Niteshift Coliseum on Salvation Road, Ikeja stood regal at noonday on Saturday, August 17, for the iconic octogenarian Reverend Professor Babatunde Oladipupo Adelusi. The Uniq Brothers Club of Ifaki-Ekiti put out all stops to celebrate the first Ifaki medical and academic doctor with a grand launch of his autobiography, My Long Walk With God. Aside from blazing the trail of many academic firsts, Prof Adelusi had the equally singular distinction of getting married to the first Ifaki female graduate and PhD holder, Dr Oluremi Iyabode Adelusi (nee Adeyemi).
The august Coliseum occasion, marshaled by Barrister Fisayo Esan and Balogun Muyiwa Esan got off to a solemn start with a hearty opening prayer and the rendition of the club anthem.
The renowned first Professor of French Samuel Ade-Ojo presented a moving citation of Prof Adelusi.
Born on June 30, 1939 in Ifaki-Ekiti as the only child of his Christian parents, the young Tunde Adelusi passed out as the best student of Methodist Primary School, Ifaki-Ekiti in 1953. He undertook teacher training education at Wesley College, graduating as a Grade II teacher.
Self-propelling from the very beginning, he studied Physics, Chemistry and Biology at home to earn the distinctive grades to qualify through concessional examination to study medicine at the University of Ibadan.
The academic conquests came as a deluge, graduating with Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MB,BS) in June 1967, obtaining Certificate of Immunology in September 1973, earning a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in 1976 and Doctor of Medicine in 1983, all from the University of Ibadan. He attended Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA between 1979 and 1980.
His scholarships and postgraduate professional qualifications are legion, notably: “Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in June 1985, Fellow (New York) Academy of Sciences in February 1982, Fellow of the International College of Surgeons in October 1977, Fellow of the West African College of Surgeons in 1976, Fellow of the Medical College in Obstetrics and Gynecology (Nigeria) in September 1975 and member of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in January 1972; Member of American Fertility Society in December 1984, Fellow of the Biographical Association in January 1983, Fogarty International Research Fellowship of the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA in 1979-1980, World Health Organisation Fellowship for postgraduate studies in Immunovirology of Cancer, Lyon, France in 1974, Rockefeller postgraduate medical research training fellowship in 1973 to 1974 and university of Ibadan postgraduate medical research training in 1972 to 1973; member Society for Gynecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria, The Nigeria Medical Association, The United Kingdom Royal Society of Medicine, The Nigerian Society for Immunology, The Nigerian Cancer Society, The Nigerian Society for Endoscopy, The New York Academy of Science, The Royal the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of United Kingdom, American Fertility Society, International Biographers Association, Riyadh Obstetrics and Gynecology Club and Riyadh Perinatology Club.”
He served meritoriously as a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and honorary consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist at King Khalid University Hospital, Saudi Arabia from 1987 to the early 1990s.
For Professor Adelusi, it has been a stellar life of distinction “working as a Resident in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Lewisham Hospital, London as a research fellow (1971-1972); and from lecturer in 1975 to professor in 1980 in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at University of Ibadan. Some of his other clinical calls included serving as the Director of the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Research and Training, University of Ibadan College of Medicine in 1986, Professor Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan University College Hospital (UCH) in 1980 to 1987; Senior Lecturer in Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, UCH in 1976 to 1980 and Lecturer in 1975 to 1976. Prior to this he worked as Senior House Officer in Obstetrics and Gynecology in Lewisham Hospital, London in 1970; Senior House Officer in Obstetrics and Gynecology in the District Hospital, Peterborough, England in 1969 to 1971 and Senior House Officer in Medicine and Surgery, UCH Ibadan in 1968 to 1969.”
In the course of time, Prof Adelusi was running consultation clinics in the Special Treatment Clinic for the female patients with STD, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease.
He has contributed chapters to well over six books on medicine, five chapters to different proceedings, two monographs and over 90 articles in learned journals.
The personable President of Uniq Brothers Club, Dayo Adetunmbi, clad in his trademark shorts, launched Prof Adelusi’s autobiography, Long Walk With God, with the sum of one million naira and another one million naira on behalf of the club.
Prof Adelusi had earlier in life pledged neither to be a teacher or a priest but he ended up distinguishing himself in both!
Described as “a passionate Ifakicentric patriot”, Prof Adelusi is pivotal to the development of his community.
In an interview coordinated by an eminent Ifaki son, Akin Adeoya, Prof Adelusi said: “It will take 30 years from now for Nigeria to go back to the good old days of 1960.”