Daniel Adebayo Ogunyemi, One Year After

CHIEF Daniel Adebayo Ogunyemi was born on May 22, 1923, in lsote Sagamu, Ogun State to the Christian family of the late Pa Joseph Orifunse Ogunyemi and the late Mrs. Felicia Olawanle Ogunyemi (nee Akodu). He was the third child of the family of six. He did a lot to help his siblings; he was very friendly and humorous. 

  He was educated at Oko Methodist Primary School, Sagamu, and Ibadan Grammar School, Ibadan (1940- 1945) where he lived with his uncle Pa D. A. Akodu in lbadan. At lbadan Grammar School, he was a brilliant student and passed the Cambridge Secondary School final examination in flying colours. 

  He later worked briefly at West African Drug company at Ibadan and was given a scholarship to study pharmacy at the School of Pharmacy, Yaba (1947-1950). He was awarded the Western Region scholarship to study Economics at the Scottish College of Commerce (University of Strathclyde) Glasgow (1954-1958) and later studied Marketing at International Marketing Institute, Boston, USA in 1974. He also had his Chemist and Druggists Diploma in 1950.

  He started his professional career at the West African Drug Company Limited, Kano, as a Manager (1951-1954). He later worked as Managing Director, Industrial Chemist Limited, Lagos (1958-1960). He held various management and executive positions in the Chemical Department of Shell Nigeria Limited (now Conoil) (1960-1975). He left Shell Nigeria Limited as Chemical Marketing Manager in 1975 and established his own indigenous pharmaceutical company, Alliance Chemists Limited (formerly Allied Chemist Limited). The company was a major distributor to all of the foremost pharmaceutical manufactures in Nigeria.

  He was involved in the development of the pharmacy profession in the country and was among those that started the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria in 1958 at the Lagos State level. He was an executive member (1960-1972) and 1982. He later became a Fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (FPSN). At the national level, he served as National Auditor of the body (1960-1965); National Finance Secretary (1969 -1970); National Treasure (1965-1969 and 1970-1971); and National President (1985-1988). He was the representative of the PSN on the Lagos State Board of Traditional Medicine from 1982 to 1988.

  He also served as Chairman, Ethnics and Pharmacy Practice Committee, Pharmacists Board of Nigeria in 1988; member, Disciplinary Committee, Pharmacists Board of Nigeria; member, Management Board, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu representing professions allied to medicine; first chairman, All-Day Pharmacy Committee (UNTH), Enugu; chairman, Pharmacy & Essential Drugs List Committee, UNTH, Enugu; member, Management Board, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), Port Harcourt. He was the first vice president of Medical Society of the Cathedral as a pharmacist and worked with them for 18 years.

  Ogunyemi was an active member of several social and cultural clubs. He was a past chairman of City Club of Lagos; past chairman of Eagle Club of Lagos; Director, Remo Economic Development Council; member, Sagamu Young Men Helpers Union; member, Highland Club, past national president, Ibadan Grammar School Old Students Association; and member, Cathedral Circle, Cathedral Church of Christ, Lagos.

  He was conferred with the following chieftaincy titles for his valuable contributions to the development of the community — Bobashua of Makum Sagamu, Bobagbimo of Molipa Ijebu Ode, and Honorary Citizenship of Washington State, USA in 1974.

  He was also a recipient of Ibadan Grammar School Dedication Award and the Cathedral Medical Award in 2005. He was also conferred with the Lifetime Achievement award of Ibadan Grammar School on March 27, 2014.

  The late Ogunyemi was a committed Anglican and prominent member of the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina. He was a founding member of the Medical Association of the Cathedral Church of Christ and the Lagos Diocesan Medical Commission. He was also a member of Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Sagamu. 

  He got married to his heartthrob, former Miss Rachel Yetunde Soniki and educationist at Christ Church, Porogun Ijebu-Ode in September 1952. The union was blessed with six children.

  In her tribute, his wife wrote: “Bayo, you were a strong and disciplined man. Despite all your busy life, you were always around to give your unending care to your family. We all cherished and loved you. As your wife, I thank God for the life we shared together. May you continue to rest in the bosom of the Lord.”

  One year after his transition to glory, he is fondly remembered by his wife, children, cousins, nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great grandchildren.