The Governing Council is the highest-ranking organ of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye. It is responsible for policy decisions, expenditure control and general management of affairs of the University.
Recently, the Visitor to the University and Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, reconstituted the Governing Council and subsequently inaugurated the new members. The inauguration was held on Thursday 25th August, 2022 at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Abeokuta.
The Council comprises Prof. Toyin Ashiru as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, with Mr Kunle Ogunmefun, Chief Joju Fadairo, Chief Adepegba Otemolu and Chief (Mrs) Iyabo Apampa as members.
Prof. Oluwatoyin Ashiru, who is the newly appointed Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, is a distinguished Materials and Metallurgical Engineer with a career of about 40 years that spans through Nigeria, UK, USA, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Far East, and Asia.
He was born on 28th July, 1954 into the illustrious Ashiru family of Ijebu-Ode. He had his primary education at the Baptist Primary School, Ereko, Ijebu-Ode and secondary education at the Ijebu-Ode Grammar School. He is a graduate of the University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom where he obtained B.Sc in Materials Science and Engineering. He concluded his Ph.D at the University of Birmingham, UK in Industrial Metallurgy in 1983.
Prof. Ashiru began his career as a lecturer in Mechanical Engineering at the Universities of Lagos and Ibadan respectively before serving as Nigerian Senior Research Fellow at the International Tin Research Institute in the UK. Before his advent into the oil and gas industry in 1998, he was a professor/senior research fellow at the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Saudi Arabia.
The new Pro-Chancellor has utilized his diverse experiences in the academia, consulting, finance/investment entrepreneurship and project management to provide technical advisory services for the enhancement of productivity in major oil and gas industries worldwide. Prof. Ashiru is the inventor of the first known instrument for Situ Detection of Steel Cracking in Sour Petroleum Production Operations. He also developed a comprehensive paint and coating standard and specification system. Over the years, he has carried out many projects to solve corrosion and materials degradation problems in petrochemical, chemical processing, fertilizer and steel manufacturing industries.
Ashiru has received many merit awards and citations worldwide in recognition of his work, including an acknowledgment in the USA as a “Professional with Extraordinary Ability” and listings in Who is Who in the World and the Dictionary of International Biography; the highly esteemed Corrosion Odyssey 2001 Award in England; Distinguished Alumni Award University of Sussex, UK in 2009; Dalic’s Very Imperial Plater Award, Vitré, France in 2010; Honoree of the African Engineering Education (AEEA).
He is a recipient of the prestigious Distinguished Innovator Award of the Association of Tin Producing Countries (ATPC). Prof. Ashiru has great passion for community service, especially educational counseling for Nigerian youths. He sponsors and personally conducts programmes on career development and effective study strategies for university students and keen parents.
He has assisted many young Nigerians in obtaining placements and scholarships for postgraduate studies in American, British and Saudi Arabian universities. Most of the beneficiaries are now highly placed and successful professionals.
He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, the New York Academy of Science, the Nigerian Academy of Engineering and the Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers. He is also a Non-Executive Director of FCMB Group Plc, Chairman of CSL Stockbrokers Ltd and Group Managing Director/CEO of Tricontinental Group, a first-rate Nigerian conglomerate.
Prof. Ashiru is happily married and blessed with children as well as grandchildren.
Mr. Kunle Ogunmefun is a member of the new OOU Governing Council. A serial entrepreneur, business incubator and communications expert, Ogunmefun is the Chief Executive Officer of Bluebird Communications, a leading advertising agency until his appointment. Ogunmefun is a graduate of Linguistics from University of Ibadan. He is an alumnus of Lagos Business School as well as Harvard Business School. He also holds a post-graduate diploma in Advertising from Nigerian Institute of Journalism.
This thorough-bred business strategist has traversed the ever-evolving ecosystem of the integrated marketing communications space since 1989 after a stint in the banking industry. He worked at Union Bank and a publishing firm, before he moved to NICON Insurance where, in a span of 10 years, he rose to become the pioneer Public Relations and Advertising Manager.
