Birthday Blessings to a Dear Teacher of Teachers &
Mentor of Mentors,
Today, Friday 16th February 2024
On behalf of the entire College of Medicine, University of Ibadan (CoMUI), I congratulate Professor Julius Babashola Familusi, a distinguished teacher of teachers, accomplished researcher, astute clinician, and father of Paediatric Neurology in Nigeria, and wish him a very happy 90th birthday. I also thank him for the outstanding lectures he gave me when I was a medical student. I place a short biography below in his honour as he attains the blessed and privileged age of 90. It is such a privilege to celebrate my teacher and showcase just a small aspect of his distinctive journey to 90.
Professor Julius Babashola Familusi was born at the Massey Street Maternity Hospital, Lagos, on 16th February 1934. He had his primary school education at the Ebenezer African Church School, Salvation Army Road, Ibadan, from 1943 to 1949. He gained admission to the prestigious Government College, Ibadan, in 1950, sat for the Cambridge School Certificate examination in 1954, and came out in brilliant colours.
He was admitted to the University College, Ibadan, to study Medicine on October 1, 1955, and graduated with the MBBS (London) degree in 1962. His set was the first to take Paediatrics as a separate subject in the final examination. He thereafter proceeded to the Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesha, for his internship, and it is noteworthy that Prof. J.B. Familusi was the very first African to work as a doctor at the Hospital, which had hitherto been run exclusively by white doctors. He later worked as a House Surgeon in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University College Hospital, Ibadan.
In 1964, Prof. J.B. Familusi proceeded to the United Kingdom for the British Postgraduate Medical Federation and completed his residency training in 1967, having obtained the Diploma in Child Health certificate and the Membership of the Royal College of Physicians (UK). He returned to Nigeria in December 1967 and was appointed Senior Registrar in Paediatrics at the University College Hospital, Ibadan. He worked as a Research Fellow at the Institute of Child Health, University of Ibadan, from February to October 1969. He was appointed Honorary Consultant in Paediatrics, UCH, in July 1969. He also had a very brilliant academic career in Paediatrics in November 1969 and had a very brilliant academic career in Paediatrics. He became a Senior Lecturer in 1972 and full Professor in October, 1976.
Professor J.B. Familusi is a recipient of several distinguished awards and Fellowships. He won the Western Nigeria Government Scholarship from 1955-1962. He was at the University of Minnesota at Rockefeller Foundation Fellow from February 1972 to March 1973. He also won the Heinz Fellowship of the British Paediatrics Association award in 1974, the Pfizer Travelling Fellowship in October 1975, Adeola Odutola Travelling Fellowship in 1978, the Fulbright Senior African Fellowship in 1983, and the Commonwealth Senior Medical Fellowship in 1987.
Professor Familusi, by virtue of his interest in poliomyelitis, spent some time at the Yale School of Medicine studying Virology. It is again remarkable that he worked in the laboratory of the popular Prof. Salk who invented the injectable killed polio vaccine.
Prof. J.B. Familusi is a distinguished alumnus of the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan.
He had his postgraduate training in Paediatrics in Nigeria and the United Kingdom. He later joined the services of the College of Medicine and UCH as Lecturer and Honorary consultant respectively in 1969 and became a full professor of Paediatrics in 1976.
He had a very brilliant academic career in Paediatrics. He is a recipient of several distinguished awards and fellowships nationally and internationally.
Professor J.B Familusi can be aptly described as the Father of Paediatric Neurology in Nigeria. As the first Paediatric Neurologist in Nigeria, he has made his mark both in Nigeria and in the circle of International Paediatric Neurology. He is a foundation member of the International Child Neurology Association (ICNA), served as the Editor for Africa for the ICNA Review of Child Neurology Journal member, and Institute of Medicines Committee for Nervous System Disorders in the Developing Countries a body attached to the USA National Academy of Science.
Prof. J.B. Familusi has published more than 80 articles in Scientific Journals and was one of the editors of the book, “Neurology in the Developing Countries”. He was Chair, Faculty of Paediatrics, National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria from 1985-1988, President Paediatrics Association of Nigeria from 1986-1988, and President, Nigerian Society of Neurological Sciences from 1999-2000.
Prof. Familusi retired from the University of Ibadan and the University College Hospital on September 30, 2000, and became Provost, College of Health Sciences, LAUTECH, Ogbomosho from 2001.
A devout Christian and a committed member of the Methodist Church, Nigeria, Prof. J.B Familusi was married to his heartthrob, Mrs. Mobolaji Adetinrin Familusi, who went to be with the Lord last year, and their union is blessed with 5 successful children.
I pray that the Almighty continues to grant him good health and strength for him to continue to enjoy the fruit of his labour. Amen.
Congratulations, Sir.
Olayinka Omigbodun FAS
Professor of Psychiatry & Provost, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan.
Goodwill Message from the Department of Paediatrics
The Department of Paediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan and University College Hospital, Ibadan celebrates today, the father of Paediatric Neurology in Nigeria, Professor Julius Babashola Familusi on his 90th birthday. We appreciate his immense contribution to the development of Paediatrics in Nigeria.
We pray that the Lord will continually renew his strength and satisfy him with good health.
Dr. Adanze Onyenonachi Asinobi (Nee Nwachuku)
Head, Department of Paediatrics