By Tunji Oladejo
Professor Olayinka Olusola Omigbodun stands as a beacon of excellence in the realm of psychiatry, particularly in child and adolescent mental health, not just in Nigeria but across Africa and the global stage. Born on February 11, 1963, in Ibadan, Nigeria, her life’s journey is proof of her dedication, resilience and groundbreaking achievements in mental health advocacy and academia.
Olayinka’s early years were marked by mobility due to her father’s military career, the late Lieutenant Colonel Victor Adebukunola Banjo, exposing her to diverse Nigerian cultures. Her mother, Taiwo Joyce Banjo (née George), had roots in Sierra Leone, adding to her rich cultural heritage. She pursued medicine at the University of Ibadan, graduating with an MBBS in 1985, before specialising in psychiatry with a keen focus on child and adolescent mental health.
Her career milestones include
– Establishment of the first Child and Adolescent Mental Health Clinic at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, in 1999.
– First female Professor of Psychiatry in Nigeria (2008) and Provost of the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan (2020).
– President of the International Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions (IACAPAP) from 2010 to 2014, the first African to hold this position.
– Over 160 scholarly publications, more than 14,000 citations and an h-index of 40 (as of August 2025)
Olayinka’s contributions but not limited to the following, are
1. Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CCAMH): Founded in 2011 with a $950,000 grant, training over 200 professionals from 14 African countries.
2. Led projects like ACCELERATE, iCARE, and SUCCEED Africa, focusing on adolescent mental health, psychosocial interventions and empowerment.
3. Worked with the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Mental Health Gap Action (mhGAP) and UNICEF on child mental health.
Olayinka has been recognised worldwide for her efforts in her area, and these include
– World Psychiatry Association Scholarship
– Donald Cohen Fellowship (IACAPAP)
– Presidential Fellow of IACAPAP (2005)
– Fellow, Nigerian Academy of Science; Foundation Fellow, Nigerian Academy of Medicine and Academy of Medical Sciences of Nigeria.
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The next milestone is for her to deliver the 592nd Inaugural Lecture at the University of Ibadan on Thursday, September 11, 2025, titled, “OUR CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH, OUR NATION’S WEALTH.”
From insights in my careful editing of Professor Omigbodun’s lecture, she emphasises holistic child development, critiquing Nigeria’s educational pressures and advocating for balanced growth beyond academics. She is passionate about music, plays guitar and leads her church’s children’s choir.
Professor Omigbodun is married to Professor Akinyinka Omokolapo Omigbodun, an obstetrician and gynaecologist and the 8th Provost of the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan. They are blessed with children: Dr. Akinyinka OreOluwa Omigbodun and Drs. Kwabena Poku and Iyeyinka AanuOluwa Kusi-Mensah with SomNyame Ogoyinka.
Professor Omigbodun’s trajectory underscores her transformative impact on child and adolescent psychiatry, her leadership inspiring generations in Nigeria and beyond.
Tunji Oladejo is the Director of the Ibadan University Press (Publishing House) and writes via oladejo65@gmail.com.
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