Henry Adefope

Major General Henry Adefope
Henry Adefope in the International Olympic Committee
Federal Commissioner for External Affairs
In office 1978–1979
Preceded by	Joseph Nanven Garba
Succeeded by	Ishaya Audu
Personal details
Born	(1926-03-15)15 March 1926 Kaduna, Nigeria
Died	11 March 2012(2012-03-11) (aged 85)
Military service
Allegiance	Nigeria
Branch/service	Nigerian Army
Rank	Major general

Henry Edmund Olufemi Adefope Listen^ⓘ (15 March 1926 – 11 March 2012) was a Nigerian Army major general who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and as a member of the International Olympic Committee from 1985 to 2006 and an honorary member of the International Olympic Committee since 2007.^[1]

Early life and education

Henry Adefope was born on 15 March 1926 in Kaduna, Nigeria to Alice Adefope and Chief Adefope. He was educated at CMS Grammar School, Lagos and Glasgow University, graduating in General medicine in 1952. He worked as a doctor from 1953 to 1963 and was then commissioned into the Nigerian Army in 1963.

Career

He rose to the rank of Major General and served as Director of Medical Services. From 1975 to 1978 he served as Minister of Labour and from 1978 to 1979 served as Minister of Foreign Affairs, both cabinet portfolios under the military administration of General Olusegun Obasanjo.

Adefope also served in a variety of positions in sports administration, including terms as the President of the Nigerian Olympic Committee from 1967 to 1976 and as Vice-President of the Commonwealth Games Federation from 1974 to 1982. In 1985 he was elected to the IOC. While with the IOC, he has been a member of the commissions that selected the host cities for the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympic Games. He was investigated, but exonerated in regards to the 2002 Winter Olympic bid scandal.^[2] He became an IOC Honorary Member in 2006.

Family

Adefope was a father, grandfather and great-grandfather. His children include Femi Adefope, Dotun Okojie, Folake Nedd, Ronke Eso, Seyi Adefope, Niyi Adefope and Toyin Adeyeye.^[3]

Death

Henry Adefope died on 11 March 2012 at the age of 85, four days shy of his 86th birthday.

References

1. "Former Nigerian IOC member, Adefope, dies at 86". Afriquejet.com. Archived from the original on 30 July 2012. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
2. "Commission Recommends Censure to IOC Members". Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
3. Admin. "Veterans mourn General Adefope (Rtd)". Vanguard. Retrieved 25 January 2019.

External links

• IOC member profile

Political offices
Preceded by Joseph Nanven Garba	Foreign Minister of Nigeria 1978 – 1979	Succeeded by Ishaya Audu