the great man story
About Us
Dr Idowu abdulganiy ogunleye
The man blessed with hands that healed and a heart that cared...
Dr Idowu AbdulGaniy Ogunleye was born on the 4th of April 1944 in a small town called Edun Abo to the Late Alhaji Jimoh and Seliat Ogunleye, both from Ilupeju-Ekiti. He attended St. Williams primary school, Ibadan (1954-1959), Ekiti Parapo College Ido- Ekiti (1962-1965) & King’s college Lagos (1966 -1967) for his A levels. Thereafter, he proceeded to the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan where he studied Medicine and graduated in 1974.
Dr Ogunleye was from humble beginnings and was gifted with academic brilliance which stood him out among his peers. This notwithstanding, he needed a lot of good fortune to achieve his dreams. One could say his academic accomplishments were predestined as he nearly careered off this path. A time earlier in his academic years, his dad afraid he was being too “westernized” pulled him out of secular education and enrolled him in Arabic school instead, where he would spend the next three years of his life.
Some of Dr Abdulganiy’s earliest inspiration, known to few, came from Professor Fola Esan a patriarch of the Esan family from Ikoro-Ekiti. He always prayed God to elevate him into a similar position of influence, so he could impact people’s lives positively. Dr Ogunleye was a beneficiary of several scholarships without which it might have been impossible to accomplish all the academic feat he did. He was always quick to remind people nearest to him, the unique role played by two of his older relatives, Chief Ayo Ogunlade, Late Chief Charles Ayeni and his father-in -law, Late Pa William Adeloye, to whom he attributed the successful completion of his high school, Advanced level and university education. He would tell the story of when he couldn’t make the grade to study Medicine at the University of Ibadan because he lost his Zoology teacher to the Biafra war but was admitted into Veterinary medicine instead. He had gone to his uncle chief Ayo Ogunlade with his admission letter. He would rebuke him saying in Ekiti, I translate- “You saw Doctors treating human beings and those removing people’s teeth, you chose neither, instead you chose to be the one who delivers goats”. Of course, all this happened at a time when Veterinary medicine was not as popular as it currently is. He was always grateful for what God used such a pivotal moment to accomplish in his life
Dr Ogunleye began his medical career with his housemanship at the state hospital Ijebu Ode (1974-1975), followed by his NYSC at the General hospital Keffi (old Plateau State) (1975-1976). Upon completion, he was employed as a medical officer at the State specialist hospital Akure on the 1st of July 1976. He had brief stints in LUTH and UCH as residents in General surgery & Obstetrics & Gynecology respectively. He subsequently proceeded to the United Kingdom to train as an obstetrician & Gynecologist and was awarded the membership of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (MRCOG) in 1983. He returned to Nigeria, Akure, Ondo state where he was appointed, first as a consultant Obstetrician & Gynecologist, then later, the Medical director, Ondo State hospitals management board (August 1987 -July 1990). Dr Ogunleye continued his medical career in Saudi Arabia with consultant appointments with King Saud hospital, Unaizah, Qasim, (August 1990- October 1993) and Madinah maternity and children hospital, Madinah (October 1993-July 2012). He was in King Saud Hospital in Qasim when he received “Doctor of the year award” in the region for his excellence in women Health in 1992. “ID” as he was fondly called by some of his closest allies in Saudi Arabia, including Dr Tajudeen Kekere-Ekun and Dr Aliyu, had numerous acquaintances all of whom would attest to his nobility, his keenness to open his doors to all whoever needed a roof over their heads. He returned to Nigeria after his stay in Saudi Arabia but not before he became a Fellow of the prestigious Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (FRCOG), U.K in 1998.
Dr Idowu Ogunleye’s father had hoped pulling him out of secular education and registering him into Quranic school (1959-1961), would prevent him from abandoning his Islamic beliefs, little did he know it was the secular education that would eventually propel him to the Holy lands of Makkah and Madinah, where he would later reside for twenty-two eventful years. While in Saudi Arabia, Dr Ogunleye envisioned reaching a unique audience, his own people and recorded audio files of his version of the Yusuf Ali translation of the Holy Quran in English. Similarly, he proposed creating a place in Akure, Ondo state where people would learn about the teachings of Islam and its Holy prophet. The project he labelled the Islamic Call and Guidance center (ICGC) Akure, began in a rented apartment, with only a handful of students. It has since metamorphosed into a masjid with hundreds of students and recently celebrated its 20th Walimat. Dr Ogunleye was instrumental in more than a dozen graduating students continuing their Islamic education in Universities in Saudi Arabia. Dr Abdulganiy Ogunleye also co-founded Al-Kawthar, a charity organization designed to cater to the welfare and empowerment of the needy in the society. The organization of Muslim Unity in Nigeria, in recognition of his meritorious contribution to Islam in Nigeria, presented him with “An award of Excellence” in 2014.
It was never in doubt, if Dr Ogunleye would once again return to his people in Nigeria, to deliver quality healthcare for women, it was only a matter of when. His first return to Nigeria had been at the end of his training in the UK. He recalled his mentor asking him “Professor, what would it take to make you change your mind and stay?”. He responded, “My people fall sick as well and are counting on me”. That was the most pride you could ever attribute to Dr Ogunleye, he was indeed proud of his heritage and equally affectionate of his people.
With this weight of responsibility, he resolved to building Teebah Medical Center, a private hospital whose sole purpose was utilizing the provision of quality healthcare for people of all faiths as a means of charity. Dr Ogunleye was particularly enthusiastic about this mission, extremely passionate about its successful delivery that it was no surprise, it was the last thing he would relinquish as his health deteriorated.
Dr Idowu Ogunleye was one of a kind, likes of who we may never see again. He was blessed for a reason, blessed to have identified the reason, the purpose of which was to serve humanity, his God and serve he did. He would forever be missed by those closest to him, his wife of fifty years, Alhaja Idowu Ogunleye to whom he remains affectionately “ID”, his children, his extended family, numerous friends including some of his best “Olu”,“Alaba” & “Law”, his beloved patients and the entire Muslim community all of whom he assiduously dedicated his life.
Dr Ogunleye, your race might have been ran, you live forever not only in the hearts and minds of those you impacted their lives positively but also in your legacy of civility, selflessness, magnanimity, respect for fellow humans and your devoutness to the almighty Allah. May Almighty Allah accept from you your efforts in this life, reward you for the good deeds you left behind and accept you among the righteous in Al Jannah Firdaus. Amin
We welcome genuine donation in cash and materials support.
To donate materials such as Islamic brochure, pamphlets, drugs, clothes, food items etc, send an email to donations@diaof.org and someone from our organization will update you. You can make direct deposit into any of the following accounts.
Account Name: Dr Idowu Ogunleye Foundation
Bank Name: Sterling Bank
Account Number: 0069262303
Account Name: Dr Idowu Abdulganiy Ogunleye Foundation
Bank Name: JP Morgan Chase Bank
Account Number: 111000614
Swift Code: CHASUS33