Professor Benjamin Oluwakayode Osuntokun (1935–1995): Pioneer of Tropical Neurology in Nigeria

How a Nigerian neurologist reshaped global understanding of diet-related neurological disease
Professor Benjamin Oluwakayode Osuntokun stands as one of Nigeria’s most distinguished medical scientists, whose work placed African neurological research firmly on the global map. A neurologist, academic, and administrator, Osuntokun combined clinical excellence with rigorous research, becoming internationally recognised for his groundbreaking studies on tropical ataxic neuropathy and diet-related neurological disorders.

Early Life and Education

Benjamin Oluwakayode Osuntokun was born in 1935 in Ilawe-Ekiti, then part of Ondo State (now Ekiti State), Nigeria. He began his formal education at Trinity Primary School, Ilawe-Ekiti, before proceeding to Emmanuel School and later Christ’s School, Ado-Ekiti, one of Nigeria’s most prestigious secondary schools known for producing leading intellectuals and professionals.
His early academic brilliance paved the way for admission to the University of Ibadan, Nigeria’s premier university and first medical school, where he studied Medicine and Surgery. After qualifying as a medical doctor, Osuntokun pursued specialist training in neurology at Newcastle University in the United Kingdom, at a time when very few Africans had access to advanced neurological training.

Academic Career at the University of Ibadan

On returning to Nigeria, Osuntokun joined the University of Ibadan Medical School, where he would spend most of his professional life. In 1970, at a relatively young age, he was appointed Professor of Neurology and Head of Department, becoming one of the earliest Nigerian professors in this highly specialised field.
As an educator, he trained generations of Nigerian and African doctors, many of whom later became consultants and professors themselves. Beyond Nigeria, he served as a Visiting Professor at several leading institutions abroad, reflecting his growing international reputation.

Groundbreaking Research and Global Impact

Professor Osuntokun’s most influential contribution was his pioneering research into tropical ataxic neuropathy, a neurological disorder prevalent in parts of Nigeria and other tropical regions. Through meticulous clinical observation and biochemical investigation, he demonstrated that the condition was closely linked to dietary deficiencies associated with improperly processed cassava, a staple food in many Nigerian communities.
This work was revolutionary. It shifted understanding of the disease from vague clinical descriptions to a clear nutritional and biochemical basis, influencing public health policy, food processing practices, and neurological research worldwide. His findings were so influential that specific clinical features of the disorder became known in medical literature as the “Osuntokun sign.”
Over the course of his career, Osuntokun authored more than 300 scientific publications, an extraordinary output that covered neurology, nutrition, epidemiology, and tropical medicine.

Leadership and Professional Service

Osuntokun was also deeply committed to building African scientific institutions. He was a founding member of the Pan African Association of Neurological Sciences, advocating for the recognition of tropical neurology as a distinct and vital field of study. His work challenged the dominance of Euro-American disease models by highlighting conditions rooted in African environments and diets.
In recognition of his exceptional scholarly achievements, he was awarded the Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM) in 1984, Nigeria’s highest academic honour.

Death and Enduring Legacy

Professor Benjamin Oluwakayode Osuntokun died in 1995, leaving behind an enduring intellectual and institutional legacy. In his honour, the Benjamin Oluwakayode Osuntokun Trust was established to promote excellence in medical research and education in Nigeria.
Today, Osuntokun is remembered not only as a brilliant neurologist but as a scientist who demonstrated that world-class medical research could be conducted in Africa, by Africans, and for global benefit. His life’s work remains a cornerstone of neurological science and public health in Nigeria and beyond.

Sources

Osuntokun, B. O. Clinical and Biochemical Studies on Tropical Ataxic Neuropathy. University of Ibadan Press.

Adeloye, A. African Pioneers of Neurological Science. Ibadan University Press.

Nigerian National Order of Merit Secretariat. List of NNOM Laureates.

University of Ibadan Archives, Faculty of Medicine Records.

Pan African Association of Neurological Sciences, Historical Publications.