We grew up knowing Mummy Odelowo as "Mummy GRA."

She would fondly bake cookies and all types of different flavored cakes and bring them our ways at Tanke.

Whatever fruits were in season, guavas, oranges, mangoes, she made sure we had our share.

She never came without goodies. She deeply cared about our family, especially our scholarly activities.

It was awkward when she became my lecturer for biology at the IJMB A levels. However, we navigated the delicate balance of professionalism and family ties quite well, and I was a better student for it.

I narrowly missed the opportunity of sitting under Professor's surgery lectures or watching him in the OR as a medical student at UITH. However, I benefited from the ripples effect of his excellence through my teachers whom he taught.

The love between Mummy and Daddy Odelowo was the kind many can only fantasize about, they both just showed us what "for better, for worse, till death do us apart" really means...even in death, they continued to raise the bars of excellence in marriage. 

On behalf of my sibs, Dami, Kayode and Seyi and my parents Mr& Mrs Adeyemi, we celebrate the exceptional life of excellence Mummy and Daddy Odelowo lived and we are indeed blessed to have been a part of it.

May their beautiful and loving souls rest in peace

Segun Adeyemi

Above all, Professor Odelowo was a man of truly remarkable character. His integrity was unassailable, his kindness boundless, and his compassion deeply felt by all who encountered him. He treated every individual, regardless of their station, with profound respect and dignity, setting an exemplary standard for us all to emulate. His deep Christian faith, his devotion as a husband, and his dedication as a father, were sources of endless inspiration illuminating his life with purpose and grace. He truly "showed example by his life." 
Decades before mandatory enforcement by government, Baba Odelowo never drove a car even within a few meters without his seatbelt fastened. He never entered the wards without his clinical coat on. He exemplified sacrifice; often enduring hours of complex operations due to his specialty and the scarcity of equipment and skilled assistants. I vividly recall a moment when a trainee, one of his assistants, spoke of hunger during a critical case, and Baba gently retorted, “Oh boy! I don’t know what has happened to your hypothalamus; somebody is dying or in critical condition, and someone is talking about food!” This was his way of teaching us about the profound demands of sacrifice and endurance; lessons I carry with me to this day.
I will forever cherish the memories of my time spent under his invaluable tutelage and mentorship. His indomitable spirit will undoubtedly continue to guide me, and I commit to honoring his profound legacy by striving to emulate his dedication, integrity, and compassion in every aspect of my own career and personal life.
Rest in eternal peace, dear Baba Odelowo. Your remarkable life and profound impact will never be forgotten.

I clearly recall his collaboration with the ILUMSA EXCO around 1998 to raise funds for the said patient's (a young girl) pneumonectomy – a testament to his holistic and humane approach to patient care. The lady’s survival stands as a powerful legacy of his efforts. Beyond the surgical theatre, Professor Odelowo was the unwavering patriarch of our department; a committed educator whose guidance extended far beyond clinical techniques. He meticulously cultivated a deep sense of responsibility, integrity, and compassion in all his trainees. It was his steadfast example, his relentless pursuit of knowledge, and his unwavering support that profoundly influenced my decision to pursue urology. Though our specializations ultimately diverged, the core principles he championed – precision, unwavering patient advocacy, and an unyielding commitment to lifelong learning – became the bedrock of my own professional path, for which I will be eternally grateful. It is on record that the current Department of Orthopaedics originated as a unit under Surgery. Due to challenges faced by rotating residents, Prof. Odelowo's astute leadership led to the unit's evolution into two separate units, effectively resolving the issues. I was the senior registrar in the original orthopaedic unit, alongside Dr. Deji Adekanye, who was the registrar. We remain eternally grateful to Professor Odelowo for creating the two-unit structure, which significantly improved our training, practice, and overall experience.  In the year 2000, I had the privilege of witnessing and participating in another milestone achievement: the first successful tracheoesophageal fistula corrective surgery in ilorin Assisting Professor Odelowo and Professor James Adeniran in this groundbreaking procedure was an honour, showcasing Prof. Odelowo's bold and visionary approach to advancing complex medical care in Nigeria.

It is with a heart heavy with sorrow, yet overflowing with gratitude, that I reflect on the immeasurable impact of Professor Ezekiel O. Odelowo. His passing leaves an irreplaceable void, not just in the medical community, but also in the lives of all who had the privilege of knowing him. 
Professor Odelowo was more than a luminary in cardiothoracic surgery; he was a foundational mentor whose profound wisdom and unwavering dedication irrevocably shaped my professional journey and those of countless others.
An extraordinary individual, Professor Odelowo, though American Board-certified in Cardiac and Vascular Surgery, chose to dedicate his formidable talents and extensive knowledge to his homeland, Nigeria. In an environment often constrained by resources, his commitment to elevating medical standards and meticulously nurturing local talent was nothing short of heroic. This selfless vision and unwavering resolve made an indelible difference, touching innumerable lives and shaping countless careers.
I consider it one of the greatest honours of my life to have been mentored by him. He was a master educator, imparting not only the intricate techniques of cardiac and thoracic surgery but also instilling the profound ethics, unwavering dedication, and deep compassion essential to medicine. Each instance of assisting him in the operating theatre was a masterclass in precision, meticulousness, and patient-centred care.
One memory remains particularly vivid: a critically challenging pneumonectomy during my registrarship. Alongside the late Dr. Tunde Aladesanmi, I witnessed Professor Odelowo's extraordinary surgical prowess and sheer determination. Despite the significant limitations we faced, his meticulous attention to every detail ensured the patient received nothing less than the absolute best possible care. This experience was a profound lesson in resourcefulness, unyielding dedication, and the relentless pursuit of excellence, regardless of circumstances.

Words cannot adequately express the emotions of the moment, but I’m grateful for the life and times of Daddy and Mummy Odelowo. They were parents, mentors and godly examples to all who had the privilege of knowing them. We are comforted by the knowledge that these faithful ones are at rest now. Love you daddy and mummy Odelowo, rest in peace.

Grandma and Grandpa Odelowo were to us the kind of grandparents many only dream of. They were not our biological grandparents, yet they loved us as though we were flesh of their flesh. The same deep love they showed our parents overflowed generously to us, their children, in abundance.

Grandma Odelowo, with her strict but deeply loving tone, would teasingly ask my dad, “John, ṣe o n gburo àwọn ọmọ? Ṣé wọn ò ṣe láńgà-lángà kiri?” — always checking, always caring, always invested in our wellbeing. Her words, though difficult to translate perfectly, carried warmth, concern, and a grandmother’s protective heart. Even her discipline was wrapped in affection.

How can we ever forget the countless days they sent us fruits straight from their garden—fresh, thoughtful gifts that spoke volumes about their generosity and hospitality. Their home was a place of warmth, welcome, and kindness, where love was not just spoken but lived out daily.

Grandma and Grandpa Odelowo lived impactful lives. They gave freely, loved deeply, and opened their hearts without reservation. We remain grateful to God for the blessing of having them in our lives. Their love shaped us, their generosity sustained us, and their memory will forever remain a treasure in our hearts.

We thank God for Grandma and Grandpa Odelowo—true grandparents in every sense of the word. May we all enjoy Gods comfort as we navigate the void they have left in our hearts...
Mofiyinfoluwa Aremo( John Odediji's Daughter)

OBITUARY

Ezekiel & Olufolawe Odelowo

Leppert Mortuaries – Carmel

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