OAU celebrates Professor 'Tola Badejo for 47 years of service

Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, will host a valedictory event in honour of Professor 'Tola Badejo on Tuesday, November 17, 2026. The event marks his 47-year career in active service and his contributions to teaching, research, university administration, and scientific development.

The programme is scheduled to begin at noon at the BOOC at the university. It will bring together university members, colleagues, scholars, family members, and well-wishers to celebrate the academic and administrator.

Academic and Administrative Career

Professor Badejo is an internationally recognised entomologist, one of the few acarologists in Africa, a renowned taxonomist, and an environmental scientist. His research has contributed to the understanding of soil biology and biodiversity.

His academic career at the institution spans 45 years, from 1981 to 2026. During this time, he established himself as a researcher, scholar, and teacher, contributing to scientific knowledge in Nigeria and internationally.

His scholarly accomplishments include describing and naming 22 species of oribatid mites from Nigeria and Brazil. He has served as an adjunct researcher at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture in Ibadan, and held visiting research positions in the Netherlands and Brazil.

His international recognition includes fellowships with the Third World Academy of Sciences and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in Germany. Beyond research and teaching, he has served as Vice-Chancellor of two universities.

Book Presentation

A major highlight of the event will be the public presentation of a book edited by Professor Badejo, titled Attainment of a Green World: Illusion, Reality or Tantalizing Mirage?. The book will be reviewed by Professor JFK Akinbami of the Centre for Energy Research and Development at the university.

The celebration offers a chance to reflect on his professional path, his contributions to scientific research and higher education, and the influence of his work on students, researchers, and academics.