PROFESSOR OLUSUYI ODEYEMI THE PIONEER RECTOR OF OSCOTECH
(MY SCHOOL) IS DEAD
PROFESSOR OLU ỌDẸ́YẸMÍ
PROF. Olusuyi ODEYEMI OFR, a great Scientist of national and international repute, an emeritus Professor of Microbiology, the pioneer Rector of OSCOTECH Esa-Oke, an Author, an Administrator par Excellence, former Chairman of the Governing Council of Igbajo Polytechnic, the President of Ijesa Progressive Council and the Chairman of Iwude-Ijesa Planning Committee.
Professor Olu Odeyemi was born in Iloko-Ijesa of Oriade Local Government Area of Osun State on January 19, 1946.
He attended United Methodist Primary School, Ijeda-Iloko, 1953-56; Ijana Methodist Primary School, Imesi- Ile, 1957-58. For his secondary education, He attended Ilesa Grammar School (1959-1963) and Abeokuta Grammar School (1965-1966). He obtained B.Sc. (Soil Science, 2nd Class Upper) in 1970 at University of Ibadan. He then proceeded for his postgraduate studies in Cornell University, Ithaca, New York from where he bagged his Master’s degree (1974) and Doctorate degree (1976) in Agronomy and Microbiology respectively. He has attended institutions which include Cambridge University (U.K.), McGill University (Canada), Indian Institute of Technology (New Delhi) for further professional training. His membership of numerous professional bodies some of which include Biotechnology Society of Nigeria, Nigerian Society for Microbiology, Society for Occupational Safety and Environmental Health and American Society of Microbiology attest to his prowess as an academic and astute administrator.
He has served in numerous capacities both in the public and private sectors of Nigeria, holding important positions some of which include; Consultant to Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Abuja, United Nations University (UNU), Tokyo, UNESCO, UNEP, FAO, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Warri.
His immense contributions to the fields of Agriculture, Microbiology and Environmental Protection have made him a recipient of many local and international awards some of which include; Most Valuable Thesis award at Cornell with a Patented Ph.D. thesis (1976), National Merit Award in Science and Technology (1990), Osun State Government Award for Excellence in Science and Technology (2005), O.A.U Great Achiever Award (2003), Officer of the Federal Republic OFR (1999). He has over 80 research publications. He established and He is the Director of ENPOST Forest Reserve, an Agroforestry/Biodiversity farm in Ilesa, Osun State, the reserve is an ecotourist site visited by hundreds of people annually.
In 1993, Prof. Odeyemi was appointed as the pioneer Rector of Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke, a position he held until 2000. Prof. Odeyemi has also served as Head of Department of Microbiology, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Science and Dean, Students Affairs at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
He is a firm believer in moral values of the highest standard. He is an author and is actively involved in politics. He ran for the post of Governor during the 2007 governorship election in Osun State.
He is an erstwhile Chairman of the Governing Council of Igbajo Polytechnic, Igbajo, Osun State. He is the President of Ijesa Progressive Council and currently, the Chairman of Iwude-Ijesa Planning Committee. He is happily married to Mrs. Stella Odeyemi.
There is no doubt Prof is one of the leading figures in Ijesal-and. To
Professor Olu Odeyemi a National Merit Award Winner in Science and Technology.
