Dr. Oluyombo Awojobi and the Legacy of the Awojobi Clinic, Eruwa

The photograph shows Dr. Oluyombo Adetilewa Awojobi and his wife, Mrs. Tinu Awojobi, the founders of the Awojobi Clinic, Eruwa, a groundbreaking rural hospital established in 1987 in Eruwa, Oyo State, Nigeria. Their work remains one of the most remarkable examples of innovation, resilience, and locally driven medical engineering in Nigeria’s healthcare history.

Early Life and Training of Dr. Awojobi

Dr. Oluyombo Adetilewa Awojobi was born on March 1, 1951, in Lagos, Nigeria. He studied Medicine at the University of Ibadan, graduating in 1975. Afterward, he specialised in surgery and became known for his passion for rural medicine—a field that requires flexibility, creativity, and resourcefulness due to limited facilities in underserved communities.

During his training, he developed a strong interest in medical device improvisation, an interest that would later define his career.

Founding of Awojobi Clinic, Eruwa (ACE)

Together with his wife, Mrs. Tinu Awojobi, a trained nurse and administrator, Dr. Awojobi established the Awojobi Clinic, Eruwa (ACE) in 1987. Their goal was clear:

to offer world-class, affordable medical care to people in rural communities without depending on expensive imported equipment.

The clinic became famous not because it had the newest machines, but because Dr. Awojobi built his own.

Innovation Through Local Manufacturing

Dr. Awojobi believed that rural hospitals should never collapse due to lack of spare parts or imported machines. He designed and built many devices using materials sourced locally. Some of his inventions include:

The ODELAM (Awojobi’s manually operated suction machine)

The Foldaway Operating Table

A pedal-operated steriliser

Low-cost infant incubators made from car parts and metal sheets

Locally fabricated hospital beds and diagnostic tools

These inventions were inexpensive, durable, and easy to maintain—allowing the clinic to serve thousands of patients at a cost far lower than urban hospitals.

His approach became known internationally as “appropriate technology in rural surgery.”

A New Model for Affordable Healthcare

The Awojobi Clinic became a model for:

Low-cost, high-impact rural healthcare

Locally engineered medical devices

Efficient management in under-resourced hospitals

Doctors, engineers, and public health experts from around the world visited Eruwa to study this unique model of rural medicine.

Dr. Awojobi also published over 45 academic papers and contributed significantly to medical literature on rural surgery and health innovation.

Personal Life and Partnership

Mrs. Tinu Awojobi worked alongside her husband as a nurse, administrator, and co-visionary. Their partnership—both personal and professional—was central to the clinic’s success. Together, they created a medical institution that blended compassion, ingenuity, and community service.

Death and Legacy

Dr. Awojobi passed away on April 17, 2015, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy. His work continues to inspire rural surgeons, biomedical engineers, and health policymakers across Africa.

The Awojobi Clinic, Eruwa still stands as one of the most innovative rural medical institutions in Nigeria—proof that life-saving healthcare does not need to be expensive to be effective.

Sources

The Lancet, “Oluyombo Awojobi (Obituary)” – Published July 2015

Nigerian Tribune, “Remembering Dr. Oluyombo Awojobi”