Ojo Ugbole

PROFESSOR D. F. OJO (1917-1991): Paragon of Academic Brilliance

---

Not very many names and personalities are synonymous with exemplary brilliance and honor in their community and environs either in the contemporary past or recent times. Professor Daniel Fumilayo Ojo was one of such rare gems, an avant-garde in his generation. He was born on the 25th of September 1917 into a humble Christian family at Igbole-Ekiti in Ido/Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti-State. Ojo is a common Yoruba name; however, it is no overstatement to say that it was made more prominent in Ekiti and carried with much distinction by the likes of the legendary scholar of Physics, Professor D. F. Ojo. He was popularly called and referred to as Ojo Ugbole. Ekiti district and Igbole-Ekiti in particular, unarguably was further brought to the consciousness of an average Ekiti man and the academic community in Nigeria between 1940s and 1970s to a reasonable extent by the honor of the name of this eminent scholar.

   His self-hand written resume for his 70th birthday revealed that he started formal school in Ido-Ekiti and passed through Infant I, II, III in May to June 1928. In January to March 1929, he passed Standard II and III at St Luke's School, Ikere-Ekiti and completed his Standard VI class at St. John's School, Iloro Quarters, Ilesha in 1932. January to June 1933, he started as a Pupil Teacher at Emmanuel School, Ado-Ekiti and later became the Head Teacher of St John’s School, Iye-Ekiti in 1934. He was a product of St. Andrew's College, Oyo which he attended in 1936 10 1939 and passed through Yaba Higher College, Lagos between 1942 and 1945. In 1946 he did internship at Government College, Ibadan and was a Science Master in Christ's School, Ado-Ekiti January 1947 to September 1948.
   In 1948 to 1952, he was at the University of Edinburgh and 1953 to 1955 at the University of Ibadan for postgraduate studies. He was a teacher at the University of Ibadan, 1955 to 1962. He became a Professor in 1963 and lectured at University of Ife 1962 to 1976. He served as the Chairman of Ondo-State's Local Government Committee 1976 to 1977 and worked at Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo in 1982 to 1987.

   His brilliance was a special case and indeed an epitome of academic endeavour in Ekiti. His intellectual excellence was a measure of scholarship among his colleagues and in his constituency generally. Indigence was peculiar to Ekiti citizens of his generation. Nevertheless, he made virtue of his poverty-stricken provenance and very humble upbringing. He did not allow his underprivileged background to deter his academic pursuits; stories of Ojo Ugbole are legion. There was an examination he was said to have written unprepared for because he abruptly came upon an assembly of students writing an examination. He wrote his answers on the windowsill and when the result was out, he was listed among the successful candidates. He was one of the pioneering teachers in the formative days of Christ School, Ado-Ekiti during the time of Archdeacon Henry Dallimore the founder of the great school and Canon L. D. Mason. According to those who passed through his tutelage in Christ's School, Ojo Ugbole to most of his students was remote and respected like a god and as such they watched and worshiped him from a distance.

   I cannot remember when I first met the highly revered erudite professor who was very fond of calling my venerable father, Chief D.O. Adetunmbi (1919-1990) by his first name, David. However, I could recollect that I was always seeing him at least once in a year during the annual Synod of Ekiti Anglican Diocese for several years. As a little boy I admired him a lot and studied him with reverence. Out of curiosity, I did notice his favourite brand of 555 cigarette and saw him in few instances with Havana cigar. His calm disposition was remarkable and made him stood out as an exemplary gentleman. Few occasions it was my bit to put fuel in his vintage Mercedes Benz car from my father's reserve kept inside clustered banana trees in the family orchard during fuel scarcity. I also recollect how much he admired a funnel made with cow horn which my old man gave to him. I naturally warmed up to Professor Temitope Ojo, one of his sons when we met him during Higher School Course at Christ's School, Ado-Ekiti in the late 1970s.

On several occasions, whenever Professor Ojo was coming from the University of Ife for any special Diocesan ceremony and had to pass through Ifaki-Ekiti he would stop over to see Chief D. O. Adetunmbi who had a very high respect for him. Few times they traveled and attended Diocesan ceremonies together. One of such occasions was 1983 Synod, when he stopped over and wondered what his soul mate was doing at home while the Synod was in session. Professor Ojo was a great lover of good church music and one of the leading lights advancing Anglican Diocesan matters. Certainly, this must have contributed to his close rapport and relationship with Chief David O. Adetunmbi among other reasons.

   Despite his very tight academic schedules he had time for God's work. He was a devoted Christian, great lover of good church music and one of the front-line activists on Anglican Diocesan matters in his lifetime. He was among the prominent laity that worked for the creation of Ekiti Anglican Diocese. Under the Rt. Reverend Michael Osanyin, the first Bishop of Ekiti Anglican Diocese and Most Rev Abiodun Adetiloye, he served in several committees and boards for so many years.

Mrs Phoebean Ojo

As a family man, coupled with his natural inclinations, his academic life could be said to have given him the security the genius and his temperament required. Unequivocally, he must have taken full advantage of his situation. The contented Professor will be noted and remembered as an imitative educationist, who was so respected for his distinction. Professor Ojo was adored for his huge intellect and the enormous inspiration he gave Ekiti kinsmen throughout his distinguished academic career as a role model. He was very humble and led a modest life that remained unruffled at the glare of persistent and unavoidable publicity.

Perhaps his modesty and humility personification could best be summarised in the aspect of the note of one of his daughters Dr (Mrs) Dupe Akindele to me on request and I quote: "There is a common belief that he was such an avid reader that he never needed to buy books but would walk into a bookshop and finish whichever book needed. I asked him about it once and he told me there was quite some exaggeration, although knowing him, it was quite possible but his modesty would never allow him admit that" 

   Professor Ojo Ugbole got married in March 1948 to Miss Obagbolaro Adediran and the holy wedlock was blessed with successful children that keep the family legacy of excellence flying. The professor passed on 6 days to his 74th birthday on 19th September, 1991 and his body was buried at Igbole-Ekiti in November 1991. Thanks be to God for Mrs Yetunde Falohun, Dr (Mrs) Dupe Akindele, Mrs Olaitan Ogunseye, Pastor Olujide Ojo, Professor Tope Ojo and other family members who survived the distinguished scholar. The Igbole-Ekiti community that he loved with a passion which his name has brought so much fame and dignity named their Secondary School after the reputed scholar to immortalize Ojo Ugbole who will forever live in the heart of his loved ones.