Ogbuefi Dr. Ubaka Gregory Ofili Bsc, FMCOG, FRCOG, MPhil

Greg Ofili passed unexpectedly but peacefully on 18 January 2024 following a cardiac event in his sleep.

Born on 15 November 1954, Greg was the fifth child and third son of Peter Chukwuweta Ofili and Margaret Olufunmilayo Ofili from Umuda Quarters, Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria. He loved the fact that he came from a large family. There is an infamous black and white family photo which had so many people in it, he often remarked that it looked like a school class picture.

Greg completed his studies at Immaculate Conception College, Benin City in 1971 and decided to follow in the footsteps of his father (of Hope Hospital, Benin) and become a doctor. After two years at ABU Zaria, he finished his medical degree at Uniben and graduated in 1978. He specialised in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, initially practising at UBTH in Benin.

In 1979, he met Esther (née Iyoha). They both shared a love of travel, which they soon shared with their children. In 1982, they were married. Soon after, Greg moved to the UK with his wife and his young son, Uche. He continued his Obstetrics and Gynaecology training in Scotland - spending time in maternity wards in Glasgow and Edinburgh (where his daughters Emi and Sammie were born). He worked his way up the profession with a particular interest in multiple births.

In the early 1990s, he spent some time at King Fahad Armed Forces Hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and later returned to Scotland. After a brief period in Stirling, he was offered a role at Law Hospital (now University Hospital Wishaw) where he worked as a Consultant and Clinical Director of women’s services for several years. Once settled in Lanarkshire, he became an active member of the Igbo community in Glasgow, acting as secretary for the Igbo Welfare Union Glasgow for many years.

He had a thirst for knowledge, and in 2004 obtained an MPhil in Medical Law and Ethics from Glasgow University. This postgraduate degree served him well in his role as a member of the Medical Ethics Committee and as an expert witness. He put his love of early mornings to good use to write his thesis before work and during this time relished the opportunity to buy a student ticket during his countless visits to the cinema.

He had a passion for trying new things, especially when it came to YouTube recipes, or as he would describe them, his “special concoctions”. With his expansive vocabulary, Greg was unbeatable at Scrabble.

After several years of working in units where there were thousands of deliveries a year, he opted for a slower pace - working and travelling around the islands of the Outer Hebrides as a form of “semi-retirement”. He then retired early in 2018, so that after a life dedicated to his work and serving others, he could spend more time with his friends and family.

Greg maintained life-long friendships with people from childhood and university in Nigeria, as well as colleagues around the globe. He was known to his friends as a raconteur. A ‘quick’ telephone call with Greg would often last for hours, and he had a great ability to “cut a short story long”.

Throughout his life, but more so during his retirement, he enjoyed travelling with Esther, the children and friends around the world. He visited Jamaica, Peru, Cyprus, America, Portugal, Malta, the Cayman Islands, Bahamas, Ethiopia, Denmark, United Arab Emirates, Monaco, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, Crete, Italy and more. Greg was also a keen walker and explorer. He climbed Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Scotland, and conquered Machu Picchu in his 50s.

His dedication to learning also continued during his retirement. He enrolled in courses on topics such as computer programming and mindfulness. Greg had an almost zen-like approach to life. He believed in honesty, integrity and hard work - and took pride in his ability to provide for himself and his family.

Their children fondly remember the long road trips with their parents, travelling around the UK to visit friends and family, singing along to Greg’s favourite albums. He had an eclectic taste in music, which ranged from Bob Marley and Andrea Bocelli to Robbie Williams and Rod Stewart.

Greg and Esther loved spending time with their children and two grandchildren, Amari and Sanaa (who affectionately called Greg ‘Papa G’).

Esther will always remember Greg as someone who put family first and used his spare time as an opportunity to create memories with his family. It is those memories that they now hold so dear at this difficult time.

He leaves behind Esther, his wife of 41 years, his children Uche, Emi and Sammie, and two grandchildren, Amari and Sanaa. He is also survived by his loving brothers and sisters and a wide extended family of Ofilis of Umuda, Asaba.

Greg’s legacy is one of wisdom, kindness and generosity, an infectious laugh and a playful spirit. Greg was a husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, colleague and friend. He will be sorely missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him.

There will be a funeral service held at 10 am on Friday 16 January 2024 at St Thomas' Roman Catholic Church, Wishaw. If you cannot attend the service, please consider sharing a memory or your condolences on the memorial website - https://everloved.com/life-of…

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