Few individuals successfully combine excellence in medicine, military service, academic leadership, community development and Christian stewardship into one remarkable lifetime. Colonel (Dr.) Akin Moses is one of those rare personalities. His journey is a compelling story of discipline, sacrifice, compassion and unwavering commitment to humanity. From serving on the frontlines as a distinguished Nigerian Army officer to shaping generations of family physicians, championing healthcare reforms, and devoting himself to the growth of Ijesaland and the Church, his life reflects an extraordinary legacy of purposeful service.
In this special feature, veteran journalist and public affairs commentator Bobagunwa Remi Oyeyemi paints an intimate portrait of a man whose achievements are matched only by his humility. As Colonel (Dr.) Akin Moses prepares for his installation as the Otun Baba-Ijo of the Cathedral Church of Holy Trinity, Omofe, Ilesa, this tribute celebrates a lifetime defined by excellence, integrity, faith, and an enduring commitment to leaving every institution and every life he touches better than he found it......
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A Nigerian Army Colonel that exudes succulence of tenderness. A personality that is a presentation of the opposite of toughness and tenacity. Calm, cool, collected and controlled. His demeanor obscures everything that is soldierly about him. A quiet stallion cloaked in a cocoon of civility that is as authentic as it comes. Many have wondered, whether his training as a medical doctor actually melted his mettle and physical robustness as a military man. Many have wondered whether this has successfully subsumed his guts or his combatant nature as a soldier. It is a challenge to introduce him as a soldier to someone who is meeting him for the first time. His seamless exudation of charisma is hypnotizing. His gap-toothed smiles are very disarming.
He possesses a heart of gold. Kind. Caring. Considerate. And generous in an Osomaalo way. He detests wastefulness. He is very disciplined. A soldier who is always ready to engage in combat but always avoid unnecessary confrontations. Focused on the identified goals. Repulsed by frivolities. Dignified in his approaches. At the risk of stating the obvious, he knows his onions. His humility is humbling. His integrity is self-evident. He allows his deeds to speak for him.
One had met his wonderful and fantastic late mother ever before I met him, courtesy of Oba Adetayo Hastrup, the Lumobi of Imobi - Ijesa. Encountering that strong lady could tell you anything one needed to know about this gentleman soldier and a medical doctor. The kind of confidence radiated by his late mother sent a message of authenticity, a message of candor, a message of reliability, a message of dependability, a message of consistency, of fidelity and of loyalty about her son. In one’s discussions with Mama, she conveyed a certified conviction about the character of her son. She was very audacious about her extrapolations. And beautifully, her son has never disappointed since one met him in person.
To review the life of Colonel (Dr.) Akin Moses, retired, is to witness a profound journey of service, a masterful blend of medical genius, military valor, and spiritual devotion. Across five decades, Dr. Moses has lived not just for himself, but for the collective elevation of humanity. From his youth in northern Nigeria to his status as a legendary figure in modern African medicine, his life exemplifies the heights achieved through unwavering discipline, compassionate care, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. As a healer, defender of the nation, academic pioneer, and community pillar, Dr. Moses stands as a beacon of hope and a sterling model of impactful leadership, a legacy now beautifully capped by his divine call to higher spiritual stewardship.
The story of this iconic figure began in the late 1950s when he was born into lines of nobility, descending from Chief Moses Olaworo of Isare and Iperindo, and Chief Okiji Aluko, the esteemed Ayigun of Omofe, Ilesa. This rich cultural heritage gave him a deep sense of identity, responsibility, and honor from his earliest days. Though his roots lay deep in the historic soil of Ijesaland, his early upbringing and education took place in Kontagora, Niger State. This early exposure to the linguistic and cultural tapestry of northern Nigeria planted the seeds of his multicultural adaptability, allowing him to see beyond ethnic boundaries and preparing him to become a true nationalist. Driven by an early passion to alleviate human suffering, he pursued a career in medicine, entering the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital in Zaria and graduating as a medical doctor in 1981. This milestone set the stage for an extraordinary career that would transform the landscape of healthcare across West Africa.
Even before hanging his final academic robes, Dr. Moses answered a higher call to serve his nation by joining the Nigerian Army in 1980. This marked the beginning of a 27-year military career defined by loyalty, courage, and distinction. He rose through the ranks, navigating the strict discipline of the armed forces while providing vital medical care to those on the frontlines of national security. His military deployments took him to all five divisions of the Nigerian Army, including perilous duties in regions like Bakassi, which exposed him to diverse human experiences and reinforced his capacity for deep empathy. He retired voluntarily in December 2006 with the rank of Colonel, leaving an untarnished record of patriotism. His stellar service earned him the nation’s highest military honors, including the Forces’ Services Star for his unbroken loyalty, the Meritorious Services Star for his exceptional service on the field, and the Distinguished Services Star for his extraordinary contributions to the medical corps and national defense.
