Prof. Gilbert Onuaguluchi was the first Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos, the first Nigerian Professor of Pharmacology, and a Professor of Medicine and Surgery. He was one of the pioneers who revolutionised medicine in Nigeria.
Born on January 1, 1927 in Awgu, hailed from Achi in Oji-River LGA, both in Enugu state. In March 1956, he married Esther Gundu. They had one son and four daughters.
Gilbert Obiafo Onuaguluchi attended the prestigious Dennis Memorial Grammar School (DMGS) Onitsha, from 1941-44. Higher College, Yaba, Lagos, 1945-56, Medical School, Yaba, Lagos, 1947-48, University College Ibadan, 1949-51, Institute of Chest Disease, London University, 1956; University of Glasgow, Scotland, 1959-61, etc.
Career: Appointed Medical Officer, Northern Region of Nigeria, 1951-58; Research Assistant and Medical Registrar, Stobhill General Hospital, Glasgow, 1959-62; Senior Lecturer, University of Ibadan, 1962-65; Honorary Consultant Physician, University College Hospital, Ibadan, 1962-66; appointed Professor of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Ibadan, 1965-66; Honorary Consultant Physician, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, since 1967; Dean of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Nigeria Medical School, 1966-72; Pioneer Vice- Chancellor, University of Jos, 1975-78; Professor and Head, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, since 1967-97; appointed Professor of Medicine, Ebonyi State University, 1999 till death, member, Royal Co lege of Surgeons, 1956; member, Royal College of Physicians, Glasgow, 1959; member, Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh, 1960; fellow, Royal College of Physicians, Glasgow, 1972; fellow, Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh, 1972; Foundation fellow, Nigerian Medical Council of Physicians, 1970; Treasurer, Association of Physicians of West Africa, 1962-66; President, West African Society for Pharmacology, 1971-77; Vice-President, Union of African Society for Pharmacology, 1980-87 and its President, since 1987; member, West African College of Physicians; member, American Association for the Advancement of Science; member, New York Academy of Sciences, etc.;
Publications: Parkinsonism, Butterworth, London, 1964; Giant in Turbulent Storms – The Story of Nigeria, 1944- 87; Vantage Press, New York, 1990; Hobbies: armchair politics, gardening, general reading.
Prof. Gilbert Obiafo Onuaguluchi was a quintessential physician. For nearly 50 years, he taught generations of medical doctors at institutions such as the defunct Kano Medical School, the University of Ibadan Medical College, and the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) Medical College, among others.
Nicknamed the ‘Medicine God,’ Prof. Onuaguluchi passed away on April 30, 2005, after a brief illness at his residence in Enugu, at the age of 78. His wife, Esther Onuaguluchi died in August 2014.
Gone but not forgotten! š¤
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*Source: Igbo History & Facts.
Am also told that he was one of the best students of the class of 1944 at DMGS.
By Okey Goodluck Nwankwo
(Ike Nibo)
