At 32 the youngest professor of Medicine in Africa till date, Oladapo A. Ashiru received his initialmedicaltraining attheCollege of Medicine, University of Lagos and Universityof Nebraska Medical Centre, USA. He holds the MBBS, M.Sc. Anatomy & Ph.D. Anatomy as well as some other professional qualifications.

On clinical assignments, Professor Oladapo Ashiru has worked as a House Officer, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH); Flotilla Medical Officer, Nigerian Navy, Lagos; Reproductive Endocrinologist/Visiting Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Centre, USA; Consultant Reproductive Endocrinologist/Principal Investigator/Scientific Director, LUTH; and Consultant, Centre for Human Reproduction, University of Illinois at Chicago, USA.

In academia, he was at the Department of Anatomy and College of Medicine of University of Lagos; University of Illinois College of Medicine,USA; and Lagos State UniversityCollege of Medicine.

He has also been a Visiting Professor — University of South CarolinaSchool of Medicine, Columbia, USA; Rush University, Chicago, Illinois, USA; and Grand Valley State University, Allendale, Michigan, Detroit, USA.

Professor Oladapo Ashiru is currently the Chief Medical Director, Medical-Assisted Reproductive Technology (MART) Group of Health Services, incorporating Medical ART Centre, the MART Diagnostic Centre, Mart Medicare, Mart Life Detox Clinic, and Institute of Assisted Reproductive Technology.

Over the years, he has undertaken several ad-hoc assignments with, among others, WHO, International Federation of Fertility Society, FIGO, African Consultation Organization, and International Federation of Medical Students Association, International Committee on Youth & Population Activities (IYPA), Anatomical Society of West Africa, Association of Anatomical Societies of Africa, and International Federation of Association of Anatomists.

Author of over 140 publications, Professor Oladapo Ashiru discovered and reported the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) positive feed-back mechanism in 1979. He pioneered the technique of In-Vitro fertilization and Embryo transfer in West Africa in 1983 and co-pioneered the first test-tube baby through IVF-ET in 1989. He similarly initiated the use of Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis for the elimination of chromosomal abnormalities, Sickle cell disease in babies of sickle cell carrier couples, and for family balancing.

This eminent scholar is an active member of many professional bodies. They include: American Association of Bioanalysis, Nigerian Medical Association, American Society for Reproductive Medicine, American Association of Anatomists, International Society for Neuroendocrinology, International Federation of Association of Anatomists, International Federation of Fertility Societies, African Fertility Society, Nigerian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Association for Fertility and Reproductive Health, Academy of Medicine Specialties, and High Complexity Clinical Laboratory Director.

An Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR), Distinguished Alumnus of University of Lagos, The Otunba Orodudu-joye of Ijebuland.

He is happily married with children.

Ladies and Gentlemen, we invite Professor Oladapo A. Ashiru to receive the Hallmarks of Labour Role Model Award for Outstanding Contributions in the Field of Medicine.

Congratulations Sir!