Youth Christian Circle Tribute To Late Emeritus Prof. O. O. Akinkugbe
YOUTH CHRISTIAN CIRCLE TRIBUTE TO LATE EMERITUS PROF. O. O. AKINKUGBE
�of all the wonders that I have heard, it seems to me most strange that man should fear seeing death, a necessary end, will come when it will come�
(Act II, Scene 2) William Shakespear, Julius Ceaser.
Emeritus Professor Oladipo Olujimi Akinkugbe, CFR, MD, FRCP, NNOM, was a colossus and proud member of the Youth Christian Circle of St. James Cathedral �the Great�, Oke Bola, Ibadan.
The YCC or Circle was founded in 1947, to encourage fellowship of members socially. It later transformed to a more spiritual gathering that encourages; caring for members, mentoring and positively influencing the society through members� contributions to policy making and management in the country at large.
Prof. was a very committed member in spite of his International Commitments over the years. Some of the sterling achievements of the Circle which he supported are as follows but not limited to:
The Choir Stalls of the Cathedral.
Circular Window.
Marble Prayer Desks.
Brass Lectern.
The Sterling Silver Cross.
800 Seater Otunba Yomi Oduntan Hall.
The Bishop�s Throne.
The Painting of the Cathedral for the recently concluded Synod 2020;
and the last but not the least was his insistence on Covid � 19 Palliative measure to members, orphanages and people of Oke-Bola and Oke-Ado environs. About 2000 people benefited from this worthy gesture by the Youth Christian Circle.
Prof.�s call to the Circle was as if he had premonitions of what was to come as he did not only ask that the project be carried out but he also backed the palliative with a huge sum of money.
In the last three years, the Circle under the current president, Basorun Ilemoboye Reuben Famuyibo, moved to rallying round the surviving members of the Circle�s first generation, namely; Pa Dr. T. A. Oshin, Engr. E. O. Oladeji, Prof. Akin Mabogunje, Pa Johnson Awe, Chief Akin Delano SAN and the last but not the least, Prof. O. O. Akinkugbe.
The society arrived on a visit unannounced and Prof. queried the President for not informing him of the visit saying, �it would have been very painful for me to have missed such an important delegation of the Circle�. Such was the respect and love he had for the Circle.
During the brief meeting which lasted well over three hours, he took us on a nostalgic trip of the early days of the Circle where one of the cultural traditions distinguishing members of the Circle was a very high sense of tolerance for caustic humour among members. An example was a member that was nicknamed �HM� i.e. happily married, who after admission, came to the next meeting with his wife and when questioned, the man revealed that he went everywhere with his wife (the YCC has a female wing YWCC to which a wife could belong), and he was promptly named �HM� Happily Married.
After the meeting, he took us round the house to view his collections of birds and clocks, (he has a collection of clocks from over 50 countries including a three hundred (300) year old clock). He also spoke glowingly of �FIFA� and we thought it was the �Federation Internationale de Football Association� until he broke it down to his grand-daughters; Fife and Fara (Fi & Fa).
The visit was rounded up with a peep into his medical library which had since been bestowed to the University of Ibadan. He revealed to us that four Universities namely; University of Ibadan, Ahmadu Bello University, University of Ilorin, and Obafemi Awolowo University were jostling to have it, but that he was yet to make up his mind. However, he remarked that the University of Ibadan has a more organized Post-graduate School; hence, we were not surprised with its eventual destination.
One could not spend time with Prof. without him going back to his days at Government College Ibadan. This may be because the YCC has a large pool of ex-GCI Boys across generations, particularly his generation such as late Dr. George Ogunlusi, Chief Akin-Deko, Pa Engr. Oladeji, and so on. He also revealed that it stoked his interest in Alternative Medicine as some of his school mates then were cured of bedwetting with the help of a trado-medical practitioner in Ondo (lol). He was always proud to mention some of his class mates like Dr. Christopher Kolade, Dr. Abel Guobadia, Prof Wole Soyinka and so on.
