Omolewa

EMERITUS PROFESSOR M. A. OMOLEWA – AN INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC SERVANT AND AN ACADEMIC OF AN UNCOMMON DEPTH

 By

Seye Adetunmbi, May 2015

The early distinguished scholars of Ekiti extraction set the pace and standard that made Ekiti people to standout in the academic community in Nigeria and abroad. This has been sustained by Professor Michael A. Omolewa and his contemporaries to glory of God and the pride of Ekiti indigenes. It is not mere coincidence that one would stand out as professor at the same time have a distinct track record as an exemplary international public servant. Certainly it is a manifestation of brilliance, dedication to duty and commitment to excellent ways through the grace of God. For many years, Prof Omolewa was always in the news when he held a strategic position in UNESCO where he left an indelible mark as an academic with uncommon depth and an administrator of repute. Michael Omolewa an educational historian and emeritus professor at the University of Ibadan, was President of the 32nd session of the General Conference of UNESCO and a Gold Medalist of the organisation.

Prof Omolewa is one of the eminent indigenes that Ipoti-Ekiti has produced. He attended Ibadan Grammar School, Ibadan 1955 to 1958; Ekiti Parapo College, Ido–Ekiti 1959 to 1960; Christ’s School, Ado Ekiti 1962 to 1963; University of Ibadan 1964 to 1973 and University of Dakar, Senegal, August - September 1965. His specialisation is African History as a B.A. (Hons) Second Upper Class Division holder from the University of Ibadan, June 1967 and PhD specialising in the History of Administration of Europe from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria in 1973. He is also a product of Queen Mary College, University of London 1966; Institute of Historical Research, University of London 1968 – 1970; Goethe Institute, Murnau, Western Germany 1968; Faculty of Education, Kings College, University of London 1975-1976.University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada 1983-1984; Athabasca University in 1983; UNESCO Institute for Education, Hamburg, West Germany in 1988 and Haggai Institute, Singapore in 1991.

Until his recent appointment as Emeritus Professor of the History of Education, University of Ibadan in 2013, he was Emeritus Professor of History, Babcock University, Professor of Adult Education, University of Ibadan, 1982 to 2006; Senior Lecturer in the Department of Adult Education, University of Ibadan, 1977 to 1982 and Assistant Lecturer and Lecturer, Department of Adult Education, University of Ibadan 1971 to 1977. He was an Associate Lecturer in Adult Education at University of Lagos 1982 to 1985; an Associate Lecturer in History, University of Ilorin 1984 to 1986.

Expectedly, distinctions and awards cannot elude such a diligent brilliant scholar. He holds Exemplary Leadership Award, Osun State University, 2008; Honorary Medal of the President of the Republic of Bulgaria, Georgia Parvanov, in recognition of his “outstanding contribution to international cooperation within the framework of UNESCO and implementation of the noble ideas of the organisation (and) the objectives for the promotion of peace, tolerance, cultural diversity and dialogue among people”, 2008; Inducted into the International Adult and Continuing Education Hall of Fame [HOF], Oklahoma, USA, 8th September, 2008; Federal Government of Nigeria National Honour of the Officer of the Order of the Niger [OON], Abuja, Nigeria, 21 December 2006; Life Patron of the History of Education Society of Nigeria, University of Ibadan, 2006; Honorary Fellow of the Commonwealth of Learning [FCOL], Ocho Rios, Jamaica, 2006; Honorary Professor in recognition of his outstanding achievements at UNESCO and in Promoting World Cultures by the Beijing Foreign Studies University,  Beijing, China, 2005; Presented UNESCO Gold Medal on October 3, 2005 and the J. Roby Kidd Special Citation for a significant and innovative contribution to Adult Education by the International Council for Adult Education, Argentina in 1985

The Emeritus professor Omolewa is listed in theInternational Who’s Who in Distance Learning, Berlin, Germany, 1998; Africa Who’s Who, London, UK 1991; Dictionary of International Biography, Cambridge, UK 1991; Newswatch Who’s Who in Nigeria, Lagos, Nigeria 1990;International Who’s Who in Education, Cambridge, UK 1987; IDRC South North Education Award Recipient 1983-1984 Session, University of British Columbia, Vancouver Canada and of course Ekitipanupo Hall of Fame.

He was a Visiting Scholar to the University of Wisconsin, Madison USA in 1976; Commonwealth Universities Academic Staff Fellow, Faculty of Education, Kings College, London, 1975 to 1976; Sir James Robertson Prize, Faculty of Arts, University of Ibadan, in 1967; and held Departmental Prize in History, University of Ibadan in1967; University of Ibadan Scholar (Postgraduate) 1967 to 1971; University of Ibadan Scholar, (Undergraduate) 1965 to 1967 and Federal Government of Nigeria Scholarship 1964 to 1965.

