Wale Okediran: Garlands for a man of letters at 70

WITH the calibre of guests at the 70th birthday ceremony and book launch of Honourable (Dr) Wale Okediran, on Monday, April 14, one could easily identify where the birthday boy’s passion lies.

Among the guests at the International Conference Centre (ICC), University of Ibadan, were medical doctors, writers, politicians, community leaders, and one would not need to go far to understand that Dr Okediran, being a medical doctor, writer, politician and community leader, only attracts people of like minds.

In the course of his callings, he has used his platforms and knowledge to empower the people around him. His contributions to human development could, however, mostly be noticed through his love for literature, as he had mentored several young writers who are now giants in the global literary sphere.

His Ebedi International Writers Residency in Iseyin, Oyo State is currently the major literary residency in the country and it has hosted several writers, most of whom have found their feet in literature. Writers like Ayobami Adebayo, Yewande Omotoso, Romeo Oriogun, among others, have gone on to win global acclaim. Adebayo, in particular, fine-tuned her award-winning novel, ‘Stay With Me,’ at Ebedi. 

Not only is Ebedi beneficial to writers, secondary school students in Iseyin also gain from Dr Okediran’s love for human development as he ensures that the writers, from different parts of the country and Africa, engage the students in different literary genres.

However, while one may be wondering how Dr Okediran is able to manage his time attending to his medical practice, writings and political engagements at the same time, one of his friends who had been with him since they were students at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Dr Olorunimbe Mamora, offers a glimpse into this special trait.

“He [Dr Okediran] has always been a man of different parts right from our university days,” Dr Mamora, who chaired the birthday celebration and book launch, said.

Dr Mamora further said, “Dr Okediran was a year ahead of me at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, and I had seen these traits in him.

“He has succeeded in various areas – medicine, literature and politics. These are dynamic and vast areas, and this means he is more like a super human. It must also be said that literature really brought out his intellectualism.

“He also excelled in politics; while he was a member of the House of Representatives, I was in the Senate, and we both used our positions as legislators to entrench democracy in the country.

“Together, we fought to stop the tenure elongation plan during that period and this shows he is a democrat. It is so unfortunate that he could not return to the National Assembly due to the system of our politics, where people believe in ‘turn-by-turn.”

Speaking directly to the celebrant, Dr Mamora said: “Wale, God has been good to you; the life expectancy in Nigeria is 54.6 years, and for you to be 70 years is no mean feat. God has been gracious to you; I know you were shocked when someone called you ‘Baba,’ but this is just God’s grace.

“You are not just 70 for fun, you have assisted a lot of people, and you just need to continue, because your mentor, Professor Wole Soyinka, who is over 90 years, is still contributing to the development of the country and you are just 70, so you still have a lot to do.”

Publisher of the book, “Medicine and Literature Without Borders: Health and Social Justice in the Writings of Wale Okediran,” Mr Adedapo Gbadega of Accessible Publishers, said he had worked with Dr Okediran on several projects, “and he is just an epitome of integrity.

“He leads by example and sometimes, I wonder how he manages to attend to all his activities at the same time. However, I can say that he lives a life of purpose through his passions,” Mr Gbadega said.

Professor Soyinka was supposed to be the Special Guest of Honour on the occasion, but due to an unforeseen circumstance, he could not make it. He was, however, represented by his son, Dr Ola Soyinka.

Dr Soyinka informed the gathering how much his father loved Dr Okediran, and “the reason he asked me to come and represent him. My dad sends his best wishes to Dr Okediran on the occasion of his 70th birthday.”

Wife of Dr Soyinka, popular writer, Lola Shoneyin, while speaking, walked down memory lane how Dr Okediran assisted in her literary journey.

“Dr Okediran has done a lot to support writers in and outside Nigeria, and I am a living testimony of this. In fact, I owe my literary journey to the influence and support of Dr Okediran,” Shonoyin, author of ‘The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives,’ said. 

In his review of the book, “Medicine and Literature Without Borders: Health and Social Justice in the Writings of Wale Okediran,” Professor Remi Raji described Dr Okediran as a ‘physician writer’ and a ‘writer physician.’

He said Dr Okediran, as the ‘physician writer,’ focuses on the celebrant as a medical doctor, who takes up writing as a passion.

He, however, said Dr Okediran operates on a multi-dimensional level as, apart from being a medical doctor and writer, “he is also a politician and community leader and an advocate for qualitative education.”

The founder of Lead City University, Professor Jide Owoeye, then presented the book to the public.

Among the dignitaries at the event were Senator Monsurat Sunmonu, Chief Iyiola Oladokun, members of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) and community leaders from Iseyin.

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