On Thursday, August 7th, 2025, history and honour converged in Bodija, Ibadan, as a delegation from the Baptist Academy Old Students’ Association (BAOSA), led by President Olumide Ajomale, visited one of its most distinguished alumni, Pa Thompson Abayomi Oshin, JP, of the Class of 1946.
The occasion was far more than a courtesy call. Just days after his 99th birthday, Pa Oshin welcomed the BAOSA team with the warmth and grace of a man whose life’s story is a testament to discipline, purpose, and impact. His voice rang with clarity, his memories flowed with precision, and his presence radiated the rare combination of strength and serenity that comes only from a life well-lived in service to humanity.
Born on July 30th, 1926 in Ijebu-Ode, Pa Oshin’s journey is etched into the annals of African medical history. In 1954, he qualified in London as a Chartered Physiotherapist, the first African ever to do so and soon after, he shattered yet another ceiling by becoming the first African to head a physiotherapy department in the United Kingdom. His relentless pursuit of excellence took him across continents, earning advanced degrees from Canada and the University of Ibadan, and cementing his status as the father of physiotherapy in Nigeria and across Africa.
Today, at 99, Pa Oshin is not merely a retired professional; he is a living bridge between generations, a symbol of what is possible when vision, education, and determination converge. For BAOSA, the visit was a reminder that their shared heritage is not only about the past but also about carrying forward the torch lit by those who came before.
As the delegation departed, one thing was clear, the legacy of Pa T. Abayomi Oshin will continue to inspire not only the BAOSA family but countless others across Africa and beyond, proving that true greatness is not measured by titles alone, but by the lives one touches and the doors one opens for others.
