MKO Rejoices With His Mentor, Prof. Afolabi On His 70th Birthday, Retirement

Alhaji Kamal OKUNOLA (Seriki Musulumi of Iwoland) has joined the family and friends of Venerable Professor Eyitayo Rufus Ifedayo (ERI) Afolabi on his platinum birthday and retirement celebration.

Kamal described Prof. Afolabi as an encyclopedia of knowledge whose contribution to academic knowledge is immeasurable.

Alhaji Kamal made the commendation yesterday at the 70th birthday and retirement celebration of the university don held in Ile-Ife, Osun State.

Professor ERI Afolabi joined the services of Obafemi Awolowo University in December 1980 as Graduate Assistant and rose through the ranks to the post of Professor in 2008. In his over 43 years of teaching and research experience, Prof ERI Afolabi has taught courses at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, and successfully supervised more than 300 undergraduate projects, 45 Professional Masters (M.Ed), 68 Masters with Thesis, 2 Master of Philosophy, and 28 PhD theses in Tests and Measurement, Psychology of Education and Guidance and Counselling.

Prof ERI Afolabi is a consummate researcher and prolific writer. He has 91 publications comprising 72 articles in reputable local and international journals, 2 Books, 3 edited books, 2 monographs, and 12 chapter contribution to books, apart from many published refereed conference proceedings and public lectures. He has served as Resource Person at several scientific conferences and workshops. Prof ERI Afolabi delivered the 253rd Inaugural Lecture of the university in 2012, titled “Tests and Measurement: A Tale Bearer or a True Witness”.

Prof ERI Afolabi has made invaluable contribution to the development of postgraduate studies in his Department, Faculty and at the Postgraduate College. His tutelage of postgraduate students is exemplary. He is a motivator and mentor to many young academics not only in his department, but also in the faculty and elsewhere, many of whom have become established scholars in their own right. As at the last count, 14 of the postgraduate students he supervised are professors, 8 of which are from his Department.

Professor ERI Afolabi has served on the Editorial Boards of several journals nationally and internationally, and was Editor in many of them. He has also served as Reviewer for different publications. He served as External Examiner at postgraduate level in several Nigerian universities, notably at the University of Ibadan and Ekiti State University and as Assessor for Readership and Professorial cases in OAU and other universities.

Prof ERI Afolabi is a prominent and distinguished member of the Association of Behavioural Research Analysts and Psychometricians (AB-ReAP) where he serves as Trustee, and of the Association of Educational Researchers and Evaluators of Nigeria (ASSEREN), where he was a foundation member, pioneer president, a fellow, and member of the Board of Trustees.

Prof ERI Afolabi has served as chairman of member of NUC Accreditation Teams for programmes in Mathematics and Economics in 28 Private, State and Federal universities across the country over a record of 14 years. He is an accomplished educational practitioner, , transiting from theory to practice, having being involved in the establishment of some primary and secondary schools.

He is a clergy of the Anglican Church, a Venerable Archdeacon of both Diocese of Ife and Diocese of Akure where he has served in the latter (his home diocese), for 37 years.

Prof ERI Afolabi is married to his delectable wife, Margaret Olubunmi Afolabi, a Professor of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Administration, and immediate past Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy, the premier pharmacy school in Nigeria. They are blessed with 3 children – Tosin, Tolu and Seyi, all of whom have also had their own families.