Nigerian Soldier, Diplomat, Physician, and International Sports Administrator
Date: 4th August 1979
Location: Lusaka, Zambia
Early Life and Education
Henry Edmund Olufemi Adefope was born on 15 March 1926 in Kaduna, Northern Nigeria, to Chief Adefope and Alice Adefope. Though born in the North, he was of Yoruba descent.
He attended the prestigious CMS Grammar School, Lagos — Nigeria’s oldest secondary school — where he received his foundational education. He later proceeded to the University of Glasgow in Scotland, where he studied Medicine, graduating in 1952 with a degree in General Medicine.
Medical Career
After qualifying as a medical doctor, Adefope returned to Nigeria in 1953. He worked in both government and private medical services, practicing medicine across the country for a decade (1953–1963). His medical background would later play a key role in his military and administrative career, particularly in the Nigerian Army’s medical corps.
Military Career
In 1963, Adefope joined the Nigerian Army Medical Corps, at a time when the military was expanding after Nigeria’s independence. He rose through the ranks swiftly, recognized for his professionalism and leadership. Eventually, he attained the rank of Major General and served as Director of Medical Services, overseeing military healthcare and medical logistics during a formative period in Nigeria’s defense history.
Political and Diplomatic Career
Adefope transitioned from the military to public service during Nigeria’s era of military governments in the 1970s.
Minister of Labour (1975–1978): Appointed during the regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo, Adefope was responsible for labor relations, employment policy, and workforce development.
Minister of Foreign Affairs (1978–1979): In this capacity, he played a significant role in shaping Nigeria’s foreign policy during a critical time leading up to the country’s return to civilian rule in 1979.
He represented Nigeria in numerous international conferences and diplomatic missions.
Adefope’s tenure emphasized Nigeria’s leadership role in African diplomacy, the anti-apartheid movement, and the promotion of African unity within the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) (now the African Union).
Sports Administration and International Olympic Involvement
Apart from his distinguished public and military service, Adefope was also deeply involved in sports administration, especially in the Olympic movement.
President, Nigerian Olympic Committee (1967–1976): He led Nigeria’s Olympic body for nearly a decade, promoting sports development nationally and internationally.
Vice-President, Commonwealth Games Federation (1974–1982): Adefope represented Africa within the Commonwealth sports community, advocating for equitable representation and athlete development.
Member, International Olympic Committee (IOC) (1985–2006): His election to the IOC placed him among the few Africans serving at the highest level of global sports governance.
He contributed to several IOC commissions, including those responsible for selecting host cities for the 2000 (Sydney) and 2004 (Athens) Olympic Games.
In 2007, he was made an Honorary Member of the IOC in recognition of his long service and contributions.
Later Life and Legacy
Major General Adefope retired from public life but remained respected internationally for his integrity, discipline, and contributions to sports and diplomacy. He passed away on 11 March 2012, just four days before his 86th birthday.
Adefope’s career stands as a remarkable example of a multidisciplinary life of service — spanning medicine, the military, government, and international sports administration. His legacy reflects a rare blend of intellect, leadership, and patriotism.
Nollywood icon Genevieve Nnaji has fired off a sharp response after a man on X (formerly Twitter) advised Igbo men to stop marrying Igbo women and instead seek wives from other African countries.
The controversy began after a photo of a Rwandan woman said to be engaged to an Anambra man went viral.
Resharing the image, the user wrote, “Dear Igbo men, instead of marrying an Igbo woman who’ll falsely accuse you of r4ping your daughter, better look outside for a wife.
“Go to East Africa, especially Rwanda, and pick a damsel. They’re all over social media, and you can link up with them.”
Genevieve, who rarely comments on online drama, responded, “In other words, instead of checking yourself and taking accountability, go for the unsuspecting and carry on with your evil. Got it.”
Another user attempted to challenge her, claiming the original tweet was aimed at “false rape accusers” and that Genevieve was avoiding the real issue.
“His tweet was clearly against false rape accusers, but instead of holding the evil women accountable and demanding change, you chose to tweet this?”
But the actress hit back with equal clarity: “The same way a woman can’t tell an abusive man apart from a good one is the same way you shouldn’t say avoid all Igbo women. ‘Not all women’.”
Reality TV star Phyna has offered words of encouragement to fellow Big Brother Naija winner Imisi amid a family feud between the latter and her mother.
In an X post on Monday, Phyna wrote,”To Imisi, @imisiofficial and to anyone walking through the same fire… I’m praying for your strength.
“My own experience broke me, but I’m slowly rising.
“And I’m rooting for you with everything in me, don’t handle it like I did, build strong and focus on you baby girl.”
The post comes against the backdrop of a family dispute in which Imisi’s mother accused her daughter of hatred and revealed the poor condition of the home where she currently lives, despite Imisi winning N150 million after her Big Brother victory.
Imisi replied in Yoruba,”This is why Aunty Debola said you should not show your face to the world. I can’t be saying all that now, you are in the midst of people. Just overlook everything and leave social media.
“Don’t worry, I will send you money to rent a new house. I am tired of all this drama. I am still recovering from the stress of Big Brother.
“Should I be facing another stress now? Please forgive me, I am your daughter.”
Recall Imisi’s mother has publicly expressed frustration on social media, saying she does not need her daughter’s money after being sidelined following the win.
She also blamed Imisi for recounting her childhood experiences, which she claims involve untrue allegations of parental neglect and sexual assault.
In a video, she showed the old house she currently resides in, saying she is content with her situation, a revelation that sparked online controversy.
In 2023, after Phyna’s BBNaija win, her father, Felix Otabor, revealed in an interview that he was distressed by his daughter’s actions following her BBNaija win.
Otabor said Phyna had asked him to stop working as a hearse driver and requested that he sell his cars, promising to improve the family’s life.
He said he later struggled financially after selling the vehicles, losing his business momentum and community position, and has not seen his daughter since her victory.
He described feeling sidelined while she enjoyed her wealth.
Nollywood actress, Regina Daniels, has opened up about her marriage to her estranged husband, Senator Ned Nwoko.
It was reports that the embattled wife revealed why their seven-year relationship remained faithful despite his polygamous lifestyle.
In a reply to a comment on her Instagram page, Daniels said that during their years together, Nwoko never slept with other women outside their home because she held him well in the other room.
She wrote: “Yes i think he loved me but a toxic one! Because tell me why a polygamous man forgot what it meant to be in polygamy, except for the media.
“Just because it boosted his ego of being seen with multiple women which is easy by me because anyone that sees a man as an odogwu sees the wife as what? He basically had to beg that he share days at ours and other days with his other wives because they begged for his attention.
“Y’all should pls forget this yeye social media comparison because my ex man never slept outside one day in our 7 years of marriage. You know why? Because as a delta babe, I hold am well for the other room ladies use your skills that’s all men want actually!”
