Dr. Augustine Jeremai Olugbemi is a seasoned Nigerian and South African trained Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeon. He has a wealth of experience drawn from Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital (IALCH), Durban (one of South Africa’s leading referral hospitals– a quaternary centre), the National Cardiothoracic Centre, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana and Duke University (Division of Thoracic Surgery), Durham, North Carolina, USA.

At a time when many surgeons seek opportunities beyond Nigeria, Dr. Olugbemi has chosen to return home to develop the practice of cardiac, thoracic and vascular surgery. Guided by his conviction — “what will I add to their society when I can make so much difference here in my own country, Nigeria?” — he believes deeply in Nigeria and the Nigerian dream.

He is proficient across cardiac, thoracic and vascular procedures, including Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS), and is one of very few cardiac surgeons in Nigeria proficient in both adult and paediatric cases — congenital and acquired. His vision is for Nigerian cardiac centres to be run by local professionals, with tertiary institutions gaining full accreditation in cardiothoracic surgery.

Dr. Olugbemi has served as Consultant Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeon at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and Babcock University Teaching Hospital (BUTH). He established the cardiothoracic and vascular surgery programme at the Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital (NNRH), Ojo, Lagos in 2017, and has since pioneered open-heart surgery programmes at:

  • 2021  Reddington Hospital, Lagos — pioneered the open-heart surgery programme.
  • 2022  Evercare Hospital, Lekki, Lagos — co-established the open-heart programme.
  • 2024  Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta, Ogun State — pioneered the programme and serves as Head of the Cardiac Team.

He is a founding member of the Association of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeons of Nigeria (ACTSON), having served on its executive as Assistant Secretary-General (2017–2020). A frequent organiser of conferences and a sought-after speaker at national and international meetings, he has also contributed extensively through medical missions with the Family Care Association, a US-based medical hospitality group, leading its surgical division.

A passionate teacher and trainer, Dr. Olugbemi is a Senior Lecturer at Eko University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ijanikin, Lagos, and has authored numerous papers and articles.

It Is in recognition of his Sterling Accomplishments in Human Medicine (Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery) in Nigeria that Dr Augustine Jeremai Olugbemi is deemed worthy to be conferred with the Nigerian Achievement Award.