Celebrating Dame Adebisi Adebola Olufon’s birthday on May 9 and wedding anniversary on May 10 offers the opportunity of thanksgiving to God for a trailblazing specialist in Mammography and the recipient of the Best Radiographer award by the Lagos State Government in 2007. Dame Olufon, whose legacy of dedication and diligence is embodied by the nation’s modern-day healthcare heroes, remains a mentor to many healthcare workers today. Dame Olufon’s works and services over many years continue to be an inspiring legacy for patients, students, and service users. Dame Olufon remains a model of unswerving integrity, modesty, and a commitment to doing her best for patients and service users. Her name is well known across the Lagos State health sector, and Wesley Cathedral Olowogbowo, Lagos.

 Families, colleagues, and friends’ loyalty to her is based on a profound respect for her integrity and thoughtfulness. Her formidable intellect and exacting standards meant that she could sometimes seem stern. However, with my personal experience when I started my ministry at Wesley Cathedral, Olowogbowo, Lagos, behind the spirit and business-like approach Dame Olufon, she is very caring towards people and supportive at times of difficulty especially towards the welfare of the church ministers and workers. She always take the time to express her thanks and demonstrate gratitude for a job well done or a kindness shown. As a professional healthcare manager, she puts patients and service users first. She knows outcomes are more important than headlines.

Dame Olufon maintains an energetic workload, spiritual practices and discipline. Born to the Idowu family on May 9, 1957, her father, the late Mr Isaac Adetunji Idowu of Odofin Iloro in Igbajo and mother, the late Mrs Lilly Kehinde Idowu (Nee Clever) of Ajara in the Republic of Benin were devoted, Christian. Dame Olufon had her elementary Education at Methodist Primary School Imalefalafia in Ibadan. She attended Saint Teresa’s College Ibadan for her Secondary Education. She later studied Radiography at University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan. The school was affiliated with the College Radiographers, 14 Upper Wimpole London, where she obtained DCR (London). She got the best award in Radiographic Technique at her graduation. She later proceeded to her Postgraduate Studies at Lagos State University Ojo (LASU), obtaining a Master’s Business Administration Degree in Health Care Management. (MBA, HCM). While she was at LASU, she was appointed the Women’s Leader. She was employed by the Lagos State Government in June 1980 as a Radiographer and worked in X-ray/Radiology Departments of many Hospitals, e.g. GH Lagos Chest Clinic Lagos, Massey Children Hospital, Apapa, General Hospital Ikeja, now a Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Epe General Hospital and Badagry General Hospital. Out of all the imaging modalities she worked with, Conventional, CT, MRI, Ultrasound Scan, Forensic Radiography, and Dental Radiography. She specialises in Breast Imaging (Mammography). She has a great passion for Mammography. In 2005, she was awarded the Best Radiographer award by Lagos State Government. She also won the award in 2007. In 2009, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital awarded her the Best Staff. She retired statutorily in 2015 as the Director of Radiography at the Radiology Department of LASUTH after working meritoriously for 35 years. She is currently a contract Radiographer at the Faculty of Dentistry Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM) Ikeja. She is a member of the Association of Radiographers of Nigeria (ARN), The First Treasurer of the Lagos State Branch of ARN, a Member of the Radiographers Registration Board of Nigeria (RRBN), and a Former board member (RRBN); Member, International Society of Radiographers and Radiological Technologists (ISRRT); Member, Nigeria Institute of Management (NIM); Member LASUMBA Heritage. She is a staunch Wesley Cathedral Olowogbowo Lagos member, a Class Leader and a Church Council Member. She is the Chairman of the Education Endowment Fund of the Cathedral. In this fund, many indigent students/youths have been assisted and are still being assisted in achieving their educational dreams/goals.

Dame Olufon married Late Sir Adeola Olufemi Olufon (KJW), a Veteran Real Estate Surveyor and Valuer, in 1980 at St James Cathedral, Oke-Bola, Ibadan. Her husband, born on September 26, 1949, worked tirelessly for God without counting the cost for Local Church Wesley Cathedral Olowogbowo, Diocese / Archdiocese of Lagos and the Conference Methodist Church Nigeria. He passed on to glory on February 3, 2018. The marriage is blessed with four godly children and many grandchildren. Babatunde and Oluwafemi are both Local Church Stewards. Oyindamola, now Mrs Osinaike, was a Sunday School Teacher before she got married. Ibukunoluwa, a patron of the Light Bearers Society WCO. Her hobbies include travelling, shopping, singing, dancing, and listening to music (Country and Christian).

In 2007, during her 50th Birthday celebration, Dame Olufon, as the Chairman of the Education Endowment Fund, Wesley Cathedral Olowogbowo, raised N2.5M into the fund through family, friends and most especially with the support of her heartthrob and dearly beloved husband. Dame Olufon belongs to many societies in the church; among these are the Wesley Guild and the Premier Society, where she served as the General Secretary for over ten years. Also, recently, she was the Chairman of this Great Society’s 90th Anniversary Planning Committee. She is a member of the Ladies League Society, Ladies Progressive Union, and Women Fellowship. She belongs to the Medical Team Committee of the local and that of the Diocese, where she serves as the secretary; she is a Wesley Cathedral Intercessory Team member. She is a Matron of the following Societies: Rising Stars, Cradle Roll, Egbe Ife, and Ladies Friendly. Wesley Cathedral Band; Wesley Cathedral Choir, Young Men Christian League. She is a matron of the Ladies League Society, Olorunda Methodist Church, Aguda Surulere, and Ladies League Society Oko–Sagamu. At the local church, Wesley Cathedral Olowogbowo, She is a Member of the Trust Committee, Maintenance Committee, and Investment Committee d. New Manse Building Committee Dame Adebisi Adebola Olufon is an accredited Lay Preacher. She went on Holy Pilgrimage to Jerusalem in 2013, where she was awarded the title Jerusalem Pilgrim (JP). She was the first President of the Ladies of Knights, Lagos State Chapter, whose main objective is helping the widows and the needy in all our Local Churches in Lagos Diocese. Putting smiles on their faces and that of their children, we have empowered and established many widows with small-scale businesses. She was given the merit award of Sussanah Wesley in 2013 by the Diocese of Lagos Women’s Fellowship; she also received “The Achiever’s Award” from the Diocese of Lagos.

Dame Olufon is a Matron of The Boys Brigade Olowogbowo and the Girls Brigade Olowogbowo. She is a Patroness of the Boys Brigade Nigeria Lagos battalion. She is the vice chairman of the 60th Anniversary Planning Committee of the Diocese of Lagos, where a sum of N1 billion is being raised to build a befitting Edifice for the Diocese. She was awarded the highest award in Methodist Church Nigeria, Knighthood of John Wesley (KJW), in 2022 during the 180th Anniversary Celebration of Methodist Church Nigeria at Badagry. 

Join me as we pray for Dame Olufon; the rest of her years shall be the best in Jesus’ name. WORTHY IS THE LAMB!