Celebration of Life: Professor Gabriel Ikhidero Odia, Pioneer, Mentor & Teacher (1934 - 2015)

Please Pay Tribute to Professor Odia Online at: http://profodia.muchloved.com

Professor Gabriel Ikhidero Odia, the Pioneer Head, and Founder of the Physiotherapy Program at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos

Dear Colleagues,

With heavy hearts, but gratitude to God for a life well spent, the CMUL Physical Therapy Alumni USA Inc, announce the celebration of Life, and transition to eternal glory of our Teacher, Mentor, and Father, Professor Gabriel Ikhidero Odia, the Pioneer Head, and Founder of the Physiotherapy Program at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos (CMUL). Professor Odia passed on Monday, December 7, 2015.

Indeed, all Physical Therapists educated at the CMUL come together at this time to invite all our colleagues in the Physiotherapy Community in Nigeria and the Diaspora to Celebrate the passing of an Icon. Specifically, we are inviting colleagues in Nigeria who are able to join us as we celebrate this great man who touched so many lives during his 'short' sojourn here on Earth. We invite you all to attend any or all of the various funeral ceremonies outlined below:

Funeral arrangements:

THURSDAY 7th January, 2016:
  • 12pm -2pm: Commendation service & Tributes session (Old Great Hall, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi Araba)
  • 6pm - 8pm: Christian wake keep (Chapel of the Healing Cross, Opposite LUTH/CMUL, Idi Araba, Lagos
  • 10pm - dawn: Lying in state in his compound (17 Femi Ayantuga Crescent, Off Adelabu street, (by Fountain Height schools), Surulere.
FRIDAY 8th January, 2016:
  • 8am-9am: Brief lying in state / Academic procession (Old Great Hall, College of Medicine, University of Lagos
  • 9.30am -10.30am: Brief lying in state (Chapel of the Healing Cross, Opposite LUTH/CMUL, Idi Araba
  • 11am: Funeral service (Chapel of the Healing Cross, Opposite LUTH/CMUL, Idi Araba
  • Interment at the Ikoyi Cemetary
  • Reception follows at the Church Hall of St Saviour's Church, Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos Island.
Professor Gabriel Ikhidero Odia was born on the 30th April, 1934. He attended St. Peters Primary School Benin City, (1941-1945) and Igbobi College (1946-1951). He was a graduate of the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada and he served in various professional and academic positions at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, and the College of Medicine, University of Lagos and Lagos University Teaching Hospital where he was an Honorary Consultant Physiotherapist. He pioneered the physiotherapy training at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos.

Professor Odia belongs to several professional bodies including Member, Canadian Physiotherapy Association, Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (Great Britain); Member Society for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled, Member International Society of Prosthetics and Orthotics, and past Chairman of the Nigerian Society of Physiotherapy.

He is also a Trustee of the Spinal Cord Injuries Association of Nigeria. A keen sportsman and professional Consultant in Sports Medicine, Professor Odia has served in various capacities including Team Physiotherapist, Nigeria Contingent to the 3rd All African Games, Algiers, Moscow Olympics, 4th All African Games, Nairobi, and the Seoul Olympics. He was Secretary, 1980 Africa Cup of Nations Medical Sub-Committee. He is also a founding member of the Sports Medicine Association of Nigeria. He has published many professional and research papers in both National and International Journals. Professor Odia is married with children. He voluntarily retired from the services of the College of Medicine and Lagos University Teaching Hospital in April, 1992 after 35 years of meritorious service.

The Federal Government appointed him as the Pioneer Chairman, Medical Rehabilitation Therapists Board of Nigeria in December 2000, a position he held till 2009.

Pa Odia, as we used to call him, will be greatly missed. But his legacy lives on.

Ayodele G. Ayoola, PT, MD
(1988 Graduating Class)
Protem President
Emmanuel B. John, PT, DPT, PhD
(1994 Graduating Class)
Protem Secretary

CMUL Physical Therapy Alumni USA Inc
Email: alumni@cmulptalumni.org
Web: http://www.cmulptalumni.org