Monday, January 20, 2015, marked the fifth year remembrance of Dr. Adedapo Adebayo, one of the Nigerian society’s most outstanding male personalities and prominent medical practitioners. His family and close friend hosted a prayer session in his honour. They later visited his gravesite, at the Ikoyi Vaults and Gardens to lay wreaths and pray for the repose of his soul.
On 20 January, 2010, Adedapo Adebayo, 48, son of Major-General Adeyinka Adebayo (retd), the first Chief of Staff of the Nigerian Army and former military governor of the defunct Western State, took a final bow after a year-long battle with a terminal ailment.
His funeral ceremony, which took place in Lagos on Tuesday 2 February, 2010, drew thousands of dignitaries, who came to bid him farewell and share in his family’s grief. Adebayo was the fourth son of Major General Adebayo (retd) and his wife, Felicia. His brother, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo was a former governor of Ekiti State. Adebayo died in London, of the ailment, which was reported to have been detected few months ealier. This saw him taking a temporary residence in the United Kingdom, where he received treatment till his death.
Two months before his death, Adebayo had shown signs of remarkable recovery. When he came home during the Yuletide season in 2009, his family and friends heaved a sigh of relief and concluded that the worst was over. However, on January 10, 2010, he was reported to have returned to England for another check-up, when he suddenly took ill again. On that fateful day, Adebayo was in the company of his elder sister, Nike Makinde and Angela Adebayo, his sister-in-law, when suddenly, he a began to cough. He was rushed to Harley Street Clinic, London, where he was admitted. His last moments were shared by his wife, Ojuolape, Nike Makinde and Niyi and Angela Adebayo. His best friend of four decades, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo was also with him when he breathed his last.
Born on 9 July 1961 in England, Adebayo had his early education at the University of Lagos Staff School, Akoka and Igbobi College, both in Lagos. Thereafter, he proceeded to England for his higher education at Bromsgrove School, Worcestershire and Bedford Tutorial College, Bedford. Between 1981 and 1985, Adebayo attended Bedford College, University of London, where he obtained a degree in Biochemistry and Physiology. Having observed his service year in 1985 in Nigeria, he returned to the United Kingdom and attended the Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland where he qualified as a medical doctor in 1991.
Adebayo was a member of the Lagos Boat Club and until his death, was the secretary of the club. He was married to Ojuolape, the first daughter of Chief Bayo Kuku, the Ogbeni Oja of Ijebuland and his wife, Erelu Abiodun. The union was blessed with three sons, Adebodun, Adesola and Oluwatobiloba.