Venerable and Professor Samuel Adedapo Olaitan was born at Igbara-Oke, Osun State, on 10th September, 1932 to Venerable Daniel Ademola Olaitan (1898 – 1970) and Mrs. Comfort Anuyemi Olaitan (1905 – 2004). His father was a priest serving at the Anglican Church in Igbara-Oke. His parents were natives of Ode-Remo, Ogun State. His father was from Itun-Ikanna Compound and his mother from Ejinna Compound. Dapo, as he was called in family circle, was one of a twin and the twins were the third of a family consisting of eight children. The other children are Mrs. Grace Olusola Ogunlesi, Mrs. Felicia Olayemi Obaseki, Mrs. Victoria Olatunde Adebekun (twin sister), Ambassador Jonathan Oluyinka Olaitan, Mr. Michael Olufemi Olaitan, Mr. Victor Tejumola Olaitan and Professor (Mrs.) Modupe Ogunlesi.
He started his elementary education at Emmanuel School, Isonyin, (near Ijebu-Ode) Ogun State, his father being the priest serving at Emmanuel Anglican Church, Isonyin. In January 1944 he proceeded to the prestigious King’s College, Lagos for his Secondary education as a scholar and completed his studies successfully in December 1948. His father helped several children in Isonyin to gain admission to secondary schools through free tutoring and it is said today, that his father’s effort has made it possible for every household in Isonyin to boast of at least a graduate.
After his secondary education, he proceeded to the University College, Ibadan which was a College of the University of London, hence all graduands were awarded the degree of the University of London. In the 1953/54 session, he was the University Prize Winner in Chemistry for best meritorious performance. He obtained a B.Sc. (General) degree in Zoology and completed his studies at Ibadan in 1957 with a B.Sc. (Hons.) degree in Chemistry. While at the University College, Ibadan, Mr. Olaitan, popularly called Sam, was very active in the Student Christian Movement (S.C.M.). On one occasion, he represented the S.C.M. (Nigeria Chapter) at a Conference in the U.K. That was his first time of traveling out of the country. He visited his parents regularly at Offa, their location while he was at Ibadan. He brought some of his friends home to Offa, especially the twins, Mr. M.O. Kehinde Williams, retired Permanent Secretary, and the late Prof. S.K. Taiwo Williams whose parents resided in Lagos. He also stayed in the home of the Williams twins when he came to Lagos. They were life-long friends. His outstanding performance at Ibadan was rewarded with a Federal Government Scholarship to study in Christ College, Cambridge University in the U.K., starting in December, 1957. He completed his studies at Cambridge and was awarded Ph.D. Biochemistry by dissertation on July 10, 1961. During his stay in Cambridge he sent money to his parents and to his younger sister, Modupe, every month and thus she had opened a Post-Office saving account since age eleven. He also sent story books regularly to Modupe, who until his death he often referred to as his “little sister”.
He returned to Nigeria in January 1962 and took up employment as a Senior Research Officer at the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO) till May 31, 1962 when he resumed at the University of Lagos Medical School (now College of Medicine, University of Lagos, CMUL) as Lecturer I in Biochemistry. He rose to the position of Associate Professor in September 1974 and thereafter moved to the University of Benin where he was appointed to the Professorial Chair in Biochemistry. He was elected Dean of the Faculty of Science in 1974 and retired voluntarily in November 1978 and thereafter took up full-time Ministry in the Chapel of the Healing Cross, the Protestant Chapel of the College of Medicine and Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and the Chapel of Transfiguration (Anglican Communion) School of Nursing, LUTH.
Prof. married Miss Funlayo Banwo on May 5, 1962 and the marriage is blessed with four children: Adebimpe, Adeola, Adekunle and Adedoyin and ten grandchildren: EwaOluwa, Akitoye and Ooretoluse Delano; Temilade, Moradeyo and Faramade Olaitan; MoyosoreOluwa, Olajiire and Oluwapelemi Odunfa. He has 2 son’s in-laws: Olugbemiga Delano and Odunlami Odunfa and one daughter in law, OlaOlu Olaitan. Prof loved his family deeply. He was their friend.
Prof. was a pillar the Olaitan family. He cared for his parents and was a constant visitor to his mother at Alapere in her old age. He held the family together. Our problems were his problems, our joys were his joys. He never failed to send his notes to rejoice, encourage, direct and promote as appropriate. Prof.’s task is over, the day of battle is done, now upon the father shore lands the voyager at last. Prof has joined the celestial choir, his earthly journey is over and he will only and always be remembered by what he has done as set into the song.
