FMHS HONOURS LATE PULMONOLOGIST, PROFESSOR AWOTEDU

The rich legacy of respected pulmonologist, Professor Abolade Anjani Awotedu, was posthumously honoured during a public lecture organised by the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences recently.

Awotedu, a former Head of Internal Medicine at Walter Sisulu University, passed away on 26 July 2017.

The Nigerian-born was a prominent pulmonologist well-known for his contributions to internal medicine across several countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, South Africa and the African continent at large.

Hosted under the theme "Lung Health for All; A Pulmonologist's Commitment to Community", the event celebrated Awotedu’s long-life commitment to respiratory health in Africa.

Faculty executive dean, Professor Wezile Chitha, said the lecture was the faculty’s way of formally expressing appreciation to Awotedu and his family for the contribution, influence and guidance over the past 20 years, in which he led the faculty’s Department of Internal Medicine from 2002 till 2016.

“Honorary lectures are a platform to officially recognise and pay tribute to those who have played a role and contributed to not only our faculty, but the provincial healthcare system at large. Though professor Awotedu is no longer with us, his impact continues to resonate. We may have lost him to this fiscal world in 2017, but we gained an ancestor of impeccable standing,” said Chitha

Awotedu was remembered as an untiring teacher and a luminary in the medical profession, having served in various medical councils and scholarship boards.

Keynote speaker and University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Chief Specialist pulmonologist, Prof Kennedy Nyamande, gave the audience food for thought based on the life and experiences of Awotedu and his generation.

“What were their experiences and what lessons can we draw from those experiences? How did they handle challenges and setbacks? How did they overcome? Are we as disciplined, focused, as hardworking as they were? How do we compare to them,” Nyamande posed.

He reminded the audience that the current generation cannot fail them, but rather be inspired by their resilience, determination and unwavering commitment to advancing medicine under challenging circumstances. “I urge today’s medical professionals to honour the sacrifices of their predecessors by continuing the work with excellence, compassion, and community focus,” Nyamande added.

Awotedu’s two daughters – Drs Temi and Aladayo Awotedu, and his grandchildren, were present to witness the profound respect and admiration of their father.

“To us, he was daddy. To all of you, as we have heard, he was a leader. He was a mentor and was in many ways, a father as well. He was not defined by titles, but by service, and I am glad to see that this was picked up repeatedly today,” said Dr Temi Awotedu.

Her sister Dr Aladayo Awotedu added: “With him everybody felt seen, heard and a sense of belonging. He is remembered as a man of humility, integrity and compassion, whose life was a blessing to his family, students, colleagues and community.”

He was said to have lived a remarkable life of scholarship, service, faith and family devotion, a man that led with humility, fairness, integrity and a deep sense of responsibility.

By Thandeka Mgqibi