Professor Onatolu Odukoya, ICMA, was born over six decades ago at Odonopa, Ijebu Imusin, into the family of Pa Michael Onojobi Odukoya and Madam Janet Adetowun Odukoya. He had his primary education at Holy Cross Catholic Primary School, Lagos, where he gained his First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC). He then attended Igbobi College, Yaba, Lagos, where he completed his secondary school education to earn the West African School Certificate (WASC) and Higher School Certificate (HSC). In 1971, he proceeded to the University of Lagos for his higher education and graduated with a Bachelor of Dental Medicine (DM) in 1976, before attaining his MMSC in Dental Medicine from Harvard University, Boston, USA in 1983. That same year, he earned the Dental Medicine Certificate in Oral Pathology.
He was a Fellow of the Medical College of Nigeria in Dental Surgery (1996); Fellow of the West African College of Surgeons (2000); and Professor of Dental Surgery (1996). He served as Lecturer and Consultant, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and Chief Medical Director of LUTH (1998 – 2006). He also served as Visiting Senior Lecturer and Professor in Oral Pathology at the University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, and the University of Benin, and then as an External Examiner for the universities.
He is an Examiner for Fellowship examinations of the National Postgraduate Medical College, and Fellowship examinations of West Africa College of Surgeons. He is a member of various national and international associations such as Nigeria Dental Association; Nigeria Medical Association; American Association for the Advancement of Science (International Member); International Association, New York Academy of Science; Full Member, Nigeria Institute of Management; and Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Loan and Risk Management of Nigeria.
He won awards at the Faculty of Dental Sciences of the University of Lagos in 2010 and was honoured with the Ijebu Imusin Merit Award in 2011. Other awards and honours which he has won include:
- ‘Among 2000 Foremost Nigerians’ (Aug. 2001) by UNIPECS, OAU, Ile-Ife.
- ‘Among Who’s Who in the 21st Century’ (Nov. 2002) by International Biographical Centre, Cambridge, England, in recognition of his contributions to the field of Dentistry and Oral Pathology.
- ‘Universal Award of Accomplishment’ by American Biographical Institute, USA (2002).
- Africa International Achievers’ Merit Award for Excellence’ (2005) by Africa International News Magazine.
- ‘Development in Nigeria Merit Award’ (DNMA) by PSR (May 2006) for contributions to the development of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the field of Human Medicine.
- ‘Marie Currier Certificate of High Achievement in Dentistry and Oral Pathology’ (July 2006) by the International Biographical Centre, Cambridge, England.
- ‘Dr. Kwame Nkrumah Africa Leadership Award’ (Sept. 2006) by West African Communications Limited.
- ‘LUTH Engineering Department Merit Award’ (January 2010) in appreciation of his contributions to the development of the department and outstanding leadership qualities during his tenure as Chief Medical Director of LUTH.
- Faculty of Dental Sciences of University of Lagos Merit Award (July 2010) in appreciation of his contributions to the faculty.
- ‘Igbobi Old Boys Association Merit Award (2010) for Professional Excellence in the category of Medicine.
He has identified very much with his community and is credited with the supply of bore-hole water for his neighbours in Ijebu Imusin. He has contributed substantially to the extension of electricity to various houses in the community. His role in the construction of the Oba Oloko’s Palace was significant. He is happily married to Mrs. Oluwatoyin, and they are blessed with grown children.
