Today, Saturday, 7th May, 2022 marks the 70th birthday of Dr. Adekunle Ladipo Ogunmola. The celebrant is an animal scientist, educationist, public administrator and renowned scholar of international repute.
Dr. Adekunle Ladipo Ogunmola was born on May 7, 1952 in Oyo, Oyo State. He had his secondary education at Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo from 1964 to 1969. He was briefly at Government College, Ibadan between January and April 1970 and was admitted at the University of Ibadan through concessional examination, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Animal Science (2nd Class Upper) in 1974.
He had his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme at the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Veterinary Service) Yola, Adamawa State (former Gongola State), where he served as Animal Husbandry Officer from August 1974 to June 1975. In August 1975, he joined the Oyo State Central Schools Board and served as Agricultural Science Teacher till October 1976. The Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Oyo employed him as Agricultural Officer II from October 1976 to November 1977. In November 1977, he returned to the University of Ibadan for his Doctoral Degree in Animal Science, with specialization in Environmental Physiology, which he bagged in December 1981.
He was employed by the then Oyo State College of Education (now Emmanuel Alayande College of Education) as Lecturer II in 1982. He rose through the ranks to become a Chief Lecturer in 1993. In the course of his lecturing career, Dr. Ogunmola returned to the premier University to obtain a Master’s degree in Educational Management in 1991. He also acquired a Diploma in Accounting/Management Information System from the Federal School of Surveying, Oyo in 1999. Between January and June 2000, he was the Deputy Provost/Acting Provost of the Institution. He was thereafter appointed the substantive Provost in June 2000, the position he occupied till June 2008.
This enigma idolized himself with his heroic performances during his tenure, first as Deputy Provost/Acting Provost (January -June 2000) and as a substantive Provost, Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo between 2000 and 2008.
It is on record that Dr. Ogunmola seamlessly moved the College to its present Erelu permanent site with numerous infrastructural developments. No wonder that the College in recognition of his outstanding achievements named the College library after him.
He took up a federal appointment as the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC’s) Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) from July 2010 to July 2015. He was appointed as National Commissioner in December 2016.
As a Lecturer and Researcher, Dr. Ogunmola has authored and co-authored many books and publications. He has also delivered papers at different workshops and seminars both within and outside the country. He was on a Federal Government Delegation on a Study Tour of United Kingdom (UK) in 2004 and led the INEC Election Observation Team to Argentina in October 2011.
He is a member of some professional bodies such as the Science Teachers’ Association of Nigeria (STAN), National Association of Agricultural Educators in Nigerian Colleges of Education (NAAENCE), National Association of Technology Teachers (NATT) and National Society of Animal Production (NSAP). He is also a Fellow of the National Association of Technology Teachers (FNATT).
Dr. Ogunmola is a recipient of many awards, which include the National Award for Brilliant Performance (Full Scholarship for Academic Distinction) in 1972, Pfizer Lifestock Feeds Prize for the Best Student in Animal Science in the BSc (Agric) degree final examination in 1974. The Senior Staff Union of Colleges of Education in Nigeria (SSUCCOE) conferred him with the Best Provost among Provosts of Colleges of Education in Nigeria in 2003. He also got Recognition Award from the Oyo State Government in 2004. He equally received an Award of Excellence from the Oyo State government for his noble contributions to education in Oyo State. The Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo Central Library was re-named after him as Adekunle Ogunmola Library in 2009. He is a Justice of Peace.
Dr Ogunmola has peculiar interest in Farming, Reading, Sports and Recreation. He is a member of the Rotary Club; Oyo Metropolis, Oyo Premier Club, the Oyo Pinnacle Club (TOPIC), Oyo Tenis Club and Ibadan Social Group (ISG).
He is an enthusiast in Christian Evangelism and is happily married with children.
