The remains of a former lecturer in the Department of Physics, University of Ibadan and University of Botswana, Professor (Dr.) John A. Adedoyin would be interred tomorrow.
A statement made available to African Business Travel News (ABTN) by the Vice Chairman of Nigerian Business Community in Botswana, Sylvester Oladele OMOTOSHO stated that Prof Adedoyin died on Sunday, January 10, 2021 at the age of 68 years.
The statement added that a memorial service in his honour was held on Friday, January 29 at the Open Baptist Church, Gaborone, while the funeral service will be held on Saturday, January 30 at the family residence with interment proceeding to the burial ground.
The late professor worked as a lecturer in Department of Physics at University of Ibadan between 1984 and 1992 before he joined the University of Botswana until his death.
The late Adedoyin was the Chairman of Nigerian Association in Botswana (now Nigeria In Diaspora Organization, Botswana NIDOB, between 1994 and 2005.
Lamenting the untimely transition of their late Chairman, members of Nigerian Community said their hearts are heavy with his exit from their midst even as they said it has created a big loss among them.
“Our hearts are heavy with your untimely demise. Your presence had filled us with nothing short of great Joy, Love and Happiness and will be greatly missed,” NIDOB lamented.
The statement which said, “Prof Adedoyin was a dedicated husband, a loving father and grandfather and a tremendous friend to all whom had known him,” added, “He will be dearly missed.”
Late Professor Adedoyin is survived by his wife, Prof. Omobola Adedoyin, children, Adeolu, Ayodeji and Adedokun; Daughter-in-law, Jennifer; grandchildren, Alexander and Abigail; sister, Adefunke and brothers, Ayotunde and Adedayo; nephews and nieces.
Professor John Akintayo Ayodeji Adedokun Aremu ADEDOYIN was born on Sunday, October 26, 1952 at Baptist Hospital, Ogbomoso in the old Western Region, now South West, Nigeria to the family of Deacon Isaac Adebisi Adedoyin and Mrs. Elizabeth Ayantutu Adedoyin (nee Ilupeju) both of blessed memory.
Thus, he was handed over to his parents, while the grandparents retuned to Ghana. So, getting to know his parents properly and other siblings commenced from 1957 when his father took up appointment at the then Baptist Boy’s High School (now Olivet Baptist High School), Oyo and his mother was a teacher at Baptist Primary School, Ishokun, Oyo.
He was enrolled as a primary one pupil at Methodist Day School, Apaara, Oyo in January 1958. Before this time, he had not been exposed to any serious educational programme, although he attended some pre-school sessions at the Presbyterian Primary School, Ho, Ghana.
In 1959, his father became the pioneer principal of Baptist High School, Iree (in present Osun State) which made him to continue his primary education at Salem Baptist Primary School, Iree and completed it in 1963.
In 1964, he gained admission to Olivet Baptist High School (Olivet Heights), Oyo for his secondary education through to 1968 and came out in flying colours obtaining Grade 1 (one). Among his classmates at Olivet who became his lifetime friends are: Alfred Oyegbile, Akinola Alabi, Kayode Oluwole, Bayo Lawal (late), Gbola Akande, Biodun Kolawole, Kunle Ogunmola, Kunle Akande, Johnson Oyinlola, Gbola Aremu, Oladele David, Timothy Oyekale, Tayo Alayande, Segun Ale, Wale Awomolo, Akinpelu Browne, Fatai Salau, Saanu Otudeko, Messiah Okpolua, Gboyega Ayangade (late), Segun Fasuan (late), Femi Kusa, Remi Osiberu, Omololu Wright, Gboyega Ige (late) etc.
After completion of his secondary education, he had wished to go overseas for his university education but his Dad tried to convince him otherwise that after completing his first degree in Nigeria then he could go anywhere thereafter. He thus proceeded to Comprehensive High School, Aiyetoro (Ogun State) for his Higher School Certificate (H.S.C.) education from 1969-1970. He finished well and had a brief spell as a teacher at Ilora Baptist Grammar School, Ilora (in the days of Western State) from 1970-1971.
John Akintayo Adedoyin enrolled in the B.Sc. Physics programme of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria in 1971, having obtained good grades in his A-levels papers in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics in 1970. He was a Federal Government Scholar throughout the undergraduate programme. He graduated in Second Class Honours (Upper Division) in June 1974 and had a brief stint as a computer programmer with the Shell Petroleum Development Corporation immediately after the compulsory one-year National Youth Service scheme in 1975. He abandoned the obviously lucrative oil job and returned to the Department for his postgraduate studies in 1976, specializing in the area of Meteorology. While on the PG programme, he served the Department as a Graduate Assistant until he defended his PhD thesis, which was on West African Line Squalls in 1983. He went on British Council sponsored post-doctoral research on Synoptic Meteorology and Satellite Imagery in 1986/87. Dr. Akin Adedoyin was employed as Lecturer II in the Department in 1984 and promoted to the grade of Lecturer I in October 1989, the position he held until he transferred his services to the University of Botswana in 1992.
As a member of academic staff, Prof. Akintayo Adedoyin served the Department diligently in different capacities, either individually or in different Departmental and Faculty committees. He was at various times the coordinator of Departmental teaching time-table, Departmental undergraduate admissions and Chairman, Departmental Workshops and Conferences Committee. He was at a time the Sub-Dean (Postgraduate) of the faculty among many other positions within and outside the Department. He became a Professor in 2008, the position he held until his death. Prof. Adedoyin would be remembered for his high resourcefulness, wide international exposure and connection with reputable world academic bodies. He was a Junior Associate of the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), Trieste, Italy between 1985 and 1988, during which time he successfully got a placement for the Department on the ICTP Federation Agreement Scheme, which enabled many research students and junior academics in the Department to spend some months of research in Trieste. Prof. Adedoyin was a Fellow of Royal Metrological Society UK, American Meteorological Society, Nigerian Institute of Physics and one-time Assistant General Secretary of Nigerian Meteorological Society.
The statement which said, “Prof Adedoyin was a dedicated husband, a loving father and grandfather and a tremendous friend to all whom had known him,” added, “He will be dearly missed.”
“May the good Lord console his family, friends and well-wishers the fortitude to bear this monumental loss and grant his gentle soul continue to rest in perfect peace… AMEN!,” NIDOB prayed.
I just stumble on the obituary and picture of Professor Adedoyin. On behalf of my husband Professor ADEYEMO and the children (USA), I expressed our condolences to his wife- Professor Bola Adedoyin , children, family, and department. The family is well known to us. We lived together on the campus/apartment at UI. Our children grew up together with theirs. Prof. Bola and I worked in the same school on the campus before living Nigeria for the US. It was a shock to read about Prof. Adedoyin’s demise. May his gentle and loving soul rest in peace.
Please would someone send us the wife’s email or contact number?
Thanks to the department for this public reading .
Thanks
Professor Adedoyin was one of the best teachers in the university of Botswana.Very humble and caring. He was my tutor during my first year BSc in 2002 at UB. He was unique, he did not deliver the content like a lecturer but like a teacher something that all of his students still appreciate even today. He really cared. He truly knew how to simplyfy advanced physics concepts to a level that can be appreciated by students or people who did not have a background of additional mathematics and A level . He was a true genius who impacted our lives positively. We are eternally grateful for his contributions to our studies and to the world of physics at large.