Elizabeth Abimbola Awoliyi

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Elizabeth Abimbola Awoliyi was born in the year 1910, in Lagos, the southwestern part of Nigeria, to an Aguda-origin family and her parents were David Evaristo and Rufina Akerele.^[1] The Aguda people are descendants of emancipated Afro-Brazilians and Afro-Cuban returnees who began arriving in Nigeria from 1830 onwards. She commenced her basic education at St. Mary's Catholic School, Lagos from where she proceeded to Queen's College, Lagos.^[5] Elizabeth Abimbola Awoliyi earned her medical degree in 1938 from Trinity College Dublin, Cafreys College.^[6][7][8] She graduated from Dublin with first class honors, including a medal in Medicine and distinction in Anatomy. She became the first West African woman to be awarded a Licentiate of Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, in Dublin.^[1][2] She was a Member of the Royal College of Physicians (United Kingdom) and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and a Diplomate of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.^[1][2]

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.^[2] In 1962, she was appointed as a senior specialist gynaecologist and obstetrician by the Federal Ministry of Health.^[2]

Some of her awards are Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE), Iya Abiye of Lagos, Iyalaje of Oyo Empire, and Nigerian National Honor – Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR).^[2]

The novel Return to Life, by her son Tunji Awoliyi, is dedicated to her.^[9]

Awoliyi is included as a "Nigerian Heroine of the 20th Century" in the book Nigerian Heroes and Heroines: and other issues in citizenship education, by Godwin Chukwuemeka Ezeh.^[10]

The Dr. Abimbola Awoliyi Memorial Hospital is located in Lagos Island, Lagos, Nigeria.^[11]

Awoliyi owned a 27-acre poultry and orange farm in Agege, Lagos, and became director of the commercial medical store in Lagos.^[2]

NCWS

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^[12] and she contributed to their policies and activities. She negotiated for the gift of a national headquarters located at Tafawa Balewa Square and was a consultant to the organization's family planning clinic which later became the planned parenthood federation of Nigeria.^[12] She succeeded Kofo Ademola as the second president of the NCWS in 1964.

Leadership and philanthropy

Source:^[2]

• She was the first president of the Holy Cross Parish Women Council at the Holy Cross Cathedral in Lagos
• 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 Societies (Also became the first President of the Lagos branch)

Elizabeth Abimbola Awoliyi was married to fellow physician Dr. S. O. Awoliyi and had two children; a son and a daughter.^[2] Her husband died in 1965. Dr Elizabeth Abimbola Awoliyi died on 14 September 1971 at the age of 61.^[2]

• Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
• Iya Abiye of Lagos
• Iyalaje of Oyo
• Nigerian National Honor – Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR)

• Timeline of women in science
• Women in medicine