Meet the Distinguished Paediatrician of the year 2025, Professor Foluso Ebun Afolabi LESI.
He was born on the 20th January 1961 to the family of late Professor F E Akinboye Lesi and Mrs. Adenike Lesi and hails from Abeokuta, Ogun State. A fellow of the Faculty of Paediatrics of the West African College of Physicians (FWACP (Paed)). He obtained the Masters (MSc) in Mother and Child Health with distinction in 1997 from University College London. Fellow of the prestigious Royal College of Physicians of London (FRCP).
He was appointed Professor in 2011. In these positions he has diligently carried out his duties and responsibilities of teaching students and postgraduates, supervision and mentorship of students and younger colleagues as well as carrying out research while providing service as Honorary Consultant Paediatrician to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital. His areas of interest are Malaria, Paediatric Neurology (CNS Infections, Seizures and Disability) and Child Development.
His administrative experience includes being appointed Chief Registrar in the Department of Paediatrics. He was the National Secretary of the Paediatric Association of Nigeria. He served the West African College of Physicians first as Assistant Secretary General and later as the Secretary-General where he supervised the running of the secretariat of the regional postgraduate medical college and coordinated the smooth running of examinations in centres across Nigeria, Ghana and Sierra-Leone. He currently serves as the Director of International Office, WACP. He has been Chairman of the LUTH Chapter of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association and was later appointed Deputy Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, LUTH.
His contributions to the College of Medicine and the University include his membership of many committees. He has been a member of the University Senate since 2011. He has been Acting Head of Department, Paediatrics, Dean Faculty of Clinical Sciences, CMUL and Provost, College of Medicine. He has supervised many Masters, Fellowship and PhD students many of whom are now holding their own in their areas of endeavour across the country and abroad.
His contributions to the Nation include his participation in President Obasanjo’s Presidential Stakeholders Forum on Child Nutrition, in Feb 2007. He has been or is currently an external examiner in Paediatrics to various universities and postgraduate colleges. He has been an assessor to a number of professorial candidates within and outside the university. He is currently the Chairman of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.
In terms of his scholarly output, he has over 60 publications in national and foreign peer-reviewed journals. He co-authored the 2nd Edition of the History of the Paediatric Association of Nigeria 1969-2018. He has attended and presented papers in many local and international conferences. He has also attended and been a resource person on many local and international workshops, including the internationally recognised Doctors as Educators delivered on behalf of the Royal College of Physicians and the West African College of Physicians.
Professor Lesi is a member of a number of professional associations including the Nigerian Medical Association, the Paediatric Association of Nigeria, the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria. He is also an international member of the American Academy of Paediatrics and the International Society for Autism Research.
Professor Lesi is happily married to Professor Olufunmilayo Lesi, a Professor and Consultant Gastroenterologist and they are blessed with children.