Positions held over the years include being a member of the Governing Council of the International African Institute (IAI) from January 2013; Member of the Commonwealth Advisory Council on Teacher Mobility, Recruitment and Migrations, 2010 to date; Member of the Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowship 50th Anniversary Endowment Fund, 2009 to date; Deputy Chairperson, Governing Board of theCommonwealth of Learning (COL), 2009 to 2010; Ambassador/Permanent Delegate of Nigeria to UNESCO, 2000 to 2009; President, 32nd Session of the General Conference of UNESCO, 2003 to 2005; Member, Representing Africa, Governing Board of the COL, 2001 to 2003; Member of the Governing Board of COL, representing theFederal Republic of Nigeria, 2003 to 2010; Member of the Executive Committee of the Governing Board of COL, 2005 to 2010; Member, Executive Board of UNESCO, 1999 to 2003; Member of the Board in an advisory capacity, 2003 to 2005; and re-elected to    represent Nigeria, 2005 to 2009; Member of the Bureau of the Executive Board of UNESCO 2001 to 2003; Chairman, Committee of the International NGOs of the Executive Board of UNESCO, 2001 to 2003 and Chairperson of Education Commission of the 31st session of the General Conference of UNESCO in 2001.

He served as a member of the Executive Board International Standing Conference on the History of Education (ISCHE), 2000 to 2006; Member, Governing Council of the International Bureau of Education, (IBE) Geneva, Switzerland 1999 to 2003, re-elected 2005 to 2009; Vice-President IBE Geneva, 2002 to 2003; Vice-Chairman, International Literacy Institute, University of Pennsylvania, 2003 to 2009; Chairman Working Group on Education of the Group of 77 of UNESCO, 2000 to 2003; Member, Board of Foundation, International Baccalaureate Organisation, 2000 to 2001; Member, Government Advisory Board of the International Baccalaureate Organisation, Geneva, 2001 to 2006; Member, Working Group on the International Conference on Education, Geneva, Switzerland, 2000-2001, and re-elected 2005 to 2008, as its Chairperson; Member, Hall of Fame International Development Committee (HOF), Class of 2008; Member, Nigerian Delegation to the World Education Forum, Dakar, Senegal in 2000 and Member, Nigerian Delegation to the UNESCO General Conference: 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2007.

He is a respected member, Board of Governors, Christ the Redeemer’s College,Sagamu, 1995 to date; Deputy Chairman of the Board of Governors, Christ the Redeemer College, U.K., 2006 to date; Member of the Board of Trustees of the Redeemers University, Nigeria, 2004 to 2010. Member, Board of Trustees, Babcock University, Nigeria, 2006 to 2010; Member, Board of Trustees, African World Heritage Fund, 2007 to 2009; Chairman, Board of Governors, Bethel Comprehensive College, Ibadan, Nigeria, 2003 to 2009; Coordinator for the Laubach Literacy International Literacy Project in Nigeria January 1992 to 1999; Chairman, Board of Governors, City of Faith Bible College 1992 to 1999; Member, Governing Board of the Adventist Seminary of West Africa, 1988 to 1997 and Chairman, Internationalisation of History Curriculum Panel of the West African Examinations Council, 1992 to 1999.

Member, Nigerian National Examination Committee of the West African   Examinations Council (WAEC), 1985 to 1988; Co-ordinator for the West Africa, African Association for Distance Education, 1986 to1989; Member of the Governing Council of the Ondo State College of Education, 1990 to 1992; Sub-Dean (Postgraduate) Faculty of Education, University of Ibadan, 1977-1979; 1981 – 1983; Member, National Biography Committee of the Historical Society of Nigeria; Vice-Chairman, African Association for Literacy and Adult Education, 1987-1989.

He served as a member of the Editorial Board of many reputable international journals and the editor of some. National President, Nigerian National Council for Adult Education 1987 to 1989; Chairman, General Studies Programme at the University of Ibadan 1991 to 1993 and Member of Senate, University of Ibadan 1979 to 1999.Consultant to British Council 1995 to 1999; Consultant to the UNESCO Regional Office for Africa 1992 to 1999; Consultant to IFESH/ USAID assisted programme, University of Ibadan 1989 to 1999: Member, Federal Government of Nigeria Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for all Nigerian Universities 1988 to 1993 and was Chairman of its Admissions Panel.

He worked on appointment and promotion assessment for many universities in Nigeria, Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone 2011; University of Ghana, Legon 1984 to 1999 and University of Botswana in 1998. He was an External Examiner to the Faculty of Education, Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium in 2009; University of Nottingham, UK in 2008; Free University of Belgium, Brussels, 2003 to 2005; Department of Adult Education, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana 1997 to 1999 and many Nigerian Universities.

To his credit are 56 published books he either authored or contributed chapters and had 69 articles featured in learned journals all over the world while there two commissioned publications in progress. He had inputs to 9 international technical reports and has over the years participated in 79 conferences within and outside Nigeria.

Ekitipanupo couldn’t have had it better to have this rare Ekiti man of huge intellect and of international repute to deliver the 2^nd Public Lecture to specially mark the 10^th anniversary of the preeminent Ekiti People's Forum.