Wole Soyinka’s brother, Femi, dies at 85

Professor Femi Soyinka, brother to Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, is dead. The former Provost of College of Health Sciences of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, died on Tuesday at the age of 85 years.

According to a statement by his family, signed by his son, Ayodele, Soyinka died in the early hours of Tuesday at his home in Kukumada Village, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Soyinka, who bagged a degree in Medicine and Surgery (MBchB) from the University of Heidelberg in 1964, worked in the academia for 30 years, holding various positions from Chief Medical Director to Dean of Faculty of Health Sciences and Provost of College of Health Sciences of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

The statement reads: “The Soyinka family of Ake/Isara, Ogun State has announced the passing of their father, grand father, great grandfather, brother and uncle, Professor Femi Soyinka, which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, June 14, 2022 at his home in Kukumada Village, Ibadan, Oyo State.

“Born in 1937, Prof. Soyinka received a medical degree in Medicine and Surgery (MBchB) from University of Heidelberg, 1964, and Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree from the same university in 1965. He specialised and practised as a dermatologist, venereologist and allergologist at the University of Giessen, 1969.

“In 1972, he obtained a Master’s of Public Health degree from Hadassah Medical School (MPH), Israel.

“He worked in the academic field for 30 years, holding various positions from Chief Medical Director (CMD) to Dean of Faculty of Health Sciences and Provost of College of Health Sciences of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.”   
The document continued: “He was also involved in extensive research on Tropical Skin Diseases and Sexually transmitted Infections (STIs) in collaboration with the Federal Government, international donor agencies and organisations such as the World Bank, UNDP, DFID, British Council and International Development Research Centre, Canada”

“He pioneered several researches in the field of HIV/AIDS and worked as consultant to various international and local agencies, including the World Health Organisation, DFID, UNDP and Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health based on his extensive experience on the subject in various parts of the country.”