Jacob Adamolekun

Dr. Jacob Olubunmi Adamolekun was born in Ilupeju Ekiti, Ondo State (now Ekiti State), Nigeria, on August 24th, 1945, to the family of High Chief Ogunlayi Adamolekun and Taiwo Oke Adamolekun (nee Ipinjola). He was the seventh and youngest of the surviving children of his mother. At an early age, as it was common at the time, his brother Samuel Abiona Adamolekun, an accomplished furniture maker, brought him to Lagos to live with him and his family, where he could get a better life. He was enrolled in Ijero Baptist Primary School, Apapa Road, Lagos, where he completed elementary school. He continued his education at Ibadan Boys High School and graduated in 1968. Following his high school graduation, he worked at Barclays Bank in Lagos for a few years before he had the opportunity to travel overseas to Germany. Within a year in Germany, he crossed to Yugoslavia (now Croatia), where he enrolled in the University of Zagreb to study medicine. He completed his medical training in 1979 and later obtained his specialty in Gynecology.

He married Florence Adamolekun in 1977, and they both had three children, Charles Olayemi, Omogbemile Augustina, and David Olufunsho. They relocated back to Nigeria between childbearing to raise their family in 1982. Dr. Adamolekun practiced as a physician for many years at Ikeja Island Maternity Hospital, Lagos State, where he did exceptionally well, practicing in the capacity of a specialized Gynecologist, although he had not become one at the time. He returned to Yugoslavia to formally complete his training as a specialized Gynecologist. During his time there, he was invited to join the Medical Mission group, which traveled to the United States in 1990 and decided to stay. He has since called America home and re-established himself as a healthcare professional in Optometry at Duke University, NC, and most recently, as a Psychiatry nurse at Riverdale Psychiatry Hospital in California.

His relocation to the United States came with many challenges, such as those encountered by many foreign graduates who wished to re-establish themselves in America and the immigration struggles that kept him separated from his family. Nonetheless, he overcame these challenges and reunited with his family in 2001. Bringing his family to the United States was one of his proudest and biggest accomplishments.

In 2010, he remarried Lillie Ree Adamolekun and has spent his final years surrounded by family to include, Jujuanna Tolbert (Lynn), Jazzmin Scott (Gregory), Kenya Johnson, Travis & Nikki Wright, (Jacquan and Haylie) Juan & Tonya Johnson (Juan Jr and Brittany- Cameron, Chance and Calil), Tamesha Jackson (Makaylah) and Andrea Johnson.

Dr. Jacob Adamolekun, lovingly known as “Papa J” was a great man with very few words, easygoing and devoted to his family, friends, and faith. He was proud of his heritage, loved his culture and traditions, and held them with deep sentiment. He also enjoyed watching basketball, animal documentaries, dancing, eating good food and watching the News.

He is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

May God grant him eternal rest.

Oriki:

Ọmọ Ọba lubu owo, Oberu kọ saye,

Ọmọ ayẹna Ola de Esheta,

Ọmọ Alẹ, Ọmọ Orinkiran,

Ọmọ amododo sugbarun eshi,

Ọmọ Oluju ori dana aran,

Ọmọ Oloye, Ọmọ Ura Ife keitana Ọsangangan,

Ọmọ oke agba kan sare ọlọla ngun, ailowo joko usin Agbodo.

Sunree ooo.