(Melicine, 2008)
Born in ilesa, Osun State in 1952, Professor Oyewusi Gureje, obtained the MBBS, degree from the University of Benin in 1982 with early focus and interest in Neuropsychiatry. Within a few years of medical qualification, he obtained the Fellowships of:
- The West African College of Physicians (FWACP), 1986;
- The Nigerian National Postgraduate Medical College (Psychiatry) (1990);
- The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (FRANZCP (1997) and
- The Membership of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2000.

In addition, he holds the Diploma and Master of Science in Psychiatry of the University of Manchester (1988); Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) and Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) degrees in Psychiatry of the University of Ibadan obtained in 1993 and 2004. Professor Gureje is an accomplished and renowned researcher and scholar with over 140 publications in national and international peer-reviewed journals as well as several manuscripts and textbooks to his credit. He is a highly regarded expert in the subspecialties of:
- Psychopathology of Epilepsy;
- Schizophrenia;
- Alzheimers Disease;
- Ageing and Mental Health;
- Drug abuse and substance use, and Dementia.

Prof. Gureje’s professional exposure in Nigeria, United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand Has earned him international and global recognition. The varied number of grants and endowments received by him from global donors including the World Health Organization (WHO), Welcome Trust Foundation, Global Forum for Health, etc, attest, not only to the quality of his research work, but also his global acceptability. He is at the forefront of the diagnosis and classification of mental disorders as well as the production of psychiatric instruments for composite and diagnostic interviews across cultural and language settings, innovations that are today accepted and adopted as international standards. ‘The Essential Science Index’ compiled by the Institute of Science Information puts Oyewusi Gureje among the topmost 1% cited scientists in the world in the fields of Psychiatry and Psychology in the decade that straddled 1996-2005.

Mr. President Sir, I have the honour and privilege of presenting to you Prof. Oyewusi Gureje, a leading international authority in Psychiatry, an educator, researcher, a distinguished and worthy son of Nigeria, as the recipient of the 2008 Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM) Award in Medicine.