20 Things You Didn't Know About Nigeria & West Africa's First Female Doctor

1-She is Chief DR. (MRS.) ELIZABETH ABIMBOLA AWOLIYI (Iyaniwura must emphasize this, her name is NOT Awoniyi).

2-She was born on the 11th of November, 1910 on Lagos Island. She was the fourth child in a family of seven. She started elementary school at the St. Mary's Convent in Lagos State and from there to Queen's College, Lagos (where are the QC babes now o? Dem dey always represent sha!) and then proceeded to Dublin, Ireland to study medicine in 1929 after getting the Cambridge Examination Certificate.

3-She qualified as a medical doctor in 1936.

4-Her parents were Mr. David Evaristo Akerele and Mrs. Rufina Oyinkan Akerele, a very well-known and respected Catholic family in Lagos, with links to the Brazilian quarters (reminds me of the Cardosos and the Fernandezes)

5-She graduated from the University of Dublin, Ireland with first class honors, including a medal in medicine and a distinction in anatomy. Now, that's outstanding!

6-She was the first West African female medical doctor with Licentiate of the Royal Surgeon (Dublin) and bagged a diploma in gynaecology and obstetrics at the Trinity College, Dublin (for laymen, that simply has to do with women and childbirth, and as a golden Iyaniwura that she was, you will agree that makes a lot of sense).

7-She became a specialist in gynaecology and obstetrics.

8. She later bagged a additional diploma in child health.

9-She also got a diploma in midwifery, was a member of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP). Once a junior medical officer at the Massey Street Hospital, she later became the Chief Consultant and Medical Director for almost 10 years (1960-1969).

10. An outstanding philanthropist and a religious woman, she belonged to a number of charities and organizations, and these include the following:

-Girls Association of Nigeria
– The Catholic Women’s Association
– Old Girl’s Association of St. Mary’s Convent School
– St. Anthony's Guild
– Holy Cross Cathedral, Lagos (she was the first President of the Holy Cross Parish Women Council)
– Catholic Ladies Friendly Society
– Motherless Babies Home Governing Council
Business and Professional Women’s Association (she was also the President).
Child Care Voluntary Association (President)
– Young Women’s Christian Association
– Lagos Colony Red Cross
– National Council of Women’s Society (she was the first president of the Lagos Branch).

11- She was into private practice and did very well as a surgeon.

12- She was a member of the Royal College of Physicians (United Kingdom), and Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (MRCOG).

13- She was also a director of the Commercial Medical Store, Lagos, which she meticulously administered.

14- An avid business woman, she also owned a 27-acre poultry and citrus farm in Agege, Lagos State.

15- In 1962, the Federal Ministry of Health appointed her as a Senior Specialist Gynaecologist and Obstetrician.

16- Her titles and awards include the Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE), Iya Abiye of Lagos State (1962) and the Iyalaje of Oyo Empire. She was also awarded the Nigerian national honour, Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR).

17-The novel 'A Return to Life' was written by his son, Tunji Awoliyi, in her honour. In the book, he described her as a mother in a million and a good woman by any standard.

18- She was married to Dr. S. O. Awoliyi, who was also a medical doctor and later the Chief Medical Adviser to the Federal Government. He died in 1965.

19. Her marriage produced two wonderful kids: a boy and a girl.

20- She departed this world on the 14th of September, 1971. She was just 61.

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Na wah o, with all the degree she still died @ 61, anyway my grandma(farmer) jst died @ 102 n burial tinz is loading.

And what does that teach us? How is that relevant to the issue on ground?

Chanchit: Na wah o, with all the degree she still died @ 61, anyway my grandma(farmer) jst died @ 102 n burial tinz is loading.

GTK
TTC
WCM

Ìyániwúrà123: And what does that teach us? How is that relevant to the issue on ground?

***Your impact on people's lives is more important, it doesn't matter how long you've lived but the legacies you live behind. See Jesus Christ for example, he lived only 33 years but he's established one of the most popular religions in the world. Martin luther King and Malcom X are also good examples*******

A guy sits in a taxi and sees his wife entering a hotel with another man,
and tells the driver "do you want to earn $500 right away?". The driver excitedly said "what do I have to do?", "Bring my wife by the hair out of thathotel, here's a picture of her".
After a while the driver is seen dragging a woman bythe hair, while
kicking and beating her and puts her in the Taxi. And the husband says to him, "this is not my wife"
The driver replied"Nooooo, this is mine, hold her for me. I'm going for yours!"

My daughter will do better when she arrives.

Chanchit: Na wah o, with all the degree she still died @ 61, anyway my grandma(farmer) jst died @ 102 n burial tinz is loading.

GBAM!

wonderful.That was a great achievement. Poster, what of her 2 children now?

Chanchit: Na wah o, with all the degree she still died @ 61, anyway my grandma(farmer) jst died @ 102 n burial tinz is loading.

Just read what you posted.

Once a boy uploaded his photo holding a dog on facebook. Girl comments: Which one is you? Boy replies: The one holding you!

Chanchit: Na wah o, with all the degree she still died @ 61, anyway my grandma(farmer) jst died @ 102 n burial tinz is loading.

Mr death is not a respecter of degrees,good character,wealth, or political position,mr death is a badman

hmmm

Eya 61 My grandpa wey die @ d age of 122 we still dey cry

Brand_new:
***Your impact on people's lives os more important, it doesn't matter how long you've lived but the legacies you live behind. See Jesus Christ for example, he lived only 33 years but he's established one of the most popular religions in the world. Martin luther King and Malcom X are also good examples*******

Well said!

Chanchit: Na wah o, with all the degree she still died @ 61, anyway my grandma(farmer) jst died @ 102 n burial tinz is loading.

u just made urself a scapegoat for that statement and i know nairalanders are good at dealing with scapegoats

She also looks like a man

Why people come turn this thread to comedy zone nau?

Brand_new: Why people come turn this thread to comedy zone nau?

i tire o

yam:

u just made urself a scapegoat for that statement and i know nairalanders are good at dealing with scapegoats

Though I've not seen Iyaniwura, but I respect her, dts y I did not reply her. But I dnt knw u frm Adam, n if u can't make sense out of what I posted, then u must be really dumb. Hediot.!

Good job Iyaniwura, I remembered opening something related to that but on a wider scope on this page; https://www.nairaland.com/1118720/catalogues-history-makers-nigeria keep it up

Christianity is not one of the popular religions but the only religion God accepts.
Read 1Timothy 2:5

Brand_new:
***Your impact on people's lives os more important, it doesn't matter how long you've lived but the legacies you live behind. See Jesus Christ for example, he lived only 33 years but he's established one of the most popular religions in the world. Martin luther King and Malcom X are also good examples*******

Jah Man: Christianity is not one of the popular religions but the only religion God accepts.
Read 1Timothy 2:5

I'm not talking about religions God accepts here... smh!

So stop making erronous statements in your 'talk'.

Brand_new:
I'm not talking about religions God accepts here... smh!

She was an achiever.

Chanchit:

Though I've not seen Iyaniwura, but I respect her, dts y I did not reply her. But I dnt knw u frm Adam, n if u can't make sense out of what I posted, then u must be really dumb. Hediot.!

u ve not seen someone and u respect the person
what does acquiring degree have to do with death.