Chief Chief may refer to: Title or rank Military and law enforcement * Chief master sergeant, the ninth, and highest, enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force * Chief of police, the head of a police department * Chief of the boa ...

Elizabeth Abimbola Awoliyi, (

née A birth name is the name of a person given upon birth. The term may be applied to the surname, the given name, or the entire name. Where births are required to be officially registered, the entire name entered onto a birth certificate or birth re ...

Akerele, 1910–14 September 1971) was the first woman to practise as a physician in Nigeria. She was also the first West African woman to earn a license of Royal Surgeon in Dublin. In 1938, Elizabeth Awoliyi became the second

West Africa West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of Africa. The United Nations defines Western Africa as the 16 countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Maurit ...

n woman to qualify as an orthodox-medicine trained physician after

Agnes Yewande Savage Agnes Yewande Savage (21 February 1906 – 1964) was a Nigerian medical doctor and the first West African woman to train and qualify in orthodox medicine. Savage was the first West African woman to receive a university degree in medicine, gradua ...

who graduated from medical school in 1929. She was the second president of the

National Council of Women's Societies National Council of Women's Societies, also known by its acronym NCWS, is a Nigerian non-governmental and non-partisan women's organization composed of a network of independent women organizations in Nigeria binding together to use NCWS' platform ...

of Nigeria from 1964 until her death in 1971.

Life

Elizabeth Abimbola Awoliyi was born in

Lagos Lagos (Nigerian English: ; ) is the largest city in Nigeria and the List of cities in Africa by population, second most populous city in Africa, with a population of 15.4 million as of 2015 within the city proper. Lagos was the national ca ...

, South-western part of Nigeria, to the Aguda family of David Evaristo and Rufina Akerele. She commenced her education at St. Mary's Catholic School, Lagos from where she proceeded to

Queen's College, Lagos Queen's College, Lagos, is a government-owned girl's secondary (high) school with boarding facilities, situated in Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria. Often referred to as the "sister college" of King's College, Lagos, it was founded on October 10, 1927, when ...

. Elizabeth Abimbola Awoliyi earned her medical degree in 1938 from the

University of Dublin The University of Dublin ( ga, Ollscoil Átha Cliath), corporately designated the Chancellor, Doctors and Masters of the University of Dublin, is a university located in Dublin, Ireland. It is the degree-awarding body for Trinity College Dubl ...

, Cafreys College. She graduated from Dublin with first class honors, including a medal in Medicine and distinction in

Anatomy Anatomy () is the branch of biology concerned with the study of the structure of organisms and their parts. Anatomy is a branch of natural science that deals with the structural organization of living things. It is an old science, having its ...

. She became the first West African woman to be awarded a licentiate of Royal Surgeon in Dublin. She was a member of the

Royal College of Physicians The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) is a British professional membership body dedicated to improving the practice of medicine, chiefly through the accreditation of physicians by examination. Founded by royal charter from King Henry VIII in 1 ...

(United Kingdom) and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecology and a Diplomate of the

Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, often referred to as the RCPCH, is the professional body for paediatricians (doctors specialising in child health) in the United Kingdom. It is responsible for the postgraduate training of paed ...

. Elizabeth Abimbola Awoliyi returned to Nigeria and became a gynaecologist and junior medical officer at the Massey Street Hospital Lagos. She later became a chief consultant and Medical Director at that hospital, holding the latter position from 1960 through 1969. In 1962, she was appointed as a senior specialist gynaecologist and obstetrician by the Federal Ministry of Health. Some of her awards are:

Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

(MBE), Iya Abiye of Lagos, Iyalaje of Oyo Empire, and Nigerian National Honor – Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR). The novel ''Return to Life'', by her son Tunji Awoliyi, is dedicated to her. Elizabeth Abimbola Awoliyi is mentioned in "Chapter Six: Nigerian Heroines of the 20th Century" in the book ''Nigerian heroes and heroines: and other issues in citizenship education'', by Godwin Chukwuemeka Ezeh. Dr. Abimbola Awoliyi Memorial Hospital is located in

Lagos Island Lagos Island (''Ìsàlẹ̀ Èkó'') is the principal and central local government area (LGA) in Lagos, it was the capital of Lagos State until 1957. It is part of the Lagos Division. As of the preliminary 2006 Nigerian census, the LGA had a pop ...

, Lagos, Nigeria. Elizabeth Awoliyi dabbled in private enterprise – owning a 27-acre poultry and orange farm in

Agege Agege is a suburb and local government area in the Ikeja Division of Lagos State, Nigeria. Etymology When the kolanut plantations in the Agege area started to flourish it attracted huge settlements. Agege experienced rapid development a ...

, Lagos and becoming director of the commercial medical store in Lagos.

NCWS

Elizabeth Abimbola Awoliyi was the pioneer president of the Lagos branch of the National Council of Women's Societies (NCWS) and a member of the national committee of the organization. As a member, she contributed to various policies and activities of the women's organization. She negotiated for the gift of a national headquarters located at

Tafawa Balewa Square The Tafawa Balewa Square, (TBS) is a ceremonial ground (originally called "Race Course") in Lagos Island, Lagos. History Lagos Race Course now TBS, was a sports field that hosted horse racing, but included a section for football and ground t ...

and was a consultant to the organization's family planning clinic which later became the planned parenthood federation of Nigeria. She succeeded Kofo Ademola as the second president of the NCWS in 1964.

Leadership and philanthropy

* Holy Cross Cathedral Lagos, where she became the first president of the Holy Cross Parish Women Council. * Motherless babies Home Governing Council * Business and Professional Women's Association (president) * Child Care Voluntary Association (President) * Lagos Colony Red Cross * National Council of Women's Society (Also became the first President of the Lagos branch)

Personal life

Elizabeth Abimbola Awoliyi was married to physician Dr. S. O. Awoliyi and had two children; a son and a daughter. Her husband died in 1965. Dr Elizabeth Abimbola Awoliyi died on 14 September 1971 at the age of 61.

Awards and honours

* Member of the

Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established ...

(MBE) * Iya Abiye of Lagos * Iyalaje of Oyo * Nigerian National Honor – Officer of the

Order of the Federal Republic The Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) is one of two orders of merit, established by the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 1963. It is senior to the Order of the Niger. The highest honours where the Grand Commander in the Order of the Federal Re ...

(OFR)

References

Sources

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Awoliyi, Elizabeth Abimbola 1910 births 1971 deaths Nigerian gynaecologists Women gynaecologists Nigerian women medical doctors 20th-century Nigerian medical doctors Physicians from Lagos Yoruba women physicians Alumni of Trinity College Dublin Queen's College, Lagos alumni People from colonial Nigeria Members of the Order of the British Empire Officers of the Order of the Niger History of women in Lagos 20th-century Nigerian women 20th-century women physicians