The immediate younger brother of Professor Wole Soyinka, Professor Femi Soyinka, is dead.
The former Provost of the College of Health Sciences of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, died on Tuesday at the age of 85.
According to a statement by his family, signed by his son, Ayodele, Soyinka died in the early hours of Tuesday, June 14, 2022, at his home in Kukumada Village, Ibadan, Oyo State.
Soyinka, who received a Medical degree in Medicine and Surgery MBchB from the University of Heidelberg in 1964, worked in the academia for 30 years, holding various positions from Chief Medical Director to Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences and the Provost of the College of Health Sciences of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
The statement read: “The Soyinka Family of Ake/Isara, Ogun State, has announced the passing of their father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, uncle Professor Femi Soyinka, which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, 14 June 2022 at his home in Kukumada Village, Ibadan, Oyo State.
“Born in 1937, Professor Femi Soyinka received a Medical degree in Medicine and Surgery MBchB from University of Heidelberg, 1964; and Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree from the same University in 1965. He specialised and practised as a Dermatologist, Venereologist and Allergologist at the University of Giessen, 1969.
“In 1972, he obtained a Master of Public Health degree from Hadassah Medical School, (MPH) Israel.
“He worked in the academic field for 30 years, holding various positions from Chief Medical Director to Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences and the Provost of College of Health Sciences of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. He was also involved in extensive research work on Tropical Skin Diseases and Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in collaboration with the Federal government, international donor agencies and organizations such as the World Bank, UNDP, DFID, the British Council; and the International Development Re-search Centre, Canada.
“He pioneered several researches in the field of HIV/AIDS and worked as consultant to various international and local agencies including the World Health Organization, DFID, UNDP and Nigerian Federal Ministry of Health based on his extensive experience on the subject in various parts of the country.
