Oluyinka Olutoye an Ido-Ani Prince of illustrous pedigree, one of the sons of His Royal Majesty, Major General Olufemi Olutoye Rtd, OFR, has been my friend and classmate since the 70s. From University of Lagos, Staff School to King's College, Lagos and eventually at Obafemi Awolowo University where I trailed him in hot and unrelenting pursuit. That, however, is where we diverged as so usually happens with close friends. He went off to United States to pursuit his medical career and I returned to England ostensibly to do same.
A few days ago via Whatsapp medium he made contact offering me a personal invite to the Annual Prof. T. A. I. Grillo Lecture at our Alma Mater, the Great Ife. He had been designated as the distinguished guest lecturer. He transversed the topic “Progress Through Innovation & Discovery: Advances in Surgery Before Birth”.
'Yinka from our early days had always been infused with charisma, has always been a leader of men and has always packed humility around his substantial height. He always sauntered around with a bounce and his steps always glided with purpose and sated in curiosity. In primary school he competed at the highest levels, repeated the same feat at King's College leading to the award of a scholarship. At King's College through God I led him in an initial prayer of submission to Christ and later anchored his campaign for political office on the Council.
At Great Ife, I am sure he was amused by my political antics but he was never far from me. Over the decades he has kept in touch, and was a generous purchaser of my award nominating book, 'I found my Voice' scooping up as many copies as he could.
But today is not simply about our friendship, its about his ground breaking achievements in the field of medicine. Here he pioneered groundbreaking surgery on a foetus outside the womb, returning it back to be 'born again' a few weeks down the line. He owes this accomplishment to God Almighty. It is on this that he spoke when lecturing us at the Oduduwa Hall, Obafemi Awolowo University. It was a lecture where he wowed us with words, pictures, videos and mastery of his forte and went beyond to urge a new paradigm of innovation.
In attendance was his wife and colleague, Professor Oluwatoyin Olutoye, his parents Major General Olufemi and Professor Omotayo Olutoye. Also we had his in laws Professor and Mrs Balogun and his sister, Mrs 'Funke Oluboji. A protege David Isumafe, Vice President of the Student Fellowship of Chapel of Peace and Joy, Lead City University, Ibadan also attended.
Yesterday, in typical humble fashion, the Professor and his wife visited me in my Faculty of Law Office at Lead City University to express his gratitude, reacquaint himself with a few King's College Old Boys on hand, Associate Prof Chris Ahimaku of University College Teaching Hospital, Ibadan, Mr Ayo Esho and I. He also came to present to me a copy of his lecture notes! What a bloke!
Today I am immensely proud to be associated with meritocracy embroidered with aristocracy. I present Professor of Surgery, Paediatrics and Obstetrics at the Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA, Oluyinka Olutoye.
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