Elizabeth Abimbola Awoliyi

Chief Elizabeth Abimbola Awoliyi, (née Akerele, 1910–14 September 1971) was the first female physician practitioner in Nigeria. She was also the first West African woman to earn a license of Royal Surgeon in Dublin. She served as the second President of the National Council of Women's Societies of Nigeria from 1964 until her death in 1971.

Life Elizabeth Abimbola Awoliyi was born in the year 1910, in Lagos, the southwestern part of Nigeria, to an Aguda-origin family and her parents were David Evaristo and Rufina Akerele. Elizabeth Abimbola Awoliyi earned her medical degree in 1938 from Trinity College Dublin, Cafreys College. She graduated from Dublin with first class honors, including a medal in Medicine and distinction in Anatomy. She became the first West African woman to be awarded a Licentiate of Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, in Dublin. In 1962, she was appointed as a senior specialist gynaecologist and obstetrician by the Federal Ministry of Health.

Awoliyi is included as a "Nigerian Heroine of the 20th Century" in the book Nigerian Heroes and Heroines: and other issues in citizenship education, by Godwin Chukwuemeka Ezeh.

The Dr. Abimbola Awoliyi Memorial Hospital is located in Lagos Island, Lagos, Nigeria.

Awoliyi owned a 27-acre poultry and orange farm in Agege, Lagos, and became director of the commercial medical store in Lagos.

NCWS Awoliyi was the pioneer president of the Lagos branch of the National Council of Women's Societies (NCWS) and a member of the national committee of the organization and she contributed to their policies and activities. She negotiated for the gift of a national headquarters located at Tafawa Balewa Square and was a consultant to the organization's family planning clinic which later became the planned parenthood federation of Nigeria. She succeeded Kofo Ademola as the second president of the NCWS in 1964.

Leadership and philanthropy Source: She was the first president of the Holy Cross Parish Women Council at the Holy Cross Cathedral in Lagos Motherless Babies Home Governing Council Business and Professional Women's Association (president) Child Care Voluntary Association (President) Lagos Colony Red Cross National Council of Women's Societies (Also became the first President of the Lagos branch)

Personal life Elizabeth Abimbola Awoliyi was married to fellow physician Dr. S. O. Awoliyi and had two children; a son and a daughter. Her husband died in 1965. Dr Elizabeth Abimbola Awoliyi died on 14 September 1971 at the age of 61.

Awards and honours Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) Iya Abiye of Lagos Iyalaje of Oyo Nigerian National Honor – Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR)