Colleagues of the Professor Ayobami Salami, the Vice Chancellor of the First Technical University, Ibadan from Lagelu Grammar School in the same city have been celebrating him on the occasion of his 55th Anniversary.
In a special greeting sent online by Bolanle Adeyemi, a pointsman of Lagelu Grammar School, Ibadan Old Boys Association (1982 set) on Wednesday morning, the old boys prayed for their colleague, Prof Salami wishing him many more years of resounding successes with sound health.
Said Adeyemi “It is our pleasure to celebrate Professor Salami because he is a great Ambassador of our set at Lagelu Grammar School. He is a brilliant, humble and focused Nigerian scholar and we are very proud of him.”
Equally, the National President, Grand Distinguished Lagelite Prof. Prince Emmanuel Olufemi Omisore, FNITP, JP on behalf of the National Executive Council and the entire alumni of Lagelu Grammar School Old Boys Association also heartily rejoiced with the youthful-looking Professor.
Professor Ayobami Salami, born 55 years ago, hails from Ibadan, specifically from Akinyele Local Government Area in Oyo Central Senatorial District, Oyo State, Nigeria. He attended the following higher educational institutions: University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Ile-Ife – 1982 – 1986, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife 1987 – 1989, African Regional Centre for Training in Aerospace Surveys – 1989 – 1990, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife – 1992 – 1996.
He possesses the following qualifications: B.Sc (Geography) 1986; M.Sc (Land Use and Natural Resources Management) 1989; PGD (Remote Sensing Applications/GIS) 1990; Ph.D (Space Applications and Land Use/Natural Resources Management) 1996.
Professor Salami joined the services of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife as a Research Fellow II in the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Studies on 1st February, 1991. He rose through the ranks to the grade of Professor on 1st October, 2003.
He had served as the Director, Institute of Ecology and Environmental Studies of the University (2006 – 2010) and Head, Space Applications and Environmental Science Laboratory (2005 till date). He was formerly the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State.
Professor Salami also served as a Member of the Senate of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, after having served as an Elected Member from 1996 – 2000. In addition, he had served as a Member of the University Governing Council from 2003 – 2007 and had at various times, served on several committees in the University either as Member or Chairman.
Salami has to his credit, several university, national and international fellowships, honours, awards and consultancies. He had also served as a Member of the Accreditation Panel of the National Universities Commission to various universities in Nigeria at different times.
Professor Salami has obtained numerous grants from several organizations such as National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Abuja; Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA); Ecological Fund Office, Office of Secretary to the Government of the Federation, The Presidency, Abuja; National Centre for Remote Sensing, Jos; International Institute for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), The Netherlands; International Secretariat of System Analysis for Research and Training- International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP), Washington D.C.; UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission; United Nations Development Program (UNDP); United Nations Environment Program (UNEP); International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), Trieste, Italy; Ramboll Natura AB, Sweden; European Union (EU); International Development Research Centre (IDRC); and International Steering Committee for Global Mapping (ISCGM), Japan among others.
An Eisenhower Fellow (USA) since 2009, Professor Salami has supervised the thesis of 7 Ph.D. and 31 M.Sc. degree students in the University and is currently supervising 3 Ph.D. students. He has served as an External Examiner to several foreign and Nigerian Universities.
He delivered the 220th Inaugural Lecture of the University titled “Space Applications and Ecological Haemorrhage: The Nigerian Experience” in 2009. Professor Ayobami Salami has 75 publications to his credit in Books, Journals, Conference Proceedings and Technical Papers.
Professor Ayobami T. Salami is the pioneer Vice Chancellor, The First Technical University, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. The University under his administration has recorded many feats since its establishment by the Oyo State Government under the amiable leadership of Grand Distinguished Lagelite Abiola Ajimobi, Governor, Oyo State.
A renowned Professor of Space Applications and Environmental Studies, Professor Ayobami Salami is married to Professor (Mrs.) Abiodun Olusola Salami and they are blessed with children.
Packaged by Wale Adeoye with additional reports from Timilehin Olalere
