The family members and friends of the late late Dr. Gabisiu Ayodele Williams, a pioneer in public health expert, who passed five years ago, are still recovering from the shock of his demise.
Dr. Gabisiu Ayodele Williams was born in Lagos on September 11,1937 and died on July 27, 2018. His father was Oseni Williams and his mother, Alhaja Wusamot Sobayo. He was educated first at Ansar-Ud-Deen Primary School, Alakoro, Lagos and then at the Methodist Boys’ High School, Lagos. At both schools, Gabi was known as cheerful, and for being good at Mathematics and sport. He later proceeded to England for his A’Levels at Sir John Carr’s in London and went on to read medicine at St. Mary’s Hospital Medical School, London.
At St. Mary’s, Williams was admired for his warm sociability and infectious laughter. He was recognised as having strong academic capabilities and graduated in1963. He earned a post-graduate in Public Health, Baltimore, USA. Dr. Williams held a number of important public appointments, including: Medical Officer of Health, Lagos; Chief Health Officer; Lagos City Council; Director; Disease Control and International Health at the Federal Ministry of Health, a representative of Nigeria on the Executive Boards of WHO and UNICEF, Chairman of UNDP/WORLD BANK/WHO Special Programme of Research and Training on Tropical Diseases and Chairman of Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.
He also taught public health at the universities of Lagos and Ibadan and he was Fellow of the Economic Development Institute of the World Bank. He retired voluntarily from the public service in October 1993.
During his tenure as Federal Director of Disease Control, Dr. Williams introduced the innovative and popular Health of the Executive Programme, which eventually gave birth, decades later, to his best-selling book, The Health of the Executives. The yearly programme, which held for almost seven years, saw leading lights of the Nigeria’s industrial, Public Service and intellectual establishment convening at a retreat held at ASCON, Badagry.
The retreat comprised involved medical check-ups and health counselling, as well as sports and games. This clear and great thinker, a man well-known for his excellence memory and physical health was unexpectedly affected with tragic illness.
In 2008, at Columbia University Medical Centre, Dr. Gabi Williams was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer is degenerative condition of the brain, which leads to gradual loss of memory, loss of thinking skills and gradual loss of movement.
On September 11, 2017, which was his 80th birthday, which he briefly and memorably attended, the Gabi Williams Alzheimer’s Foundation (GWAF) was inaugurated by his family in his honour
The children and family members recall his life and times, their experiences with him and how he impacted on their personalities. To his children, including, Olatoun, Prof, Jude Gabi Williams, Mopelola Bailey and Tunde Gabi Williams, ‘’Daddy was a wonderful man.’’
They said: ’’ From onset, you strived to instill values of integrity and fairness into our lives. You were not just a father, but a friend as well. Williams was an icon, a cheerleader, kind-hearted man, who would offer help without waiting for reward. But God knows the best and we fully trust in His unfailing love.
Williams is survived by his wife, Dr. (Mrs) Abisola Williams, Olatoun Williams, Mopelola Bailey and her husband Michael Bailey, Prof. Olajide Williams and his wife, Bukola Williams, Tunde Williams and his wife, Lola Williams and the grandchildren.
Meanwhile, the Gabi Williams Alzheimer’s Foundation (GWAF), which was established in his honour, has helped countless Nigerian families struggling with the disease.
World Alzheimer’s Month is the international campaign from Alzheimer’s disease International that takes place every September. Each September, people unite from all corners of the world to raise awareness and to challenge the stigma that persists around Alzheimer’s disease and all types of dementia. The Foundation is involved in advocacy and awareness creation about Alzheimer’s/Dementia, It also organises training and capacity building workshops, which have yielded sustainable cordial relationship between the Foundation and foremost training institutions.
GWAF is also reaching out to elderly population of faith-based organisations, benevolently running a direct aid programme through which the outfit gives consumables, cash or equipment to respite/care homes, championing Mental Health School Campaign .
