THE COLLEGE OF MEDICINE, UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN
MOURNS THE PASSING OF
PROFESSOR OLUSOLA AYENI, B.Sc. (Ibadan) M.Sc., Ph.D. (London)
11 May 1944 --- 17 June 2023
I received the very sad news from the Dean of the Faculty of Public Health, Professor GREE Ana, of the transition of a teacher of teachers and a mentor of mentors, Professor Olusola Ayeni, on Saturday, 17th June, 2023.
The Acting Head of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Dr. Onoja Akpa, has put together a tribute in his honour.
Tribute from the Department of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics
The Department of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Faculty of Public Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan (CoMUI) announces with great sorrow the passing of Professor Olusola Ayeni, B.Sc. (Ib) M.Sc., Ph.D. (London), a distinguished teacher, mentor, and role model. Professor Olusola Ayeni held a bachelor's degree in Statistics from the University of Ibadan and advanced degrees in Medical Statistics from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of London.
Prof. Ayeni was an accomplished applied medical statistician and demographer, specializing in study design, protocol development, data management, and statistical methods. He made significant contributions to the field, authoring or co-authoring over 100 articles, background papers, books, and book chapters. His expertise encompassed various aspects of health statistics, including sources and evaluation of health statistics, estimation of health indices and population parameters, development of health statistics education, and the design and analysis of studies on reproductive health topics such as contraceptive safety and efficacy, as well as breastfeeding.
Born on May 11, 1944, Prof. Ayeni hailed from Emure Ekiti in Ekiti State, where he was revered as an esteemed elder statesman. He received his education at the renowned Ekitiparapo College and pursued his undergraduate studies at the University of Ibadan from 1962 to 1966, earning a BSc (Hons) in Statistics. He commenced his statistical career at the defunct Federal Office of Statistics in Lagos, Nigeria, between 1966 and 1968. During the years 1968 to 1969, Olusola Ayeni was part of the pioneering set of the MSc program in Medical Statistics at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
In 1969, he joined the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine at the University of Ibadan as a Lecturer and steadily ascended the ranks to become a professor in 1980. In 1985, he opted for voluntary retirement to serve as Chief of Clinical Trials and Informatics for the Special Programme of Research, Development, and Training in Human Reproduction (HRP) at the World Health Organization (WHO) until June 2004.
During his tenure at WHO HRP, Prof. Ayeni played a pivotal role in securing a training grant for the MSc Epidemiology and Medical Statistics program at the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan. Fuelled by his passion for the growth of the Medical Statistics program, he returned as a Visiting Professor and later as an Adjunct Professor to the Department of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics from 2004 to 2018. He made substantial contributions to the department, teaching MSc students in Clinical Trials, Demographic Methods, and Advanced Demographic Techniques until 2016. Additionally, he provided guidance and mentorship to numerous master's and Ph.D. students.
Even after his passing, Prof. Ayeni remains a profound source of inspiration and mentorship to the staff and students of the Department of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Faculty of Public Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan. His absence will be deeply felt.
Prof Ayeni is survived by his wife, children, and grandchildren.
Dr. Onoja Akpa
Acting Head of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Professor Ayeni for his role as a builder of individuals and institutions. He served his institution faithfully and has now transitioned into eternity. His impact lives on in the hearts and lives of those he touched. The seeds he planted in the College have grown into a mighty tree, yielding more seeds, and nurturing the growth of future generations.
May God bring comfort and blessings to his wife, children, and grandchildren. May God also provide solace and blessings to the members of the Department of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, the Faculty of Public Health, and the entire College.
The Memory of the Just is Blessed!
Further information will be communicated as it becomes available.
Olayinka Omigbodun FAS
Professor of Psychiatry & Provost