Meet Professor Theophilus Oladipo Ogunlesi, Nigeria First Professor of Medicine and Father of Postgraduate Medical Education

Professor Theophilus Oladipo Ogunlesi (12 July 1923 – 19 January 2023) was a towering figure in Nigerian medicine. Celebrated as the country’s first Professor of Medicine and honoured as the Father of Postgraduate Medical Education in Nigeria, his life’s work transformed healthcare, advanced medical training, and inspired generations of doctors.

Born in Sagamu, Ogun State, Ogunlesi studied at CMS Grammar School, Lagos, before travelling to Britain in the 1940s to study medicine. He qualified as a physician in 1950 and later earned advanced postgraduate credentials, becoming a fellow of both the Royal College of Physicians of London and Edinburgh.

Returning to Nigeria, he joined the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan. In 1961, he became the first Nigerian Head of the Department of Medicine and the nation’s first Professor of Medicine. From this position, he set rigorous clinical standards, mentored countless doctors, and later became Emeritus Professor of Medicine at the University of Ibadan.

He was also the Founding President of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN), the country’s highest authority for specialist training, earning him the enduring title of Father of Postgraduate Medical Education. In addition, he pioneered the Ibarapa Community Health Project in Oyo State, a groundbreaking model that combined primary healthcare with medical training and became a reference across Africa.

Professor Ogunlesi lived to the remarkable age of 99, passing away on 19 January 2023. His legacy lives on in every Nigerian doctor trained through the NPMCN and in every community healthcare initiative inspired by the Ibarapa model.

Key Achievements

First Nigerian Professor of Medicine

Head of Department of Medicine, UCH Ibadan (1961)

Emeritus Professor, University of Ibadan

Founding President, National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria

Founder, Ibarapa Community Health Project

Fellow, Royal College of Physicians (London & Edinburgh)

Adviser, World Health Organization