Oluyombo Awojobi

Dr. Oluyombo Adetilewa Awojobi (March 1, 1951 – April 17, 2015) was a Nigerian Rural Surgeon, Researcher, Inventor and Humanitarian. He was best known for his services rendered at Awojobi Clinic, Eruwa (ACE) in Ibarapa East Local Government Area of Oyo State.

He is credited with pioneering the local development and production of innovative, appropriate medical devices.

Early life He was born to Chief Daniel Adekoya Awojobi, a stationmaster at the Nigerian Railway Corporation who hailed from Ikorodu in Lagos State and Comfort Bamidele Awojobi (née Adetunji), a petty trader who hailed from Modakeke, Ile-Ife, Osun State in March 1951. He attended CMS Grammar school between 1963 and 1969. He went on to study Medicine and Surgery at College of Medicine, University of Ibadan where he graduated with a distinction in Surgery in 1975 He however resigned from his appointment and established Awojobi Clinic, Eruwa (ACE), on October 27, 1986 where he served till his death.

He was known for pioneering the development of local production of innovative appropriate medical devices. He also produced intravenous fluids and surgical sutures locally. These factors made receiving care at Awojobi Clinic affordable and hence drew patients from distant communities.

He was listed as a caring physician of the world by the World Medical Association in 2005.

He hosted the Operation Hernia charity at Awojobi clinic in 2013 and together, they operated 70 patients with inguinoscrotal hernias over a period of 6 days.

Before he died, he set up the Olajide Ajayi Cancer Centre.

A documentary about his life titled 'An Uncommon Service: A tribute to Dr. Awojobi ' was screened at the iREP monthly documentary film screening series at Freedom Park, Lagos.

Publications

Modified pile suture in the outpatient treatment of haemorrhoids - Oluyombo A Awojobi, 1983 Abdominal incisional hernia in Ibadan - Oluyombo A Awojobi, S O Itayemi, 1983 Use of Foley catheter in suprapubic punch cystostomy: An adaptation - Oluyombo A Awojobi, 1983 Paediatric inguinoscrotal surgery in a district hospital- Oluyombo A Awojobi, J K Ladipo, A C Sagua, 1988 Sutureless circumcision - Oluyombo A Awojobi, 1992 The hospital water still - Oluyombo A Awojobi, 1993 Principles of rural surgical practice - Oluyombo A Awojobi, 1998 The manual haematocrit centrifuge - Oluyombo A Awojobi, 2002 A review of surgical cases and procedures in rural Nigeria - Oluyombo A Awojobi, 2002 Epidural needle and intraosseous access - Oluyombo A Awojobi, 2003 20 years of primary care surgery in Ibarapa - Oluyombo A Awojobi, 2004 Inguinal hernia in Nigeria - Oluyombo A Awojobi, AA Ayatunde 2004 Spontaneous appendicocutaneous fistula: A case report - O M Tokode, Oluyombo A Awojobi, 2004 Surgical training in Nigeria: a reappraisal - Oluyombo A Awojobi, 2005 The travails of rural surgery in Nigeria and the triumph of pragmatism - Oluyombo A Awojobi, 2005 Atraumatic sutures can be made locally - Oluyombo A Awojobi, 2005 Engineering fabrication in the rural Nigerian medical practice - Oluyombo A Awojobi, 2007 Rising to the challenge of rural surgery - Oluyombo A Awojobi, 2010 Rural based medical practice in Nigeria - The Ibarapa Experience - Oluyombo A Awojobi, 2011