This site is dedicated to the memory of Professor Gabriel Ikhidero Odia.
Professor Gabriel Ikhidero Odia was born on the 30th April, 1934. He attended St. Peters Primary School Benin City, (1941-1945) and Igbobi College (1946-1951). He was a graduate of the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada and he served in various professional and academic positions at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, and the College of Medicine, University of Lagos and Lagos University Teaching Hospital where he was an Honorary Consultant Physiotherapist. He pioneered the physiotherapy training at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos.
Professor Odia belongs to several professional bodies including Member, Canadian Physiotherapy Association, Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (Great Britain); Member Society for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled, Member International Society of Prosthetics and Orthotics, and past Chairman of the Nigerian Society of Physiotherapy.
He is also a Trustee of the Spinal Cord Injuries Association of Nigeria. A keen sportsman and professional Consultant in Sports Medicine, Professor Odia has served in various capacities including Team Physiotherapist, Nigeria Contingent to the 3rd All African Games, Algiers, Moscow Olympics, 4th All African Games, Nairobi, and the Seoul Olympics. He was Secretary, 1980 Africa Cup of Nations Medical Sub-Committee. He is also a founding member of the Sports Medicine Association of Nigeria. He has published many professional and research papers in both National and International Journals. Professor Odia is married with children. He voluntarily retired from the services of the College of Medicine and Lagos University Teaching Hospital in April, 1992 after 35 years of meritorious service.
The Federal Government appointed him as the Pioneer Chairman, Medical Rehabilitation Therapists Board of Nigeria in December 2000, a position he held till 2009.
Pa Odia, as we used to call him, will be greatly missed. But his legacy lives on.
Funeral arrangements:
THURSDAY 7th January, 2016:
• 12pm-2pm: Commendation service & Tributes session (Old Great Hall, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi Araba)
• 6pm - 8pm: Christian wake keep (Chapel of the Healing Cross, Opposite LUTH/CMUL, Idi Araba, Lagos
• 10pm - dawn: Lying in state in his compound (17 Femi Ayantuga Crescent, Off Adelabu street, (by Fountain Height schools), Surulere.
FRIDAY 8th January, 2016:
• 8am-9am: Brief lying in state / Academic procession (Old Great Hall, College of Medicine, University of Lagos
• 9.30am -10.30am: Brief lying in state (Chapel of the Healing Cross, Opposite LUTH/CMUL, Idi Araba
• 11am: Funeral service (Chapel of the Healing Cross, Opposite LUTH/CMUL, Idi Araba
• Interment at the Ikoyi Cemetary
• Reception follows at the Church Hall of St Saviour's Church, Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos Island.
Emmanuel B. John, PT, PhD
Protem Secretary
CMUL Physical Therapy Alumni USA Inc
Web: http://www.cmulptalumni.org
Professor Odia belongs to several professional bodies including Member, Canadian Physiotherapy Association, Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (Great Britain); Member Society for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled, Member International Society of Prosthetics and Orthotics, and past Chairman of the Nigerian Society of Physiotherapy.
He is also a Trustee of the Spinal Cord Injuries Association of Nigeria. A keen sportsman and professional Consultant in Sports Medicine, Professor Odia has served in various capacities including Team Physiotherapist, Nigeria Contingent to the 3rd All African Games, Algiers, Moscow Olympics, 4th All African Games, Nairobi, and the Seoul Olympics. He was Secretary, 1980 Africa Cup of Nations Medical Sub-Committee. He is also a founding member of the Sports Medicine Association of Nigeria. He has published many professional and research papers in both National and International Journals. Professor Odia is married with children. He voluntarily retired from the services of the College of Medicine and Lagos University Teaching Hospital in April, 1992 after 35 years of meritorious service.
The Federal Government appointed him as the Pioneer Chairman, Medical Rehabilitation Therapists Board of Nigeria in December 2000, a position he held till 2009.
Pa Odia, as we used to call him, will be greatly missed. But his legacy lives on.
Funeral arrangements:
THURSDAY 7th January, 2016:
• 12pm-2pm: Commendation service & Tributes session (Old Great Hall, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi Araba)
• 6pm - 8pm: Christian wake keep (Chapel of the Healing Cross, Opposite LUTH/CMUL, Idi Araba, Lagos
• 10pm - dawn: Lying in state in his compound (17 Femi Ayantuga Crescent, Off Adelabu street, (by Fountain Height schools), Surulere.
FRIDAY 8th January, 2016:
• 8am-9am: Brief lying in state / Academic procession (Old Great Hall, College of Medicine, University of Lagos
• 9.30am -10.30am: Brief lying in state (Chapel of the Healing Cross, Opposite LUTH/CMUL, Idi Araba
• 11am: Funeral service (Chapel of the Healing Cross, Opposite LUTH/CMUL, Idi Araba
• Interment at the Ikoyi Cemetary
• Reception follows at the Church Hall of St Saviour's Church, Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos Island.
Emmanuel B. John, PT, PhD
Protem Secretary
CMUL Physical Therapy Alumni USA Inc
Web: http://www.cmulptalumni.org
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Thoughts
It is very apt for me to say these few lines before the dust settles on the celebration of the passing into glory of my mentor, friend and father - Prof Gabriel Ikhidero Odia - a physiotherapist per excellence, an innovative pioneer, colossus in the world of Nigeria Physiotherapy practice, and a christian worker of emulate-able attributes.As I ruminate on what to say, I would like to first thank God for your life and all that God enabled you to do in my life. I thank God for allowing yourself to be used to create a space for me in your Clinic after my NYSC sojourn, you showed me the way to be a a researcher clinician, prodded me to be an academic, and a Christian worker. I reminisce about the many discussions we had, in your car, on our way back from Lagoon Hospital, or from the meetings of the Pioneer Anglican Prison Chaplains or the discussion of your early days in Manitoba as a student Physiotherapist. How can I forget the way you spoke for me when I had missed the deadline for admission into University of Ibadan for the pioneer Physiotherapy Master's programme or loaning me some funds to purchase my first car! Your support and advice on many issues were always on point and very insightful. Although I had not spoken to you in a long time, I still remember these past years with fondness and will never cease to thank God for bringing you across my path in my life's journey. Adieu Prof Odia and continue to rest in the bosom of your Lord and Saviour till we meet to part no more! Remembered fondly by your mentee and son in diaspora - Dr Isaac Sorinola.
Isaac
11th January 2016
A life well spent.
My thoughts and prayers are with the Odia family, to remind you that the LORD JESUS is by your side. HE will guide, guard and protect you and grant you peace. The HOLY SPIRIT will comfort you. Your dear father, husband, brother, uncle, relative, our lecturer, and professor is resting in the LORD in JESUS name, amen.
Banke Adeyemi (nee Akinwumiju), 1975 - 1978 set)
Banke
7th January 2016
Pa Odia will be greatly missed by many people whose lives he helped to shape in one way or another. "Baba Odia" gave me my first job in 1988. My Teacher, and mentor. Our prayers go to the family that he left behind. True comfort comes from the Lord. We pray that the Lord will comfort and uphold them during this time of their bereavement.
May his Soul rest in peace.
Leo Ade Adewusi
Leo
4th January 2016