At NICON, advertising department was added to his media relations portfolio and he found himself relating with three advertising agencies. Few months into the business relationship, young Ogunmefun noticed a gap in the operation of two of the agencies and he began to think of how best to redefine the advertising industry. This made him to go into private business in 1995 and establish Bluebird Communications Limited, which has since become a leader in the industry.
Today, Ogunmefun has tested and trusted specialized skills in traditional, direct and digital marketing. He leads a team that is daily, successfully developing and creating enviable brands for very many top-rated businesses in Nigeria and abroad. He was the first Associate member of the Association of Advertising Practitioners of Nigeria (AAPN). He is equally a member of Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) and Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR). Ogunmefun is a member of Ikoyi Club, Jet Ski Club. He particularly enjoys boating, swimming and playing squash racquet game.
He is happily married and blessed with highly successful children.
CHIEF JOJU FADAIRO
Chief Abraham Olajoju Fadairo is an accomplished businessman and astute politician, who has demonstrated commitment and zeal for the development of Nigeria’s education sector.
Born on 22nd December, 1942 at Ibogun Sowunmi in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, Fadairo had his elementary education at both St. David School, Ibogun Sowunmi (1950 – 1953) and Anglican Central School, Ibogun, Egbeda (1954 – 1956). He had his secondary education variously at Nawar-Ud-Deen Secondary Modern School, Abeokuta (1957 – 1959) and Lisabi Commercial College, Abeokuta (now Lisabi Grammar School), (1960 – 1962). He later proceeded to Yaba College of Technology, Lagos for a part-time Secretarial Studies between 1968 and 1970. He then studied at Ealing College of Higher Education, London from 1971 to 1974.
Fadairo’s work experience began in 1962 at Niger Pool, Apapa, Lagos where he worked as a Clerk. He left in 1963 to work as a Stenographer at G. L. Grazer, Apapa till 1964. Between 1964 and 1965, he also worked as a Stenographer at Nigerian Steel Construction Co. Ltd, Apapa. He was Secretary at the Library of University of Lagos Medical School, Idi-Araba from 1966 to 1967. Afterwards, he worked as Administrative Officer at African-American Institute, Lagos between 1967 and 1971. He became the General Manager, Kampsax (Nig) Ltd, Apapa, Lagos between 1974 and 1979.
Determined to make his mark, Fadairo went into private business in 1979 and thereafter established several companies. These companies were involved in construction, engineering, manufacturing, exploration, mining, mineral processing and industrial chemicals. He remains the Chairman and Director of some of these companies till date.
Chief Fadairo has served the country in various capacities. He was former Chairman, Governing Council, Yaba College of Technology, Lagos; member, Jos University Teaching Hospital; member, Board of Directors, Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation, Abeokuta; and former Chairman, Wrought Iron (Nigeria) Ltd, a member of Odu’a Group of Companies.
He holds membership of several learned societies. He is a member, the British Institute of Management; a member of, the Nigerian Institute of Management; and member, the Institute of Directors, Nigeria. He is also a Fellow, Certified Institute of Nigerian Economists; Fellow, Institute of Supervision and Leadership, Nigeria and Fellow, Chartered Institute of Public Resources Management and Politics, Ghana.
Fadairo, who also belongs to different social clubs, including Ikeja Lions Club, Abeokuta Club, Lisabi Elite Club of Nigeria, Abeokuta Sports Club, Ifo Club, Egba Pentagon Club, Lagos Country Club and Mace Club of Nigeria, has been honoured with several awards. He is happily married and blessed with children.
Chief Adepegba Otemolu is an expert in Food Regulations, Laws and Standards. He is a former Chairman of Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State and notable political administrator who has passion for educational development.
Born on 21st February, 1949 in Ilisan-Remo in Ikenne Local Government Area. Otemolu had his elementary Education at St. Barnabas Primary School, Ilisan-Remo between 1955 and 1960. He proceeded to Local Authority Modern School for his Secondary Modern III Certificate between 1961 and 1963. He left for Remo Secondary School (RSS) Sagamu, where he successfully completed his Secondary Education between 1964 and 1968. He further obtained his Advanced Level/Higher School Certificate at RSS between 1969 and 1970.
