PROFESSOR TOLU ODUGBEMI

OON, NNOM , Hon. D.Sc, Ph.D (Sheffield), MD (Lagos), DFMC, PNMC, FNAMed, FAS, FRCPath (UK), FMCPath (Nig.), FWACP (Lab. Med.).

Professor Tolu Odugbemi hails from Oke-Igbo in Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo Local Government of Ondo State, Nigeria. After a brilliant primary and secondary school education, he enrolled in the College of Medicine of the University of Lagos to read Medicine during which he also registered as a Pioneer Student of Microbiology. He emerged with a B.Sc. (Hons) degree Microbiology in 1970 and the MB, BS Degree in 1972. He also obtained a Diploma in Bacteriology from the University of Toronto, Canada (1976) as well as Doctor of Philosophy degree (PhD) University of Sheffield (1978) and Doctor of Medicine (M.D) degree in 1982 from the University of Lagos (UNILAG). He completed his residency training in Medical Microbiology at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba and subsequently qualified as a Fellow of the West African College of Physicians (FWACP) in 1976. He is also a Foundation fellow of the National Postgraduate Medical College (FMCPath) and a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists, U.K (FRCPath).
He was the foundation Professor and Head of the Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin from 1983-1985, Professor and Head Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, College of Medicine of the University of Lagos at various times. Honorary Lecturer, Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Sheffield, UK, 1976-1978, Guest Researcher, Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Research Laboratory, Center for Infectious Diseases, Atlanta, Georgia, USA, 1981-1982. He is also a former Honorary Consultant Microbiologist, Lagos University Teaching Hospital and the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital.
Prof. Odugbemi is a medical microbiologist and parasitologist of international repute and a seasoned administrator who has made many land mark contributions to medical profession and humanity through his outstanding research findings. His main research interests are Sexually Transmitted diseases Agents, Antimicrobial Resistance, Nosocomial infections, Clinical Bacteriology, Collection and Conservation of Medicinal Plants in Nigeria. He has to his credit over 200 publications of excellent research in Microbiology and other areas in national and international Journals. Among his publications are two books titled “Outline and Picture of Medicinal Plants from Nigeria” and “A textbook of Medicinal Plants from Nigeria” which provide in-depth information about medicinal plants and their usefulness in Nigeria. He also has a database of medicinal plants on his website: www.medicinalplantsinnigeria.com.
Prof. Odugbemi has also played a key role in dissemination of medical research findings by founding the Nigeria Journal of Health and Biomedical Sciences. He had previously served as Editor-in-Chief of the Nigerian Quarterly Journal of Hospital Medicine and as Editorial consultant to other medical journals and member of several professional bodies.
A seasoned administrator, he is presently a member of the governing council of University of Medical Sciences, Ondo. He had also previously served as Provost, College of Medicine of the University of Lagos (CMUL) 1997- 2000, President National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (2002-2003). He is a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (2007-2010) and also the Ondo State University of Science and Technology (OSUSTECH) Okitipupa, Nigeria (2010-2015). Prof Odugbemi has previously been a member of the governing councils of the University of Lagos, Ondo State University of Science and Technology, University of Medical Sciences Ondo, West African College of Physicians, Nigerian Academy of Science and the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria. As President of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria he was also the Chairman of the Governing Board of that institution.
Prof. Odugbemi has received many accolades nationally and internationally for his distinguished scholarship and outstanding contributions to the field of medicine and upliftment of education. He was honoured with the Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM) and the Officer of the Order of Niger (OON) awards on 6th December, 2007 and 14th February, 2008 respectively by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He is a Fellow of the Nigeria Academy of Science (1997), a Distinguished Fellow of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (DFMC) (2011) and a recipient of an honorary Doctor of Science (Hon. DSc) degree from his alma mater, The University of Sheffield, United Kingdom (2011). Also in 2011, The Ondo State Government awarded him the ‘State Recognition for outstanding professional accomplishments’. The University of Medical Sciences, Ondo city (UNIMED) recognised him for his outstanding contributions for development UNIMED and for one of the earliest visionaries for specialised medical university in Nigeria. He received an “Award of Excellence as UNIMED SURGE AMBASSADOR “at the 2nd and 3rd joint Convocation ceremony of University of Medical Sciences, Odosida campus Ondo City held on 2nd February, 2022. He also holds the traditional chieftaincy titles of Alatunse of Okeigbo, Gbekoniyi of Ondo Kingdom and Fiwajoye of Oke-Ayedun Ekiti. He is also Baba-Ijo of St. Luke's Anglican Church, Okeigbo in Ondo State.
He is a Foundation Fellow and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Nigerian Academy of Medicine. In addition, he is serving on the Council of the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo City having been appointed by the Governor of Ondo State.