Henry Adefope qualified as a doctor at Glasgow University and practiced medicine in his native Nigeria before being commissioned in the Nigerian Army in 1963. He served as the army’s Director of Medical Services and was promoted to the rank of Major-General. From 1975 to 1979 he served as a minister in the military dominated Nigerian government and was successively Minister of Labour and Minister of Foreign Affairs before civilian rule was restored. He was president of the Nigerian Olympic Committee between 1967 and 1976 and served as a vice-president of the Commonwealth Games Federation before being elected to the IOC in 1985. He served for 21 on the IOC and upon reaching retirement age was made honorary member of the organization.