In 1972, Otemolu secured admission into the University of Ibadan and bagged BSc in Food Technology in 1977 upon successful completion of his degree programme. While in the University, he was a member of Student Representative Council (SRC).
A specialist in processing, analysis and preservation of agricultural products, Otemolu started his career as a Science Teacher at Remo Secondary School, Sagamu where he worked between 1971 and 1972.
Immediately after his graduation from the University, he had his first professional experience with both Nigeria Yeast and Alcohol Manufacturing Company Limited Bacita, Kwara State and Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIRRO) on New Food Products Development and Food Preservation respectively.
Thereafter, he joined the Seven-Up (7up) Bottling Company Limited and worked as the Quality Control Manager. He later became the first graduate Production Manager of the Company between 1978 and 1981. From 1981 to 1989, he worked at the Nigerian Distilleries Limited Ota, Ogun State as the Assistant General Manager.
Having acquired the needed experiences coupled with his educational attainment, Otemolu took a timely decision in 1989 to set up his own distillery outfit, FISO GOKEX Industries Limited Lagos.
Chief Otemolu is a member of many reputable organisations and professional bodies, among which are Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology, Institute of Food Technology (USA) and Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI).
He was also a former President of Medium and Small Scale Bottlers Association of Nigeria (MASSBAN).
Otemolu has won several awards and laurels. Notable are Remo Secondary School (RSS) Old Student’s Award; Best Local Government Chairman in Ogun State 2004 Award; National Association of Small Scale Industrials South Western Zone Award; Christian Association of Nigeria Merit Award; and Ikenne Local Government Zonal Community Development Committee Distinguished Services Award.
He is happily married and blessed with highly successful children.
Chief (Mrs) Matilda Iyabo Apampa (Nee Olubiyi) is a former Commissioner for Education and Youth Development in Ogun State. She is a veteran politician, astute administrator and revered community leader.
Born on 6th August, 1948 in Ilaro, Ogun State, Apampa had her elementary education at St. Joseph’s Primary School, Ilaro (1954 – 1959). She had her secondary education variously at St. Stephen’s Modern School, Ado-Odo (1960 – 1962); St. Judes Grammar School, Ihiala, Onitsha
(1963) and African Church Grammar School, Abeokuta (1964 – 1967). She also attended Egbado College, Ilaro (1968 – 1969) for her Higher School Certificate (HSC). She further proceeded to the University of Ibadan, where she obtained BSc in Economics between 1975 and 1978.
Apampa began her career as a Teacher between 1979 and 1984. She was the Managing Director, F. A. Olubiyi Nigeria Limited Ilaro from 1985 to 1991, until her appointment as Director General and later Chairman, Ogun State Emergency Relief Agency where she served from 1992 to 1993.
A one-time Director, Great Nigeria Insurance Company, Apampa was appointed Ogun State Commissioner for Education and Youth Development, 1995 -1996. She served as Chairman, Board of Directors, Assurance Bank Nigeria Limited, 1999-2002. Between 2001 and 2003, she was Chairman, Board of Directors, Ogun-Oshun River Basin Development Authority. She also served as Chairman, Board of Directors, Odua Investment Company Ltd (2004-2005). From 2009 to 2011, she was the Chairman, Board of Directors, Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta.
Mrs Apampa is a recipient of numerous distinguished awards by different organisations, unions and associations. She bagged Honorary Doctorate Degree from Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijebu-Ode in 2008. She was also conferred with the chieftaincy title of Iya-Afin of Ilaro as well as Aare Obinrin of Owu Kingdom Abeokuta.
Mrs. Apampa is a celebrated philanthropist and strong advocate for women’s empowerment. Her hobbies are watching documentary films, community development activities and evangelism.
She is happily married and blessed with children as well as grandchildren.
