Obasanjo Mourns Akinkugbe, Describes Him as “One of God’s Special Gifts to Nigeria”

Former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has hailed the late Chief Oludolapo Ibukun Akinkugbe as an icon, hero, ardent patriot, and “one of God’s special gifts to our nation.”

Akinkugbe, whose death was announced on Monday at the age of 96, was the elder brother of the late Professor Ladipo Akinkugbe, a close friend of Obasanjo who passed away in 2020 at 87.

In a condolence message released by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, Obasanjo said, “His demise got to me with the feeling of a sense of personal loss as he was the elder brother of my late bosom friend, Professor Ladipo Akinkugbe, who passed on to eternal glory in 2020 at 87 and whose life and path intertwined with mine in many respects.”

Obasanjo added, “Chief Olu Akinkugbe was an icon and a hero in the true sense of these words. We thank God for his illustrious life of exemplary leadership, ardent patriotism and life-long devotion to the cause of upholding the highest standards of conduct in his business endeavours and within our society.”

Describing Akinkugbe’s impact, the former president said, “He was one of God’s special gifts to our nation, a rare breed who epitomised the finest tradition of African nobility. He lived an enviable, rich and fruitful life which many aspire to emulate and pray to attain. Those of us who saw him as an icon are awed by his formidable achievements, status and stature attained with patience, fortitude, equanimity and high dignity no matter the billows.”

Obasanjo also highlighted Akinkugbe’s contributions to pharmacology in Nigeria. “His contribution in the area of pharmacology in Nigeria is legendary. He made a great change in the country’s crucial health sector in different capacities. He was the pioneer General-Secretary of the defunct Nigerian Union of Pharmacists (NUP) and brought international recognition to the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) when he was invited to serve on the Council of the Commonwealth Pharmaceutical Association (CPA). He was also the first Nigerian Chairman of Procter and Gamble Nigeria Plc as well as former Chairman of Beecham (now GlaxoSmithKline). We are proud of him for his achievement and contribution to the socio-economic and political development of our nation.”

While attending the UN General Assembly in the United States, Obasanjo reflected on Akinkugbe’s influence during his leadership. “I felt much of the impact of Chief Akinkugbe’s wise counsel and sagacity both during my regime as Head of State of Nigeria between 1976 and 1979 and during my administration as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria between 1999 and 2007,” he said, describing him as “a dependable statesman and worthy role model to the younger generations of entrepreneurs and community leaders.”

He concluded by recognising Akinkugbe’s philanthropy and leadership: “An employer of labour, a philanthropist, Chief Akinkugbe’s selfless services to the country and exemplary leadership will be greatly missed by his community, Local Government Area, State and the nation in general.”

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