Colonel Dr. Akin Moses left the military with a wealth of administrative and clinical experience, ready to deploy his vast knowledge into civil healthcare. In February 2007, he joined the National Hospital Abuja as Chief Consultant and Head of the Department of Family Medicine. At this premier institution, his visionary leadership transformed family and emergency medicine from overlooked fields into vital pillars of institutional healthcare. He recognized that the future of African healthcare depended on robust post-graduate training, committing himself to academic mentorship. Through his efforts, he facilitated training credentials and institutional accreditations for fifteen institutions through the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria and the West African College of Physicians. His dedication directly produced over eighty Consultant Family Physicians who now lead clinical care across the globe, and he advanced global medical literature by publishing over twenty-five papers in prestigious, peer-reviewed journals.
As President of the Society of Family Physicians of Nigeria, Dr. Moses successfully advocated to the National Universities Commission to approve undergraduate family medicine, making it mandatory for all medical schools nationwide. His leadership extended globally through his service on key committees of Wonca, the World Organization of Family Doctors. He served as Chief Examiner and Internal Assessor for the West African College of Physicians Faculty of Family Medicine, and later as its Faculty Chairman. His intellectual contributions are celebrated through major milestones, such as delivering the profound Andrew Pearson Memorial Lecture in 2022 on the family physician as a shepherd of humane care. He was also nominated to deliver the prestigious annual Dr. Mabayoje Lecture in 2024, presenting a transformative framework for improving patient satisfaction through defragmented care. Recognizing his unmatched organizational capacity, he was chosen to serve as the Chairman of the Central Organizing Committee for the historic fiftieth anniversary celebration of the West African College of Physicians.
Dr. Moses is a widely traveled global citizen, having visited nations like South Africa, India, the United Kingdom, the United States, Mexico, China, Slovakia, Brazil, South Korea, and Australia, yet his heart remains anchored to his birthplace in Ijesaland. As President of the Roots Club of Ijesaland and a member of the Ijesa Elders’ Forum, he has championed major community-financed initiatives. He contributed significantly to the construction of the Ijesaland Geriatric Centre, where he now serves as Chairman of its Medical Advisory Committee. Furthermore, he is driving a 350-million-naira state-of-the-art Accident and Emergency Centre project at the General Hospital as Chairman of the Project Implementation Committee. His dedication to his roots is further seen in his support for the construction of the Owa Obokun Adimula Palace and his service on the coronation committee for Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijesaland, Oba Adesuyi Hastrup, Ajimoko III.
Beyond medicine and community development, Dr. Moses lives a life deeply rooted in faith within the Anglican Church of Nigeria. He serves as an Abuja Diocese Bishop’s Nominee and Immediate Past Chairman of the Bishop’s Nominees, earning the prestigious Diocesan Merit Award during the thirty-fifth anniversary of the diocese. In his ancestral home, his devotion to the Ilesa South-West Diocese remains unmatched. He was honored with a Diocesan Merit Award in 2012, recognized for his contributions during the tenth inauguration anniversary in 2019, and recently endowed the Cathedral Clinic during the diocesan synod. Today, he continues to serve as the President of the Ogo-Oluwa Society at the Cathedral Church of Holy Trinity, Omofe, Ilesa, while also operating as the Medical Director of Family Care Multiclinic in Asokoro, Abuja. In a glorious affirmation of his lifelong commitment to the altar, he has just been appointed as the Otun Baba-Ijo of the Cathedral Church of Holy Trinity, Omofe, Ilesa. This impending installation stands as a magnificent testament to his spiritual maturity and unwavering devotion to God's vineyard.
Through all these triumphs, Dr. Moses credits his success to the peaceful sanctuary of his home built on the principles inculcated in him by his own parents. He is happily married to Mrs. Olufunmilayo Akin-Moses, a retired Director of the National Youth Service Corps, and is blessed with lovely children and grandchildren, passing down a legacy of faithfulness, dedication, honor and service. Dr. Akin Moses is a rare gift to his generation. He has worn the dignifying uniform of a soldier, the comforting white coat of a healer, the gratifying gown of an academic, the sobering mantle of a spiritual powerhouse and the exemplary shawl of a community leader. As he prepares to step into his sacred role as Otun Baba-Ijo, he continues to leave everything better than he found it, standing as a true statesman whose legacy will inspire generations to come.
Col. (Dr.) Akin Moses, congratulations to you. May God, in whom you have shown great and deep faith, continue to enlarge your coast and strengthen you. Ase.
©Bobagunwa Remi Oyeyemi
July 24, 2026
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