Born on 02 October, 1962 at Yemetu-Adeoyo, Ibadan into the family of Late Chief (Alh) Yusuf Adisa Olayiwola Ojetola and Alhaja F. A. Olayiwola Ojetola, Gaphar Ojetola can be classified as one of the baby boomers of the Nigerian Independence.
Young Gaphar attended St. Paul’s Primary School, Yemetu, Ibadan for his elementary education; and the prestigious Ibadan Grammar School, Molete, Ibadan (1974 Set) for his secondary schooling
He later proceeded to the premier Nursing School in Nigeria, School of Nursing, Eleyele, Ibadan where he obtained Diploma in General Nursing and became a Registered Nurse as recognized by the Nigerian Nursing and Midwifery Council in 1987.
Gaphar worked in various health institutions in Oyo State including the University College Hospital before he migrated to Saudi Arabia in 1990.
Alhaji Gaphar Ojetola was the first ever Black African to become Head Nurse/Supervisor at the King Fahd General Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in 1994.
In pursuit of more knowledge and career advancement, Gaphar Ojetola relocated to the United Kingdom in 1998 where he hoped to further unlock his potentials. He worked at the Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel, London and King’s College Hospital, London, after which he returned to The Barts and the London NHS Trust as Respiratory Research Specialist.
He attended City University, London in 2001/ 2002, for his specialist degree in Urological Clinician. Gaphar was part of a research team in the UK that first studied the link between black men and prostate cancer. He was awarded a certificate of excellence for his work on PROCESS-Prostate Cancer in Ethnic Sub-groups.
Gaphar Ojetola worked at various hospitals, occupying managerial and specialist positions. He was a Researcher, Hospital Manager, and Clinician of high repute.
Other academic and professional qualifications to his credit include the following:
• Member, Qatar National Health Association
• Member, Royal College of Nursing, UK
• Certificate in Advanced Supervisory Skills – 2010
• Corporate Quality Management Certificate – 2010
• Middle Management Certificate- 2009
• International Trauma Life Support Provider Certificate -2009
• European Resuscitation Council Certificate on Immediate Life Support Provider-2011
• Emergency Medical Certificate College of North Atlantic – 2009
• BSc. Urology nursing-City University, London 2002
• Executive Professional Diploma in Healthcare Governance, Management and Leadership -April 2019
He was recruited by the Qatar Petroleum Medical Services in 2008 as the Head Emergency Medical Services, a feat also never before achieved by an African/British.
Family/ Homeland
Having family values at the core of his existence, Gaphar Ojetola, through his sojourn as a professional clinician of international repute remained in touch with his extended family and the grassroots of his homeland and city, Ibadan.
Philanthropy
Gaphar Ojetola is passionately committed to assisting the less-privileged through his extensive membership of charity organizations.
In his charitable and philanthropic efforts to humanity, Ojetola:
• Donated various medical and hospital equipment to Adeoyo Maternity Hospital to support the efforts of the government of Alhaji (Dr.) Lam Adeshina in 2001
• Facilitated education grant for indigent students of Urban Day Grammar School
• Facilitated donation of computers to the School for the Deaf, Ijokodo Ibadan
• Facilitated donation of computerized Audiology Instruments to the same School for the Deaf
• Donation of 52 Hearing Aids to the School for the Deaf
• Donation of generating set and sporting equipment to the same School.
• Donation of furniture to school of nursing hostel, UCH Ibadan and other numerous donations to other hospitals and schools.
One of the many outstanding acts of Gaphar Ojetola’s was when he helped improve the quality of life of a crippled 18 year old lady by facilitating a series of Orthopedic surgical procedures at UCH, Ibadan to regain her mobility; the corrective surgery garnered well over 4 million naira
Socio-economics
Gaphar has formed a bridge between home and abroad for laudable projects proposed for establishment in Ibadan and its environs.
Gaphar Ojetola founded Oluyole Progressive Union, UK in 2001 and served as its General Secretary for many years
In 2013, the highest socio-political organization in Ibadanland, Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) conferred on Gaphar Babatunde Ojetola, a “Distinguished Fellows Award” in recognition of his humanitarian and philanthropic feats in Ibadanland and its environs. He was also conferred with the chieftaincy title of Akogun Baale Olounde Ige, as well as the Balogun of Ojeniranland. May the Kings live long.
Service with indigenous organizations: Gaphar Ojetola was the:
• Former General Secretary, Ibadan Descendants Union, United Kingdom (1998-2001);
• Former General Secretary, Elite Klub, UK (1999-2005);
• Former General Secretary, African Dove Organization, UK;
• Former P.R.O, School of Nursing, Eleyele Old Students Association, UK
• Served for five years as Secretary General , Association of Professional Retired Nurses and Midwives of Nigeria Oyo State (APRNMN) and recently elected as the Chairman of the association.
Currently, Gaphar Ojetola is:
• A member, Ibadan Grammar School Old Students’ Association, UK.
• The first Vice National President, Ibadan Grammar School Old Students Association, IGSOSA.
Publications
Balogun Gaphar Ojetola has written and published many papers to both local and international journals. In his recent paper titled “Question Time Ibadan: To fear or fight the conspiracies against us”, he challenged people of impeccable character and qualities, God-fearing, well exposed and enlightened individuals to engage in politics with views of sanitizing the much corrupt and bastardized polity existent in Nigeria.
Balogun Gaphar Babatunde Ojetola is happily married and blessed with lovely children and grandchildren.
Politics
In 2007, Gaphar Ojetola contested for the Federal House of Representatives Election under the Action Congress Party.
Hobby
Gaphar might perfectly be described here as okoto, as one of his outstanding hobbies is dancing, which he does with ease and fluidity especially when served good oldies from the 60s and 70s
Personality traits
Gaphar Ojetola is a highly lovable and jovial person, respectful, suave and urbane. He has a solid love for tradition and culture, and respects elders without discrimination, as a principle.
Gaphar, as an extrovert that is well read and exposed, can engage in a wide array of conversation with ease and unmatched eloquence.
He is as strict as he is jovial, and believes in fairness, justice and living in peace and harmony.
Gaphar is full of charm that keeps an audience hypnotized, has a magnetic aura that announces him whenever he makes a grand entry into any gathering, and has a high IQ which makes it easy for him to maintain high quality relationships. He is as humble in service as he is firm in leadership, and well able to joggle a lot of responsibilities simultaneously; his dedication and passion for delivery make it easy for people and organizations to entrust him with high level responsibilities, with the certainty that he will always exceed expectations.
Gaphar is highly fashionable, never to joke with his outward appearance, as he continues to strive to maintain and even improve his inner beauty.
Get in touch with Gaphar:
The Iyalode 
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