RESUME ON PROF S. S. TAIWO

Nothing about his petite frame gives away how intelligent and extremely energetic Samuel

Sunday Taiwo is, first among his classmates (popularly known as ’89 set at University of Ibadan

medical school, the foremost University in Nigeria) to become a Professor.

Born in the little town of Arandun, Kwara State, Nigeria to peasant farmers, Mr and Mrs Joseph

Taiwo in a polygamous setting and the 8th of 11 children, he had both his primary and

secondary education in his hometown where the foundation of his commitment to excellence

was laid. In no time, little Sam became a reference at school and the town at large. Punctuality

and neatness were traits also identified in him.

His ingenuity was taken to another level when he began to teach students who were two classes

ahead of him in English and Mathematics after school hours. This aptness qualified him for a

double promotion during the course of his secondary school education hence Samuel became

the youngest in the class, his perspicuity, irrespective of his age left the school teachers

wondering.

As expected of a youth, growing Sam never exhibited acts of juvenile delinquencies rather this

purpose-driven lad went ahead to make “A” grade in Physics at ‘O’ level GCE, a subject he

never took in secondary school, amongst distinctions in all other subjects.

Travelled for the first time out of his comfort zone when he was admitted into Kwara State

College of Technology (later called Kwara State Polytechnic) in 1985, where he obtained

distinction in ‘A’ level GCE and IJMB subjects in 1987, thereafter he proceeded to the Premier

University, University of Ibadan to study medicine, the career of his dreams.

He graduated and bagged the MBBS degree in 1992 and did his housemanship in University

College Hospital, Ibadan between 1992 and 1993. He served his fatherland (NYSC) in 1994/1995

and worked briefly as a medical officer in a private hospital in Akure, Ondo State, between 1995

and 1997.

Samuel chose to tread the path of his career mentor, Prof Boaz Adegboro in the field of Medical

Microbiology to the dismay of some of his teachers and colleagues at the University of Ibadan

who believed cardiothoracic surgery or urology was his calling. During his residency

postgraduate training at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital under the supervision of

Prof Adegboro, Sam took interest in research/teaching and journal editing, this further left him

with more task and increased responsibility as he was soon left to handle editorials and journal

publication as a young doctor.

His ever increasing energetic state soon drove him to being an active member of the Association

of Resident Doctors (ARD) first at University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, where he served as

Social Secretary (1998-1999) and Vice President (1999-2000), and at the national level (NARD)

where he served as Financial Secretary (1999-2000) and Secretary General (2001-2002). He also

served in the NMA, Kwara State chapter as the Assistant Secretary (1999-2000) and was

honored as a life member of ARD UITH in 2004. His exploits and contribution to ARD course

and struggle remain in the archives of the Association and upcoming doctors will ever remain

grateful for the benefits of his works and those of others during their tenure.

Samuel became a Fellow of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, Faculty of

Pathology (Medical Microbiology) in the year 2003. He was subsequently appointed Lecturer 1

in Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Ogbomoso and a Consultant Clinical

Microbiologist at the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, his very first step in the hallway of

achievers and academia.

The vibrant young man who was travelling and playing chess in his spare time met his better

half, Dr Oluwakemi Iyaniwura and both tied the nuptial knots on 10th December, 2005. The

union was blessed with three healthy children (two boys and a girl).

Samuel rose through the ranks and files of academics and also served in varying capacities as

Head of Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology and members of many

University and Teaching Hospital committees. He also served as Public Relation Officer (2006-

2008) and Welfare Officer (2008-2010) of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU),

LAUTECH chapter. He received several awards among which include Great African Merit

Award by Complete Success Publication, Achievement Award by the University of Ilorin

Teaching Hospital, Award by the Ethical Committee of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Short

Research Grant/Award by International Society for Infectious Diseases (ISID) as well as

Traveling Awards to attend International Workshops and Conferences.

He is a member of many professional bodies among which are; Nigerian Medical Association

(NMA), Medical and Dental Consultant Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), Association of

Pathologists of Nigeria (ASSOPON), Nigerian Venereal Diseases Association (NIVEDA),

Nigerian Infection Control Association (NICA), African Society of Clinical Microbiology

(ASCM), American Society of Microbiology (ASM), Biomedical Group International (BGI) and

Young African Scientists (YAS).

His area of research interest is nosocomial infection and antimicrobial resistance where he has

authored publication of over fifty articles in both local and international journals including

contributions to chapters in books. He is an Assistant Editor of the Nigerian Journal of

Genitourinary Medicine and editorial board members of five international journals including

being the only Nigerian in the editorial board of the World Journal of Clinical Infectious

Diseases (WJCID). He is a reviewer/assessor for over twenty journals both at home and abroad.

As part of his contribution to knowledge and uplift of man, he has trained undergraduate

medical students since inception of his career as a Senior Resident in Medical Microbiology at

the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital to the time of his appointment as a Lecturer in

LAUTECH. He has also taught biomedical science and nursing students and supervised

Postgraduate Diploma (PGD), Master of Science (MSc) students and Resident Postgraduate

Medical Doctors. It can be said that Dr. S. S. Taiwo has reproduced himself in his field in Dr

(Mrs.) Olubukola Oluyombo as his first trained resident doctor to become a Fellow of the

National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, Faculty of Pathology (Medical Microbiology)

in May 2013 ten years after he himself became a Fellow. A known external examiner at both

undergraduate and postgraduate levels in different institutions, he has attended several

conferences and workshops in his field both at home and abroad in search of knowledge.

Samuel who was described as down to earth, hardworking and focused optimistic goal getter

became a Professor of Medical Microbiology 1st October 2011, a well deserved elevation based

on the ingenuity of his works. He is also currently the Acting Dean of the Faculty of Basic

Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, LAUTECH, Ogbomoso since 1st August 2011. The

responsibility of this office further corroborates the astuteness of this great achiever, he remains

a mentor to upcoming lecturers.

Samuel, a disciple of the Christian Faith is also an Associate Pastor in Holy Ghost Chapel,

Osogbo under the tutelage of the Holy Spirit and Pastor A. B. Layeni his spiritual mentor, he

has been seen to have strong passion for mentoring youths and helping the needy.

Talk about faithfulness and fulfillment, Samuel has paid his dues and still reaping the fruits of

his labour. He is no doubt a dynamite in a petite frame, his eloquence, vibrancy, innovations,

simplicity and youthfulness has de-mystify the belief that only the gray-haired occupies the

professorial chair, the highest achievable academic portfolio.

Endless is the wonder amiable and humble Samuel can pull, surely he is to be watched out for

Dr (Mrs) Oluwakemi Iyaniwura Taiwo wrote this piece on her husband Prof. S. S. Taiwo