A BIRTDAY TRIBUTE TO A GREAT FRIEND AND BROTHER:PROFESSOR PHILIP SOLA OLATUNJI (BRODA SOLA)

It will be appropriate to say that I have known Professor Philip Sola Olatunji for more than half of his life and more than half of mine. Life will pitch us together in Year 1 at College of Medicine, University of Lagos in Idi-Araba, Lagos in the year 1977. Many things struck me about him and naturally drew me close to him.

Strike 1: He is older and wiser. I later discovered his previous romance with the sea as a marineengineer with Nigerian Shipping Line (NSL) before his admission to the medical program. Hespits wisdom with so much ease based on his experience of life. Not easily moved by fancies and fantasies, hence, my reference to him as “Broda Sola” based on age and his sagacity. There goes “Solomon” in bro. Sola.

Strike 2: He has a great depth of the Word of God. Bro. Sola is a man of the Word for the world and not of the world. As members of the Christian Fellowship Group (CFG) at Idiraba, he will slice the Word after fellowship presentations with reference to Bible commentaries. Having received the Lord Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior at The Polytechnic, Ibadan, I was conversant with Dake’s Bible with Commentary, and he introduced me to Scofield Bible with Commentaries. He will break down the Word precept by precept. His eloquence and argument attracted me and contributed to my intellect and understanding of the Word of God today. We were like the Berean Christians. The Bible speaks to us about the Bereans in Acts 17:10-15. They weren't naïve - they didn't take Paul's word for it, but "searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so." Literarily, that was our experience together. There goes “Peter” in Broda Sola.

Strike 3: He has well rooted family values. I recognized and appreciated the love he had for his family. The center of his life were his mother and sister. He has so much love for them and appreciates their contribution to his life. Then came Sister Ayo Babalola, a classmate in our tutorial group. Sister Ayo Babalola, an equally firm and strong character would later become Dr. Mrs. Ayo Olatunji as the wife to Broda Sola in a ‘seamless’ fashion that can only be attributed to God. Olumide Bayo Babalola, junior brother to Sister Ayo Babalola became my bosom friend and classmate after fate pitched me with the class behind. I became even more joined to the two families after Olumide passed on. This is how I became naturally a junior brother to Broda Sola and Sister Ayo. This opened me to great guidelines of Christian family values shared from both of them. There goes “Joseph” in Broda Sola.

Strike 4: He is firm, unwavering and relentless in his beliefs. His position in any matter is arrived at carefully and reasonably. However once attained, nothing will sway him. A man of his word, unwavering and uncompromising. I have seen the demonstration of these qualities indoors and outdoors. I was not surprised at his position at UNILORIN. As God will have it, his position has been justified after many years. Indeed, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him from them all”.

His experience of many years in the predicament has brought the fulfilment of the Word in his life: “They that put their trust in the Lord shall not be put to shame, Bo ti wule k’ori.” It takes a man of the Word that applies the Word to recognize the efficacy of the Word and abide by it. Indeed,“See a man diligent in his duties, he will stand before kings and not mere men”. There goes the “Paul” in Broda Sola.

Strike 5: He is a solid academic. Broda Sola is highly intelligent and confident. Not easily intimidated. Global in his outlook and locally imparting. He is not a flamboyant academic rather, he dispenses knowledge slowly but steadily. In his chosen specialty of Hematology, his work on Sickle cell anemia, Hepatitis B and HIV/AID are well cited in the literature. His legacy is demonstrated in the number of disciples he has fostered and mentored in the same way that his mentor, Prof. J. O. Adewuyi nurtured him at UNILORIN.

Unequivocally, the leadership of the Department today is a proven testament of his legacy in academics. He has published with his dear wife, Dr. Mrs. Ayo Olatunji, an authority in Radiological Diagnostic Imaging in her own right. Your Laboratory-Radiological studies have contributed to the advancement of Radiology as a more definitive diagnosis than ever before.

Indeed, the glove fits. He who the glove fits takes it all. There goes the “Luke” in Broda Sola. My Dear Broda Sola, I will like to congratulate you on your 70 th Birthday and retirement from Olabisi Onabanjo University. Indeed, you have given of your best, replicating your character, knowledge and skills. Happy Birthday to you. May your days be long in Good Health, Great Wealth and Grand Worth. May your children be greater than you and may your wife continue to be a mother in Israel. Again, Congratulations and God Bless you. Professor Akintade Dare Friend and medical colleague