About Us
CHIEF DR MOSES ADEKOYEJO MAJEKODUNMI C.F.R., C.M.G.(17 AUGUST 1916 - 11TH APRIL 2012)
Our Founder
Chief Dr M.A. Majekodunmi was a pioneer Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, a seasoned Administrator and a Distinguished Scholar. He attended Abeokuta Grammar School 1929-30 and St. Gregory’s College Lagos 1931-34, where he passed the Senior Cambridge Examination with flying colors and received exemption from the London Matriculation Examination.
1n 1935 he left to study Medicine at Trinity College Dublin, and after graduating in 1941 he took a post-graduate Diploma and Doctor of Medicine degree. He was the youngest African at the age of twenty-six to achieve this mark. Prior to reading medicine, he read Logic and Philosophy taking a first degree in 1939.
He returned to Nigeria in 1943 and enrolled in the Colonial Civil Service. A meritorious service career took him to Calabar, Oshogbo and beyond. By hard work and dedication he rose within the ranks to become Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist in the Federal Ministry of Health 1949-59.
On the invitation of the Prime Minister, Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, he joined the Federal Administration as a Senator, Senate Leader and Minister of State for the Army in 1960. He also served as a Federal Minister of Health 1961-1966. As Federal Minister of Health, he introduced many innovations in the policy of Health Care in Nigeria that particularly catered for the interests of the common people at community levels.
He built Primary Health Centres in all the 11 wards in the then Federal Territory of Lagos, he rebuilt the outpatients department of the General Hospital. He also built the Lagos Island Maternity Hospital (baby factory), and founded the Lagos University Medical School as well as the Lagos University Teaching Hospital. He initiated the enactment of the Medical Practitioners Act, the Food and Drugs Act. During a crisis in the Western Region of Nigeria in 1962, he was appointed Administrator of the region until peace was restored.
In 1955 he was elected Fellow of Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, he was the first African to bag such an award; elected President, 16th World Health Assembly in 1963; awarded LLD degree (Jure Dignitatis) of Trinity College, Dublin 1964; elected Vice President, 3rd World Conference on Medical Education, New Delhi, India 1966; elected President Society of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of Nigeria (SOGON) 1967-74; awarded Honorary D.Sc. (Honoris causa) of the University of Lagos, 1974; awarded Fellow (Ad Eundem) of the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 1983. He served as the Chancellor of Ogun State University 1987-2000 and was honoured with D.Sc. degree (Honoris causa) of the University as its first graduate.
Chief Majekodunmi’s management expertise found expression outside his professional calling. He held various Board Directorships in some companies, and served as Chairman of a few such as MBC International Bank Limited, Nigeria Westminster Dredging and Marine Limited, Abbott Laboratory Nigeria Limited etc. He established St. Nichols Hospital in 1968 and until his death, in 2012, was the Chairman and Chief Medical Director.
He had to his credit a number of Medical Publications. In 1982, he bagged the National Award of the Commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in appreciation of his efforts and achievements, and in 1963 in recognition of the important services he had rendered to humanity, he was appointed a Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George. He was the Otun of Egbaland; the Mayegun of Lagos; the President of the Association of Lagos Titled Chiefs; President the Association of Egba Chiefs Resident in Lagos and its Environs. He held several chieftaincy titles from different parts of the country.