Celebrating African Women in Medicine

Many times women’s efforts are often overlooked,  so we have decided to recognize African women that have influenced the advancement of medicine in our society.

In West Africa, women did not become medical doctors until after the first quarter of the twentieth century, some 70 years after their male counterparts.  In Nigeria women stood out as female pioneers in medical history, proving that our women have long strived to be more than mere spectators in Africa’s male dominated culture.

So, let’s meet our first amazing icon………

The First West African Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, as well as Nigeria’s first female doctor with a licentiate of Royal Surgeon was Dr. Abimbola Awoliyi (nee Akerele) who received her medical degree from the University of Dublin, Cafreys College in 1938.

ELIZABETH ABIMBOLA AWOLIYI: PROFILE

BIRTH:

Dr. Mrs. Elizabeth Abimbola Awoliyi was born on the 11^th of November, 1910 on Lagos Island, as the 4^th child in a family of seven(7). She was born to Mr. David Evaristo Akerele and Mrs. Rufina Oyinkan Akerele, a very well and respected catholic family in Lagos.

EDUCATION:

Dr. Elizabeth Abimbola Awoliyi attended St. Mary’s Convent Elementary School in Lagos, and then went on to Queen’s College also in Lagos. After her elementary and secondary education, she proceeded to Dublin, Ireland to study medicine in 1929.

She graduated from the University Of Dublin, Ireland with first class honors, including a medal in medicine and distinction in Anatomy.

Dr. Awoliyi was the first Nigerian female medical doctor to be licensed in Nigeria. She was also awarded a licentiate of Royal Surgeon in Dublin, a diploma in Gynaecology and Obstetrics, as well as a diploma in Child Health.

CAREER:

Dr. Awoyili was a member of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP) United Kingdom, and Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (MRCOG). She went from being a junior medical officer at the Massey Street Hospital Lagos, to the chief consultant and Medical Director for almost 10 years (1960-1969). In 1962, the Federal Ministry of Health in Nigeria appointed her as a senior specialist Gynaecologist and Obstetrician.

Also a shrewd business woman, she not only owned a 27- acre poultry and orange farm in Agege Lagos, but was director of the commercial medical store in Lagos.

PHILANTHROPY & LEADERSHIP:

Dr. Elizabeth Abimbola Awoliyi was an outstanding philanthropist, and belonged to a number of charities and organizations, where she served as president in more than one of these organizations. Some of them include:

• Holy Cross Cathedral Lagos where she became the first president of the Holy Cross Parish Women Council.
• 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 Society (Also became the first President of the Lagos branch)

TITLES & AWARDS:

Dr. Abimbola Awoliyi received many awards during her life time, some of which include:

• Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE)
• Iya Abiye of Lagos
• Iyalaje of Oyo Empire
• Nigerian National Honor – Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR).

FAMILY:

Dr. Abimbola Awoliyi was married to Dr. S.O. Awoliyi, and together they had two children; a boy and a girl. Her husband Dr. S.O. Awoliyi (also a medical doctor) died in 1965. Dr Abimbola Awoliyi died on the 14^th of September 1971, she was 61 years old.