The accomplished intellectual whose brilliant contributions transcended above his colleagues in the academia and who had touched so many lives, is survived by his wife, Mrs Adunke Orebamjo ( nee Fayiga), children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Professor Theophilus Oremade Orebamjo was born on 19th of May 1932 to the family of James Oso Orebamjo and Madam Dorcas Adebomeyin in Odofin Compound Ogere-Remo. He started school at the age of 13 at Christ Church School, Ogere. He had been eager to go to school and was learning at home because he was not permitted to start school until he was 13years old. He spent one year in the infant class and five years in primary. The last year (1950) at Yaba Methodist, where he met some of his classmates of 1955 form Five (MFFFF) of Igbobi College (They know themselves).
In 1950 when he was in Standard V, four pupils from that class passed the competitive entrance examination into Igbobi College, none of the four dropped out. They all passed out in 1955, with good grades. In 1956, he entered School of Agriculture Moor Plantation, Ibadan as Agriculture Assistant in Training. He did so well that he was selected to be trained for a higher post – Agricultural Superintendent. In less than a year of this course, he passed the competitive entrance examination into University College, Ibadan (UCI) for a degree course in agriculture. He was sponsored by Cocoa Marketing Board on recommendation from Igbobi College. This was the highest scholarship at that time. Ever since, until he retired from active service in 1992 his studies and travels were always sponsored.
He graduated with 1st Class Honors in Botany from University of London on 1st June 1962. His 1st Class result was announced in less than three hours after he sat for his last paper. This was the first time in the history of University of London that a sectional result was released only a few hours after completing a final examination. Usually, all results were released about three months later after passing through the University of London Senate, but an exception was made in this case by the external examiner, who was then also the University of London Senate President. His spectacular performance opened the doors to several opportunities for him.
1. Cambridge University Scholarship: Overseas scholarship to Cambridge to finish up, but it was decided that he should be allowed to ‘mature’ in the unique environment where he did so well.
2. Postgraduate Scholarship: UCI offered automatic postgraduate scholarships to their best students.
3. Nigeria Tobacco Company (NTC) NTC offered him a position as Plant Trader.
4. Moor Plantation: To his current position as Agricultural Officer he was on study leave at UCI. On completion of his studies, he returned to join the all-white agricultural officers. He was subsequently recommended to attend an interview to join the Federal Service Commission.
5. The then Head of Botany Department at UCI, Prof. Eni Njoku, who had just been appointed first Vice Chancellor of the newly founded University of Lagos. (UNILAG). Recommended and Appointed Theophilus Oremade Orebamjo as a Junior Research Fellow at the newly founded University of Lagos (UNILAG).
Theophilus Oremade Orebamjo chose the fifth option and accepted the position of Junior Research Fellow at the newly founded University of Lagos in 1962. This was how Theophilus Oremade Orebamjo became one of the foundation members of the University of Lagos. While Prof. Eni Njoku was busy traveling to recruit staff for the new University, Theophilus Oremade Orebamjo was put in charge of Prof. Eni Njoku’s Office and research plant Physiology Laboratory. He taught briefly at UCI for the rest of 1962, also reporting to lecture at UNILAG every two weeks until he finally moved down to University of Lagos in 1963.
Academic Achievement
1. 1962: B.Sc. Hons. (London)
2. 1967: Dip. In Modern Problems in Biology (Prague)
3. 1973: Ph.D. Manchester
Scholarships
1. 1951-1955: Church Missionary Society from the church of England
2. 1957 – 1962: Cocoa Marketing Board Scholarships
3. 1966-1967: UNESCO Fellowships
4. 1970-1973: Commonwealth Scholarships
5. 1980-1981: Royal Society of London Bursary.
