Venerable (Dr.) Babatunde Oluyemisi Abisoye Jaiyeola was born on January 1, 1936 at Odolameso village, in Ijebu-Imusin, to Chief Williams Robert Ayoola Jaiyeola and Mrs. Sabina Olusola Jaiyeola (neé Obisanya). He started his early life at Ijebu-Imusin. At age 3, he went with his father who was a headmaster, to St. Paul’s School, Odogbolu, in Ogun state. At age 7, he moved to Lagos where he was enrolled at Elizabeth Fowler Memorial School, then at Wakeman Street Yaba, Lagos. He was there till 1944 when his parents had to move back to Ijebu. There, he continued at St Mary’s School, Ijebu-Imusin. In 1947, his parents again moved to Lagos. Venerable Jaiyeola started school again at St Jude’s School, Ebute Meta, then moved to Igbobi College in 1951 for his secondary education.
He finished secondary school in 1955, and worked at Lagos High Court as an interpreter and a court clerk from January 1956 to November 1957 when he had to leave for Britain. He enrolled for and passed the GCE A ‘Level at Portsmouth Technical College in the south of England in 1959. Thereafter, he was admitted into St. Andrew’s University, Queens College, Scotland, in 1960 and graduated as a medical doctor in 1966. In 1966, he proceeded to Rexam in Wales for his ‘house job’. He later became a senior House Officer and was registered in March 1967.
On his return to Nigeria in 1972, he started work at LUTH from April 1972 till July 1986. In July 1988, he moved to the Lagos State General Hospital Ikeja, serving there until July 1999. At the time of his departure from Ikeja General Hospital, he was the first Medical Director of the Lagos State Emergency Services at the new department that was opened by Gov. Buba Marwa. He led the Lagos State Medical Emergency team that went to Jesse during the fire episode.
He has received a lot of awards in his graceful life which include the Famuyiwa Award for the Best Overseas Student in 1964; the Soroptimists Award; the Chapel of the Healing Cross Merit Award; the Serendipity House Golden Award; Kosofe Archdeaconry Award; etc. After his demise, he received numerous posthumous awards such as the St. Mary’s Church Award for Spirituality, and many others.
He was a Member, of the College of Physicians (FMCP), the Cardiac Society, and a member of the 1955 Form Five (MNFFF) of Igbobi College. He is also a member of the Lion’s Club in Europe and a Life Member of the Ikoyi Club 1938. At the Ikoyi club in 1938, ‘Doc’, as he was called, played the game of squash and went into the gymnasium every week until the night before his death.
He practiced medicine at his own Heart Care Centre, Nisone Specialist Hospital, Maryland, Lagos. He also consulted for Omni Medical Centre, Unity Hospitals, Shoreman Medical, Jajo Hospitals, and others in Lagos.
Venerable (Dr) Jaiyeola was a full member of St. Mary’s Anglican Church, Ijebu-Imusin, Ogun State. He left behind his wife Olori Ayaba Ayo Yemisi-Jaiyeola, an educationalist and proprietor at KIDS FUN PLACE, Maryland, Lagos. Venerable Jaiyeola is survived by many children and grandchildren.
