1998). He was elected Dean, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences (August 1990– July 1993). He represented the Senate of the University of Ibadan in many Boards and Committees. He was a member of the Court of Governors, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan (1989 - 1990). His inaugural lecture was delivered on the 8th January 1987 on the topic: “Hospitals or Healers? The Dilemma of the Nigerian Patients”. After teaching Physiology for 41 years, Prof. Oyebola retired from the University after a highly successful and meritorious service in September 2011.
Prof. Oyebola was a recipient of several scholarships, travelling fellowships and awards. He had his postdoctoral experience at the Guy’s Hospital, St. Thomas’ Hospital, Kings College Hospital, Denmark Hill, St. Mary’s Hospital and Paddington Medical Schools in London, United Kingdom. He was visiting Professor to the Department of Physiology, University of Toronto Medical School, Ontario Canada (1980 – 1981). He was also vising professor at the Universities of Jos (1985 – 1986), Sokoto (1985 – 1987) and Ilorin (1993 – 1994). He was also the Pioneer Provost of the College of Medicine, University of Ado Ekiti (2001 – 2004). After he retired from the University of Ibadan, he taught Physiology as visiting Professor at the Obafemi Awolowo University (2011 - 2015) and afterwards until his death, at the University of Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State (2015 – 2024).
Professor Oyebola was a member of many national and international professional bodies which included Nigerian Medical Association and the British Diabetic Association. He was a fellow of the royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, United Kingdom. He was a founding member of the Physiological Society of Nigeria and served as the first Editor-in-Chief of the Society’s flagship journal, the Nigerian Journal of Physiological Sciences (1983 – 1986) and President (February 1991 – June 1994). He also served two terms as a member of the council of the International Union of Physiological Sciences (IUPS, 2001 – 2009). He was the leader of the Federal Government of Nigeria delegation to the meeting of Non-aligned nations on Traditional and alternative Medicine, Pyongyang, North Korea (August, 1988). He was elected Fellow, Physiological Society of Nigeria (FPSN) in August 2010). He was also a fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Natural Medicine.
Professor Oyebola was married with Children.
He will be greatly missed by his family, colleagues, friends, the Department of Physiology and the entire University community.
May his gentle soul continue to rest in the Lord. Amen.
Samuel B. Olaleye,
Professor of Gastrointestinal Physiology and Inflammation
& Head of the Department of Physiology