He spoke glowingly about late Chief Dr. Lekan Are who he described as a great supporter of GCI and an outstanding Patron for many years. In his words �Lekan was two years behind me at school but I didn�t know that we were age mates so anytime I tried to punish him, he would threaten me that if I punish him, he would attack me in the orchard. So I didn�t go to the orchard unless I had my classmates with me (lol). I was just the same size as him and only two years his senior�.
We shared memorable moments with him and his words would continue to gladden and guide our hearts. From his travails in Ahmadu Bello University, time would not permit me to delve into all our discussions, but I will list the highlights:
Prof. Wole Soyinka and Swimming Pool (secret).
Advice to His Excellency, the Head of States, Gen. Yakubu Gowon GCFR to write his biography, particularly the civil war years, pointing out that his account would be considered most credible.
As personal physician to the late Ooni of Ife, Kabiyesi Oba Adesoji Aderemi, he once left Ibadan at 7:00pm for Ife to attend to the Kabiyesi�s health. He noted that the late Ooni was surprised that he came at that time. That was his hallmark of commitment to the medical profession which he bestrode as a colossus.
Finally, at the last Oxford University 50 years Post-graduate Celebration in 2013, he toasted members to meet in 2063 for the next celebration amidst the barrage of laughter, the MC said, �well we won�t be there but African juju could bring you�. (He informed us that nobody has ever attended three of the Oxford Celebrations).
After hanging his stethoscope on 25th October 2018, Prof ventured into the research of Alternative Medicine and would call himself �Babalawo�. He along with his very good friend, His Excellency former President Olusegun Obasanjo GCFR, embarked on a project on Alternative Medicine Research at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, where claims of trado-medical practitioners are subjected to scientific tests. His dream was for the day that orthodox and alternative medicine practitioners would do ward round in the UCH side by side.
He once came to my house and saw so many dogs, and in his jovial manner asked whether Ondo people have not been visiting my house. I quickly replied, �sir these ones are not for pepper soup�. Incidentally, my wife is from Ondo.
A Titan has left this world.
Prof. lived his life through the Swanston House song, �To do your best to help this world along; To be like him who trod this earth before you, and died without a consciousness of wrong�.
Ever accessible; loving, jovial, affectionate, very generous and always accommodating of the younger generation of �Circle�.
We will miss you.
The world will miss you.
Continue to rest in Perfect Peace.
You left legacies that are indelible in the sands of time.
In due course, the �Circle� will release some audio clips of our interactions with Prof. through the family.
Thank you.
������ ��������..
Basorun Reuben Famuyibo
President
Aderinola Omowon
General Secretary
Contributors:
Former President: Dr. Adebola Roberts.
Vice President I: Chief Gboyega Akin-Deko.
Former General Secretary: Ranti Ajeleti Esq.
Dapo Oye.
Seun Mabogunje.
Dr. Kayode Oyetunde.
On this note, the President and entire circle bids Emeritus Prof Oladipo Olujimi Akinkugbe CFR, MD, FRCP, NNOM, farewell with one of our favourite songs:
Orin I.O.M. 98 - OLORUN BETHEL�, ENITI
Olorun Bethel�, eniti
O nbo awon ti Re;
Enit�o mu baba wa la,
Ojo aiye won ja.
A mu eja at�ebe wa
Wa iwaju �te Re,
Olorun awon baba wa
Ma je Olorun wa.
Ninu Idamu aiye yi,
Ma toju ipa wa;
Fun wa ni onje ojo wa,
At�aso t�o ye wa.
Na ojiji� ye Re bo wa,
Tit�ajo wa o pin,
Ati ni�bugbe Baba wa,
Okan wa o simi.
Iru ibukun bi eyi,
L�a nbere l�owo Re;
Iwo o je Olorun wa
At�ipin wa laela. Amin.
May his gentle soul Rest in Perfect Peace. Amen.