PROFILE: Zacchaeus Ademuwagun, Nigeria's first professor of health education | EduCeleb
EduCeleb
7th February 2020
Professor Zacchaeus AkingbadeAdemuwagun is Nigeria’s first professor of health education.
Born on 17th February, 1934, he attendedMethodist Primary School, Ode Aye town inOndo State from where he proceeded to Wesley College, Ibadan between1949 and 1952.
From 1957 to 1962, he attended the University College, Ibadan (now theUniversity of Ibadan). Thereafter, he proceeded to Boston University, USA wherehe obtained his Master’s Degree (MA) in Science Education and CulturalFoundation of Education.
The don popularly called ZA would laterget awarded his doctorate degree at the School ofPublic Health, Berkley, California in 1965.
The PublicHealth Professor started off his teaching career at his alma mater, Wesley College, Ibadan. He also taught at Igbobi Collegeand the Federal Advanced Teachers’ College, both in Lagos.
As the higher education level, he taught at the Universityof Lagos between 1966 and 1972. The rest of his teaching career were spent atthe University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan from 1972 to 1990.
In 1977, Ademuwagun became the first Professor forHealth Education in Africa.
In 1972, the Ode Aye born scholar served as the firstDirector at the African Regional Health Education Centre (ARHEC). ARHEC is aWorld Health Organisation (WHO) sponsored programme in collaboration with theDepartment of Preventive and Social Medicine, UCH and the Federal Ministry ofHealth, Nigeria.
By the time he retired in 1990, he was a Professor atthe University of Ibadan (UI). The Federal Government of Nigeria thereafter appointedhim as chief consultant on Primary Health for the federation. He continued toserve as an emeritus consultant to the WHO on health education matters acrossAfrica until 2010.
With this vast experience, Ademuwagun is still regarded as a leading voice on health education in Africa with many of his works cited by academics and health professionals.
On the political scene, the don served with the OndoState Government. Between 1979 and 1983, he was a SpecialAdviser on Health Education and Welfare; and Chairman, Ondo State HealthManagement Board.
When the Ondo State University (University of Ado Ekiti) (now Ekiti State University) was established in 1981,Governor Adekunle Ajasin of old Ondo Stateappointed illustrious educationist as a member of a 17-member ConsultativeCommittee to work on the university’s blueprint. He served as the ProjectDirector of the team.
In 1983, he was a special guest of the United StatesHealth Department, Human Resources Washington, DC and the State of Atlanta,Georgia to give a lecture on Public Health.
The city of Atlanta bestowed upon him honorarycitizenship of the State of Atlanta, Georgia in recognition of his outstandingwork in Public Health Education globally.
ZA was a lover of sports andmusic. He taught himself how to play the organ and played it most of his activeyears. He was an ardent organist and choir member at the Chapel ofResurrection, University of Ibadan.
Professor Ademuwagun died on 16thJanuary, 2011 in Houston, USA. He is survived by his wife, Olujoke (neePopoola), and five children – Deji, Atinuke, Segun, Toyin and Seun.