Oni Akerele

John Oni Akerele
Died	1983
Nationality	Nigerian
Occupation	Doctor
Known for	Political activism

John Oni Akerele was a Nigerian doctor, Nigeria's first indigenous surgeon.^[1]

While living in London, in 1941 he married Dorothy Jackson, who was of African, European and Native American descent, and they set up home in Kilburn, in the north of London. Their house became a meeting place for Africans such as Nnamdi Azikiwe, the first President of Nigeria, and Jomo Kenyatta of Kenya.^[2] While in London, in 1945 he was one of the founders of the pan-Yoruba cultural society Egbe Omo Oduduwa, and was the first president. Members included Obafemi Awolowo, Secretary, Akintola Williams, Saburi Biobaku, Ayo Rosiji and others.^[3]

Akerele returned to Nigeria after independence in 1960, and became medical officer to the Western Region in Ibadan. During the Nigerian civil war (1967-1970) they moved to Lagos, where Akerela set up a private practice. He died in 1983. Dorothy lived on to the age of 93, dying in April 2007.^[2]

References

1. ^ Kayode Olashile-Alfred (28/11/2009). "Family remembers HOD". The Nation (Nigeria). http://thenationonlineng.net/web2/articles/26877/1/Family-remembers-HOD-/Page1.html. Retrieved 2011-06-01. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Keith Richards (2 April 2007). "Obituary: Dorothy Akerele". Guardian UK. http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/2007/apr/02/obituaries.readersobituaries. Retrieved 2011-06-01. 
3. ^ Richard L. Sklar (2004). Nigerian Political Parties: Power in an Emergent African Nation. Africa World Press. p. 67. ISBN 1592212093. http://books.google.ca/books?id=Oi0aVR4YkmUC&pg=PA67.