Ibidapo-Obe Oyewusi

Professor Ibidapo-Obe was a distinguished scholar, engineer, academic leader, and advocate for the advancement of mathematics, engineering, and higher education in Africa.

He obtained his PhD from the University of Waterloo, Canada, in 1976. Following the completion of his doctoral studies, he undertook postdoctoral research in Canada until 1979 and subsequently served as a Senior Fulbright Scholar at the State University of New York (SUNY), Buffalo, until 1981. These experiences laid the foundation for a remarkable academic and leadership career.

Much of Professor Ibidapo-Obe’s contribution to higher education in Nigeria was centered at the University of Lagos, where he served in several key leadership positions. He was Dean of the Faculty of Engineering from 1995 to 1999, Deputy Vice-Chancellor from 2000 to 2002, and Vice-Chancellor from 2002 to 2007. Through these roles, he played a significant part in strengthening academic excellence, research, and institutional development.

Professor Ibidapo-Obe was also a pioneer in the promotion of interdisciplinary scientific research and advanced mathematical applications. In 1998, he became a founding member of the postgraduate programme in Mathematical Modeling for Artificial Intelligence Systems and Processes at the National Mathematical Centre in Abuja, helping to establish one of the early academic initiatives in this important field.

He actively participated in numerous international academic and scientific forums dedicated to advancing mathematics, engineering, and technology in Africa. These included the African Regional Workshop on Parallel Processing and Its Applications held at the University of Yaoundé I in Cameroon in 1995, as well as the Fourth African–USA International Conference on Manufacturing Technology in Pittsburgh in 1997. His engagement in such initiatives contributed to the strengthening of scientific collaboration and capacity building across the continent.

A prolific researcher, Professor Ibidapo-Obe authored more than 60 scholarly publications. He also served as a member of the African Scientific Committee of the Nelson Mandela Institution and maintained strong collaborations with professional societies and scientific organizations at both national and international levels.

Throughout his career, he received numerous national and international awards and recognitions in acknowledgment of his contributions to engineering, mathematics, scientific research, and higher education. Through his scholarship, visionary leadership, and dedication to academic advancement, Professor Ibidapo-Obe left a lasting legacy that continues to inspire scholars, researchers, and educational leaders across Africa and beyond.