Dr Olajumoke Olayinka Ibidapo, whose parents hail from Ilesa, Osun State, was born on October 8, 1958 to the family of Late Elder Josiah Olagunju and Mrs Adebisi Omotunde Olajoyegbe in Lagos state.
Growing up with a strong passion for the field of medicine, Olajumoke, after successfully having her primary and secondary education at Ireti Primary School and Holy Child College respectively, she went on to the International School, University of Ibadan, to read for her Advanced Levels examinations.
Following her A’ Level programmed, she was admitted into the University of Ibadan to study medicine and was set on the path to having her dream come true. In 1982, she graduated with an MBBS Degree from the University.
Three years later, on April 1, 1985, Olajumoke joined the Lagos State Civil Service. While there, she served at the rural areas in Badagry, a town along the coastlines of Lagos State. She was, later, posted to the Lagos Island Maternity Hospital, where she served for four years.
Although she was recognised as an active and distinct surgeon, Olajumoke decided to chart a new course in the field of Medicine – she decided she wanted to be an Ophthalmologist. Without much ado, she applied and got admitted at the University College, Ibadan. At the end of her course duration, she was awarded with the “Residency Training Year Abroad Program” award to reward her excellent academic performance.
Once out of Lagos, she went under the tutelage of renowned Ophthalmologist, Mr J. J. Kanski of King Edward VI Hospital, Windsor, England, from where she headed to Germany for further specialist training.
Upon her return to Nigeria, Dr Olajumoke was made the Secretary of the Ophthalmological Society of Nigeria, Lagos branch. At this time, the society was focused on seeing that blindness was drastically reduced in the country. Working with Dr Toyin Ogundipe, President of the Society and Dr Leke Pitan, then Commissioner for Health, she was able to get the government to assist and be involved in their projects. The program, which became a success, was thereafter endorsed by the government of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. She, therefore, became the founding director of the Lagos State Blindness Prevention Program Unit of the Ministry of Health, Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja, Lagos.
She also acted in several other capacities such as Director of Medical Administration, Training and Programs, Director in charge of Continuing Medical Education, as well as coordinating health programs. Her relevance was not limited to Lagos; other states’governments (Osun, Oyo, Ekiti, and Ondo) invited her to work with them also.
Dr Olajumoke currently works with the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), having left the Ministry of Health. She is the Residency Training Director of the department of Ophthalmology and is involved in training of residents in the department.
Dr (Mrs) Olajumoke Ibidapo is the Medical Director of Viewpoint Specialist Eye Centre, Lagos, a comprehensive eye care facility she established in 1997. She is a Fellow and member of the Board of the Faculty of Ophthalmology of The National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria and a Fellow of the West African College of Surgeons.
Outside the medical field, she serves as a Director on the board of Mutual Alliance Investments and Securities – a stock brooking firm in Lagos. Dr Olajumoke was bequeathed with the PSR Woman of Merit Gold Award in 2013. She is happily married with children.
References: woman.peopleandpowerngr.com/2016/12/26/ibidapo-dr-olayinka-olajumoke/
Feature Image: peopleandpowerngr.com
