Did you know that Professor Oritsejolomi Horatio Thomas is the first Nigerian to be admitted to the Royal College of Surgeons of England and the first head of the University's Teaching Hospital, LUTH?

Professor Oritsejolomi Horatio Thomas, CBE; CON; MB, Ch.B; FRCS; Hon D.Sc.(Ife) was born on 31st August, 1917 at Jathomas Rubber Estates in Sapele, present day Delta State. He was a Nigerian medical pioneer specialising in facial reconstructive and plastic surgery. In this latter discipline he trained as an assistant to the wartime legend, Sir Archibald MacIndoe, a New Zealand plastic surgeon who worked for the Royal Air Force during the Second World War and improved the treatment and rehabilitation of badly burned aircrew.

Professor Thomas was educated at the Wesleyan Boys High School (Methodist Boys High School); Igbobi College; University of Birmingham (1939-42) and was a member of the academic staff of University of Birmingham (1943-45). He was a Nigerian academic and pioneer provost of the College of Medicine, University of Lagos and the first Nigerian to be admitted to the Royal College of Surgeons of England.

Professor Thomas is the first head of the University's Teaching Hospital, LUTH. He was a Senior Lecturer and surgeon at the University of Ibadan, at the institution's inception to 1962 before proceeding to Lagos. He was Professor & Head of Department of Surgery, College of Medicine (1962-72); Chairman, Lagos University Teaching Hospital Management Board (1962-66); Provost, College of Medicine (1968-72); Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan (1972-75).

Professor Thomas was an editor of the West African Medical Journal and was a member of the Federal Electoral Commission in 1958; Member, Editorial Committee, British Medical Journal of Surgery; Past President, Association of Surgeons of West Africa; First President, Association of Medical Schools in Africa. He was the chairman of the advisory committee for the establishment of the Midwestern Medical Centre (now University of Benin Teaching Hospital) in the middle of 1969. He died on January 1st 1979.

The Horatio Oritsejolomi Thomas Foundation was established in 2006 by the family of the late Professor Thomas who was passionate about medical education - he believed that medical education was an essential component in the country's development and strived tirelessly throughout his life to make the standard of teaching medicine in Nigeria second to none.

The aim of the Foundation is to offer financial assistance to students at the College of Medicine of Lagos who have either reached, or are approaching, 2nd MB or its equivalent, but who will likely be unable to complete the degree course through lack of funds. Students must be able to show excellent examination results and provide confirmation from the College of Medicine of their inability to complete the MBBS degree course due to financial hardship.

There is also the Professor HO Thomas Scholarship. The award has been generously funded by his son Victor Awadagin Thomas, also an alumnus of the University of Birmingham, in his memory.

The Professor HO Thomas scholarship provides an annual scholarship of £2,000 to a Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic undergraduate MBChB student, with a primary focus towards Black students. The scholarship awards £2000 per annum to the first year undergraduate student who most closely meets the eligibility criteria. The award will continue for the duration of their MBChB degree, (including an intercalated year if relevant), subject to meeting satisfactory progression standards.

Sources: Horatio Oritsejolomi Thomas Foundation | Wikipedia

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