From the operating theatre to the campaign trail, Dr. Adefolaseye Adebomi Adebayo says her guiding principle has remained the same: “Leadership begins with service to humanity.”
LAGOS — Dr. Adefolaseye Adebomi Adebayo, MBChB, FWACS, FMC-ORL, is an ENT and Head & Neck Surgeon, postgraduate medical lecturer, community health advocate, humanitarian and public servant who is now seeking to represent the people of Surulere 1 Federal Constituency as the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate.
Her transition from medicine to politics, she says, is rooted in the same philosophy that has guided her professional career: service.
A Foundation Built on Education
Dr. Adebayo began her education in Lagos, attending Olufunmilayo Nursery & Primary School, Ikeja; Victory Home School, Ikeja; and Bola Memorial Primary School, Abule Onigbogbo.
She later attended Army Day Secondary School, Enugu, and Special Senior Science School, Nsukka, before proceeding to the University of Ilorin. Her subsequent academic and professional training included institutions such as the University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo College of Health Sciences and the University of Lagos Teaching Hospital (LUTH), where she undertook postgraduate specialist training.
A Career in Medicine and Medical Education
Over the years, Dr. Adebayo has built a career spanning public healthcare, specialist ENT practice, medical education and private healthcare.
She has served at General Hospital, Ibeju-Lekki; General Hospital, Lagos Island; General Hospital, Harvey Road, Yaba; and General Hospital, Isolo.
Her work has also extended beyond clinical practice to postgraduate medical training and continuing medical education for doctors.
At General Hospital, Harvey Road, Yaba, she contributed to establishing a structured ENT clinic and has also been involved in the development of specialised ear surgery within the Lagos General Hospitals.
She and an ENT colleague from Saudi Arabia also performed what she describes as the first middle-ear endoscopic surgeries within the Lagos Health Service Commission at General Hospital, Isolo.
Responding to COVID-19
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Adebayo developed an infection-control protocol for ENT services at General Hospital, Lagos Island, and General Hospital, Yaba.
According to her account, the protocol helped protect healthcare workers at both hospitals, with no staff member becoming infected with COVID-19 as a result of their work during the period.
Humanitarian Service Beyond the Hospital
Dr. Adebayo has also undertaken humanitarian initiatives outside her formal medical duties.
In 2026, she organised the #65Free Adeno Tonsillectomy Surgeries Initiative to mark the 65th birthday of Peter Obi. The initiative screened more than 100 children, with eligible children receiving free specialist surgery.
She puts the value of the surgeries at more than ₦200 million if the procedures had been privately funded.
Her community-focused activities have also included scholarship support for students and participation in medical outreaches.
In 2022, she provided a community borehole in Alimosho, an initiative she says was intended to help children who previously had to spend time fetching water before going to school.
Beyond direct medical intervention, Dr. Adebayo has used media platforms to discuss healthcare and community development, reflecting her stated belief that professionals have responsibilities to the wider society beyond their chosen professions.
From Medicine to Politics
Dr. Adebayo is now taking that philosophy of service into electoral politics as the NDC candidate for Surulere 1 Federal Constituency.
Her stated priorities include:
- Youth empowerment
- Women’s economic empowerment
- Education and scholarships
- Accessible healthcare
- Support for artisans and small businesses
- Vocational and technical training
- Community infrastructure
- Digital opportunities
- Accountable constituency representation
Her campaign message is encapsulated in four commitments:
“I WILL LISTEN. I WILL SERVE. I WILL REPRESENT. I WILL DELIVER.”
Dr. Adebayo says she intends to approach public representation in much the same way she approaches medicine: listen carefully, identify the underlying problem, develop practical solutions, implement them and assess the outcome.
Her journey from the operating theatre to the classroom, humanitarian initiatives and now electoral politics represents a transition from clinical service to public service.
For Dr. Adebayo, the central principle remains unchanged: “Leadership begins with service to humanity.”
