Professor Taiwo Adegboyega Adewole was born on 26th August, 1949 in Osogbo to the family of Pa Samuel Ladeji Adewole and Mama Lydia Oladuntan Adewole of Ekeniku compound, Ede, Osun State. He was the fifth of seven children, namely Adeyoola (late), Abiola Adenike, Ajibola Moyosore (late), Ademola Okunlola (late), Taiwo Adegboyega (late), Kehinde Aderonke (late), Idowu Funmilayo.
He attended Baptist High School, Iwo, Federal School of Science, Lagos, and the University of Ibaban where he bagged his B.Sc. degree in Biochemistry. After his National Youth Service, he proceeded to University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) where he became the first student to obtain a Ph.D degree in Biochemistry. While rounding up the programme, he yielded to his innate desire to read Medicine by seeking and obtaining admission to the University of Calabar where he got the MBBS degree. Subsequently, he was appointed as a research Fellow at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) in Lagos, where he spent 18 years, and rose to the rank of Deputy Director (Research). His post-graduate Diploma (Specialist training) came through a full Residency programme at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), thereafter becoming a Fellow of West Africa College of Physicians (1996), and specializing in Laboratory Medicine.
At NIMR, he headed the newly-created Division of Clinical Sciences and midwifed the setting up of the largest HIV treatment centre in the whole of southern Nigeria, and the third largest in the country, currently employing over 100 staff. He was fully involved with PEPFAR ( US President’s Emergency Plan For AIDs Relief), and APIN (AIDs Prevention Initiative In Nigeria), both of which have led to the treatment to over 25,000 HIV/AIDs patients. At the same time, he was Associate Lecturer at Lagos State University and LUTH where he wsa involved with the training of post-graduate students at Masters and Ph.D levels.
In recognition of his hard work, teaching excellence, and numerous publications in leading academic journals, the Ladoke Akintola University of Science and Technology, (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, appointed him a Professor of Chemical Pathology, closely followed by his becoming the Provost of the College of Health Sciences. During his tenure, he secured accreditation for Nursing and Biometrical Science, and for MBBS degree. He was able to move the College to its permanent site and was instrumental in getting an increase in the number of medical students approved for admission by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, (MDCN). Noting the advancement he effected at LAUTECH, the then Governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola requested for and obtained his secodment to the newly-established University of Osun State, (UNIOSUN) to start their Medical School. Thus he became the pioneer Provost of the College of Health Sciences where he worked for five meritorious years and secured its NUC accreditation, before returning to LAUTECH.
Professor Adewole had barely settled down after his return to LAUTECH when Bowen University, (BU), came to request for his services. Feeling reluctant to leave LAUTECH again, it took the intervention of the then President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention and the Vice Chancellor of BU to formerly secure his release to them. There, He became the Provost of the College of Health Science and the Acting Chief Medical Director of BU Teaching Hospital. He remained a member of both the BUTH Governing Board and their Heaith and Allied Services Ltd Board. He continued to be the Chairman of the Medical Board of the Nigerian Baptist Convention until his demise.
It is worthy of note that he was not only a teacher, but a father to his students and staff, lending a helping hand in times of trouble, and paying the school fees of some of the indigent students.
Having attained the statutory retirement age of 70 years, he was just settling down to establish a clinic in Ede when, through a chance encounter, his C.V. and credentials came to the notice of the officials of Nile University, Abuja, who were very impressed and promptly gave him an offer of appointment which he held until he passed on.
Professor Taiwo Adewole was a devout Christian; he was was devoted to serving God and was so much involved in Church work that he and his wife were sent by New Estate Baptist Church, Lagos, to go and pioneer New Heritage Baptist Church, Lagos. He was ordained a Deacon on 7th April, 2001 at New Heritage Baptist and served as the Chairman of the Deaconate Board for years. Sometime later, he held the position of Church Leader at Baptist Church Oke Apaso, Ede while the Church was in search of a substantive Pastor. Even in Abuja, he attended the First Baptist Church, Garki up to the last Sunday of his life.
He led the Medical Team of the Osun State Christian Pilgrimage to the Holy Land three times, and his team was adjudged the best State Medical Team by the National Medical Coordinator in the November, 2012 exercise.
Professor Taiwo Adewole was married to his sweetheart, Morounkeji, from the Fifo family of Ondo town, and the union is blessed with three sons, one of whom is late. He was a caring and loving family man, and his devoted wife remained staunchly at his side up till the early hours of 4th September, 2019, when he passed away.
He will be sorely missed by his family, Church, friends, community, and hometown (Ede). He left a good legacy, and a fitting epitaph for him comes :from the Bible :
“.....Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord ... that they may rest from their labours, and their works follow them” Revelations 14 : 13
