The giant strides of Professor Oladapo Afolabi

2026-03-02 - 06:38

By Yetunde Arebi “If four things are followed – having a great aim, acquiring knowledge, hard work, and perseverance – then anything can be achieved.” – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam This is the story of Professor Oladapo Abraham Afolabi OON, CFR, Nigeria’s number one Civil Servant from 2010-2011. A highly respected Nigerian academic, environmentalist, and academia with an impeccable and enviable track record anywhere his name can be found. Born on October 3, 1953, he has made significant contributions to environmental science, education, and public service, outstanding achievements that have earned him the approval of Vanguard’s Board of Editors for the Lifetime Achievement Award, 2025. Academic Background Afolabi started his academic career in 1976 at Obafemi Awolowo University, where he served as a Graduate Assistant in the Department of Biochemistry. He obtained his MSc (1978) and PhD (1980) from the same institution, with a postdoctoral research at both Torry Research Station, Aberdeen, and Howard University as an International Atomic Energy Agency Fellow (IAEA Fellow) in 1983. Other postdoctoral exposures include: British Council Leadership Certification, US Government training for First Responders, Leadership for the 21st Century at Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. Career Highlights Afolabi’s academic career spans over four decades, during which he taught undergraduate and graduate students at various universities, including Obafemi Awolowo University, University of Zimbabwe, and Ladoke Akintola University of Technology. Afolabi served as Head of the Department of Chemistry and Pure and Applied Chemistry at these institutions. As an Applied Chemist/Biochemist who specialised in environmental and food/nutritional chemistry, his research interest in the last forty eight years covers a wide range of issues concerning environment and food security in the third world. The thrust of which is provision of baseline data on the Nigerian environment, method development, evaluation and simulation of environmental impacts and increasing the food resource base through food diversification. Another area of his research interest is paediatric nutrition. At the height of his career, Afolabi joined the Federal Environmental Protection Agency in 1991 and later became a pioneer staff member of the Federal Ministry of Environment in 1999 which he had played a key role in establishing. He also served as a member or chairman of various committees in the ministries. Public Service As a Public Servant, Afolabi was appointed Permanent Secretary of the Federal Civil Service of Nigeria in 2006. He served in various capacities, including Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour, and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Water Resources. He was appointed Head of the Civil Service of the Federation on November 16, 2010, a position he held until his retirement in 2011. As Nigeria’s top civil servant, he was a statutory/in-attendance member of the Federal Executive Council, Council of State and Federal Economic Council. During his tenure in this office, Afolabi focussed on building a knowledge based Civil Service capable of servicing the transformational national development agenda. He introduced e-Learning to boost the knowledge base of civil servants, and promoted performance management. Another significant innovation was the introduction of Public/Private Sector Officers Exchange to enable sharing of experience between the two sectors in order to build the necessary synergy for a more efficient and responsive service. He also took decisive steps to institutionalize Performance Management as a tool of accountability and improved performance in Civil Service. Afolabi was instrumental to the adorning of Nigeria’s national attires to the office on Fridays as a bid to encourage the local textile industry and promote our culture. Awards and Recognition Afolabi has received numerous awards and honors, including the Officer of the Niger (OON) and Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR). He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Chemists of Nigeria, Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology, and Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria. He also holds Officer of the Niger (OON) and Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) awards, to mention a few. Post-Retirement Activities On retiring from public service, Afolabi has continued to contribute to various organizations, including serving as Chairman of the Governing Council of the Polytechnic, Ibadan, and Acting Pro-Chancellor, the Technical University, Ibadan. He has also served on the boards of several companies and institutions such as CHAMS PLC and UNESCO’s River Basin Management Centre. Professor Afolabi’s remarkable career is a testament to his dedication to environmental science, education, and public service. His contributions have had a lasting impact on Nigeria’s development, and his legacy continues to inspire future generations.