JOB EXPERIENCE:
* 1962 – 1970: Foundation member, University of Lagos Lecturer
* 1963 – 1970: External Examiner, GCE Biology Practical for Federal School of Science (FSS) (Appointed by the University of London)
* 1970 – 1974 University of Lagos, Lecturer Grade I
* 1975: Course Designer: Designed courses for Operation Feed the Nation (OFN), Taught and issued certificate for over 3000 undergraduates across Nigeria during OFN
* 1977 – 1978: University of Lagos, Senior Lecturer
* 1978 – 1979: University of Lagos, Associate Professor
* 1979 – 1992: University of Lagos, Professor
* 1981- 1983: University of Lagos, Member of Appointments & Promotion Board (A&P): One of ten eminent professors selected to join the board
* 1981 – 1985: University of Lagos, Head of Department of Biological Sciences.
ACADEMIC PUBLICATIONS
* Published in several scientific Journals in Biology and presented papers in several conferences in Nigeria, other African countries, Europe, and America. For more information see WHO is WHO in the Common Wealth, page 399 of 1984, 2nd Edition. It was also in WHO is WHO in Nigeria page 122 published by Biographical Centre of Nigeria Ltd., edited by Victor Udunga Ukegbu.
* Delivered Inaugural Lecture: Plants around us, the Silent Architects of our Planet on 15th May 1985. It was so well received that it was reprinted several times by the University of Lagos Press. It was also serialized in several newspapers.
* Delivered the 3rd Eni Njoku Memorial Lecture at Nsukka in 1985 titled, Physiological Ecology, Man’s Hope for averting future disaster.
ACADEMIC SOCIETIES
* Fellow, Botanical Society of Nigeria
* Member, Biological Sciences of Nigeria
* Member, Science Association of Nigeria
* Member, Geological Society of Nigeria
* Member, British Geological Society
* Member, New York Academy of Science
VOCATIONAL ACTIVITIES
* 1987 – 1990: Chairman, Board of Governors, Ositelu Memorial College, Ogere-Remo
* 1988: Professor on sabbatical leave from Unilag to supervise the first set of LASU Science graduates
* 1982 – 1985: Member, Founding Fathers, Lagos State University (LASU) involved in curriculum development in Biology, appointment of academic staff and tenders boards and supervision of the construction of the science laboratories.
* 1982 : Member, Founding Fathers, Ogun State University (OSU)
* 1976 – 1977 : Voluntary Biology Teacher, Igbobi College HSC Class
* Member, Ogere Community Development Council (OCDC) for many years.
CHURCH ACTIVITIES
* Remo Archdeaconry
* Synod delegate from Lagos Diocese in the 1970s
* Christ Anglican Church
* 1999 – 2022: Active member, Parish Church Council
* 1985 – 1990: Diocesan President of Anglican Youth Fellowship
* 1980 – 1985 : Archdeaconry President, Anglican Youth Fellowship
* 1976 – 1980 : Branch President, Anglican Youth Fellowship (Remo
* 1968: One of eleven members of Christ Anglican Church who made financial contributions to lay the foundation stone of the new main Church building
* 1963 – 1982: Active member, Parish Church Council and Building committee.
* Beginning 1954: Member, Anglican Youth fellowship
AWARDS
* 2023 5th Feb – ICOBA Merit Award (Academic Excellence)
* 2022 – Meritorious Service and the Growth of the Fellowship in Remo Diocese.
* 2013 – Community Merit Award (Lipakala Merit Award) by Ogere Community Development Council
* 2004 – Plaque awarded during the 12th Annual Conference of Botanical Society of Nigeria as a distinguished botanist.
* 1998 – Fellow of Botanical Society of Nigeria
* During UNILAG’s 40th Anniversary, honored with a plaque, and book on the history of UNILAG and other memorabilia for his pioneering work.
* 1997 – Awarded Certificate of Merit during the Golden Jubilee of Anglican Youth Fellowship Nigeria.
FAMILY:
Married to Mrs. Aduke Orebamjo (Nee Fayiga) in 1960. The union is blessed with five children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He has three daughters, and two sons who are both also Old Boys of Igbobi College. Professor Orebamjo till his death, resided with his wife at their home in Odofin court Ogere, Ogun State
Share your story or advertise with us: Whatsapp: +2347068606071 Email: info@newspotng.com
