Moses Majekodunmi

Chief Moses Adekoyejo Majekodunmi (Yoruba: Adékóyèjọ Májẹ̀kódùnmí, pronunciation^ⓘ; 17 August 1916 – 11 April 2012^[1][2]) was a Nigerian gynaecologist and obstetrician. He was Minister of Health in the Nigerian First Republic.

Chief Moses Adekoyejo Majekodunmi
Minister of Health
In office 1960–1966
Administrator of Western Region (Nigeria)
In office 29 June 1962 – December 1962
Preceded by	Samuel Akintola
Succeeded by	Samuel Akintola
Personal details
Born	(1916-08-17)17 August 1916 Abeokuta, Nigeria
Died	11 April 2012(2012-04-11) (aged 95)

As an Oloye of the Yoruba people, he held the chieftaincy titles of the Mayegun of Lagos and the Otun Balogun of the Christians of Egbaland.^[3][4]

Early life and education

Majekodunmi was born in Abeokuta in August 1916. He studied at Abeokuta Grammar School, St. Gregory's College, Lagos, before proceeding to Trinity College Dublin where he earned a degree in Anatomy and Physiology in 1936. He also earned a 1st Class degree in Bacteriology and Clinical Medicine in 1940.^[5][6]

Medical career

In Ireland, he worked as an in-house physician at the National Children's Hospital and the Rotunda Hospital from 1941 to 1942. In 1943, he joined the Federal Government Medical Services as a medical doctor and established his medical practice.^[5] He played key roles in the establishment of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital^[7] and also founded Saint Nicholas Hospital in Lagos, which opened in March 1968.^[8]

Political career

He was elected into the Nigerian Senate in 1960. He was appointed sole administrator of the Western Region in June 1962 after a political crisis in the region, holding office in place of Premier Samuel Akintola until December of that year.^[9]

The crisis was due to a struggle between Akintola and the former Western Region Premier and current leader of the opposition Obafemi Awolowo, which had led to violent scenes in the House of Assembly. On advice from the police, one of his first acts was to sign restriction orders to detain leaders of both factions.^[9] After the situation had stabilized, Akintola resumed office on 1 January 1963.^[10]

Noted relatives

Two of his children include Olufemi Majekodunmi and Desmond Majekodunmi.

Bibliography

• Moses Adekoyejo Majekodunmi (1998). My lord what a morning: autobiography of Moses Adekoyejo Majekodunmi. Macmillan. ISBN 978-018-213-6.