Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye will on Tuesday 20th August, 2019 hold its 90th Inaugural Lecture entitled “MY ODYSSEY INTO NIGERIAN ECONOMIC HISTORY: ROAD TRANSPORTATION, PORT AND MARKET DEVELOPMENT” at the Otunba Gbenga Daniel Lecture Theatre, Main Campus, Ago-Iwoye by 2.00p.m.
The Lecture will be delivered by Professor Oladipo Olusola Olubomehin, a Professor of Economic History under the Chairmanship of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ganiyu Olatunji Olatunde.
Professor Olubomehin was born in May 24th, 1965 in Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, where he had his primary and secondary education. He later proceeded to the then Ogun State University, now Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, in 1982 where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree with honours in History in 1986. Immediately after the compulsory one year National Youth Service Programme, Professor Olubomehin was appointed a Graduate Assistant in the same Department in October 1987, having bagged the Best Graduating student award in the Department of History. He later proceeded to the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, where he obtained his Master of Arts (M.A) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) degrees in History in 1988 and 1999 respectively. It is also worthy of note that Prof. Olubomehin equally distinguished himself during his Masters degree programme at the prestigious University of Ibadan where he was the recipient of Chief T. E. A. Salubi Prize in History for the 1987/1988 academic session, a prize awarded for the best M. A. Dissertation on topic dealing with Nigerian History. Through a dint of hard work, resilience and perseverance, and contribution to knowledge, Dr. Oladipo Olusola Olubomehin rose through the ranks and became a Professor of Economic History in 2013.
The Inaugural Lecturer, apart from teaching various courses in his area of specialization has to his credit over 40 publications which include books, book chapters, research articles in local and international peer-reviewed Journals, and has attended several professional conferences locally and internationally. He has also successfully supervised several undergraduate students’ projects, many Masters degree dissertations and the only Ph.D thesis, as at now, in the Department of History and Diplomatic Studies.
Professor Olubomehin is the current Dean, Faculty of Arts, a position he had held in acting and substantive capacities since 2016 before being re-elected in July 2019, for another two-year term. Professor Olubomehin has meritoriously served in various capacities within the University and has held a number of academic and administrative positions which include but not limited to Head of Department, History and Diplomatic Studies, Chairman, Faculty of Arts Book Project Committee between 2004 and 2005; Member, Senate Research Committee (2007 – 2008), Faculty of Arts Representative on the University Executive Programme Committee; Chairman, Faculty of Arts Open Lecture Committee for 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 Academic Sessions; Representative of Senate on the Library Committee, 2014/2015 Session; Member, Senate Constituted Investigative Panel to the College of Agricultural Sciences, Ayetoro (2016); Chairman, Local Organising Committee on the International Conference jointly organised by Olabisi Onabanjo University and the University of Texas at Austin in honour of Professor J. A. Atanda in 2017 and Chairman, Committee on the Review of University Publication Policy. Professor Olubomehin also served on the University Governing Council of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye.
He is a recipient of Long Service Award in recognition of his outstanding service and contributions to the development of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye.
Apart from honouring invitations to give public lectures at several fora, he has served as reviewer and assessor for a number of journals within and outside Nigeria including African Identity, Lagos Historical Review, Nigerian Journal of Economic History, etc. Between 2001 and 2002, he served as JAMB examiner and an Assistant Coordinator for Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations in 2010. He was a Visiting Professor in the Department of History and International Relations, Babcock University, Ilisan Remo. Professor Olubomehin had equally served as External Examiners for some Universities including Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and currently Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba, Ondo State. He is also the External Professorial Assessor for many universities in Nigeria including Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijebu-Ode; Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos; Redeemers University, Ede, Osun State.
Professor Olubomehin has served on the editorial teams of many reputable, University-based academic journals among which were the Editor-in-Chief of AYEBAYE: Babcock Journal of History and International Studies between 2002 and 2004; currently the Editor-in-Chief, Journal of History and Diplomatic Studies, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye; Member, Editorial Board of Agogo: Journal of Humanities, since 2012, and Member, Editorial Advisory Board, Ife Journal of History, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. He also belongs to many academic and professional bodies such as the Historical Society of Nigeria, International Association for Transport, Traffic and Mobility, Economic History Society of the United Kingdom and Organisation for Historical Research in Nigeria.
Professor Olubomehin is happily married with children.The Inaugural lecture is expected to be graced by distinguished scholars, government functionaries, Royal Fathers, eminent personalities, staff and students.
