Moses Majekodunmi


Moses Adekoyejo Majekodunmi C.F.R, C.M.G. was a Nigerian gynaecologist and obstetrician. He was also Minister of Health in the Nigerian First Republic.

Early life and education

Moses was born in Abeokuta in August 1916. He studied at Abeokuta Grammar School, St. Gregory's College, Lagos, before proceeding to Trinity College Dublin where he earned a degree in Anatomy and Physiology in 1936. He also earned a 1st Class degree in Bacteriology and Clinical Medicine in 1940.

Medical career

In Ireland, he worked as in-house physician at the National Children's Hospital and the Rotunda Hospital from 1941 to 1942. In 1943, he joined the Federal Government Medical Services as a medical doctor and established his medical practice. He played key roles in the establishment of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital and also founded Saint Nicholas Hospital in Lagos, which opened in March 1968.

Political career

He was elected into the Nigerian Senate in 1960. He was appointed sole administrator of Western Region in June 1962 after a political crisis in the region, holding office in place of the Premier Samuel Akintola until December that year.
The crisis was due to a struggle between Akintola and the former Western Region Premier and current leader of the opposition Obafemi Awolowo, which had led to violent scenes in the House of Assembly.
On advice from the police, one of his first acts was to sign restriction orders to detain leaders of both factions.
After the situation had stabilized, Akintola resumed office on 1 January 1963.
As an Oloye of the Yoruba people, he held the chieftaincy titles of the Mayegun of Lagos and the Otun Balogun of the Christians of Egbaland.