Professor Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe was born on July 5, 1949. He was married to Olusola and their union was blessed with 4 children. Professor Ibidapo-Obe, a distinguished academic, served as the president of the Nigeria Academy of Science.
He began his academic journey from Ilesa Grammar School and Igbobi College from 1962 – 1968. He proceeded to the University of Lagos from 1968 – 1971 where he bagged a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics, graduating with a First Class Division. He went on to obtain a Master of Mathematics (M. Maths) degree in Applied Mathematics with a minor in Computer Science in 1973 and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Civil Engineering with specialization in Applied Mechanics/Systems in 1976 both from the University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
Professor Ibidapo-Obe was a Western Nigeria Government Scholar at the University of Lagos from 1968 – 1971 and graduated as the overall best graduating student. He became a Commonwealth Scholar at the University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada from 1972-1976 and NSERC/CIDA (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council/Canadian International Development Agency and a Senior Fulbright Research Scholar from 1980 -1981.
He worked as a Graduate Assistant at the University of Lagos from October 1, 1972 through 1976 as Lecturer Grade II till 1983 as Professor and also served as Head of the Engineering Analysis Unit from 1991 – 1995. Professor Ibidapo-Obe became Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Lagos from 1995 – 1999, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor in April 2000 and Acting Vice-Chancellor from 2000 to 2002. Subsequently, Professor Ibidapo-Obe became substantive Vice-Chancellor on 1st May, 2002 and served until the end of his tenure on 30th April 2007.
Read also: Sanwo-Olu mourns ex-UNILAG VC, Prof. Ibidapo-Obe
Professor Ibidapo-Obe served as the Chairman of the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities. He served as an honorary International Scholar-in-Residence at The Pennsylvania State University and a Visiting Research Professor at Texas Southern University both in the United States.
Professor Ibidapo-Obe, being a seasoned academic with a drive to know more and bridge gaps in the academics, has published extensively in reputable international journals with some 100 papers. His research focused on Control and Information Systems in a Stochastic Environment.
Professor Ibidapo-Obe won the Best Vice Chancellor’s Prize for two consecutive years (2004 and 2005). He was invested with the prestigious Fellowship of the Academy of Science and Academy of Engineering, Nigerian Computer Society and Mathematical Association of Nigeria and a recipient of the ICOBA Merit Award. He was conferred with the national honour as Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR) by the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2004.
In celebration of an illustrious son of the soil, Professor Ibidapo-Obe was made a chief in his hometown as the Apeluwa of Ile-Ife.
