DURODOYE : THE MATHEMATICIAN WITH THE ROADMAP TO A NEW ERA IN OSUN STATE

Affectionately called and known as ' Duro" among friends and family members, Professor Raifu Durodoye, a Professor of Mathematics, had long dreamed of giving back to his country and particularly, his homeland, Osun State, having been constructively critical of the way Nigeria was squandering legacies and witnessing a wasted generation of potential geniuses.

The belief of Professor Durodoye is that the education we acquire as citizens  of the world, should not be used almost exclusively for personal gain ,in view  of the fact that man's development should not strictly be an internal matter which can altogether be divorced from the social, economic and political life of the society in which he lives ; not even when the whole world itself has shrunk into a global community.

 

Professor Durodoye had regrettably watched the ways too many youths are living lives bereft of hope and had ruminated on the one-time resolve of Abraham Lincoln, who as a young man at a slave market, had whispered  to himself :" If I have the chance to hit this thing ( slavery) I shall hit it hard. 

Shaped by his moral opposition to the inhuman activity, and with strong belief in the principles of liberty and equality, Lincoln, as America's President, later solidified his commitment to ending slavery.
Conversely, the best moment Professor Durodoye had been waiting for and working assiduously to achieve however came ,when he seized on the opportunity  to facilitating Nigeria's membership of GLOBE, and promptly set the stage for sustenance of the educational reform in the country and the development of a roadmap for future generations of scientists.

 He did not however attain the lofty height by mere sudden flight but through  the educational system he encountered and the right approach given the teaching of Mathematics by   his one- time College tutor whose efforts he identified as having impacted on him tremendously.

 " I credit my high school teacher, Mr. Akinola who taught mathematics straight from memory ,with no reference to textbook except for reinforcement and assignment. " He attested.

" We are blessed with the system of education in Nigeria as the knowledge and the training we underwent provided solid foundation to compete anywhere in the world. My background at Saint Charles High School, Osogbo and the University of Ibadan, Ibadan gave me easy and smooth academic ride at Marshall University.  

" I was a Part two student at the University of Ibadan when I was offered scholarship, but with the right counselling from my academic father, Professor B.B. Adeleke, I transferred to Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia to complete my Bachelor's degree, Masters at Texas A&M University, Commerce, TX and Doctorate at National American University. "

 Durodoye, indeed represents a combination of future and success, in view of his belief that the future belongs to the patient and diligent individuals ,no wonder why his name is an abridged symbol of Persistence and Patience,all of which epitomises Innovation ,struggles and achievements.
GLOBE Nigeria facilitator,Professor Durodoye, is a Professor of Mathematics at North Lake College in Texas, USA .He is from Osogbo, Osun State and had worked with experts in America and with officials of the Federal Ministry of Education in  Nigeria on developing educational materials to improve the teaching of maths and science in schools in both countries.

Professor of Mathematics, Durodoye, and Physicist,Dr. Jim Roberts, Professor of Physics and Material Science, Projector Director of the Regional Collaborative for Excellence in Science Teaching UNT and Directir of the Center for Nonlinear Science UNT had been collaborating for over ten years on developing the  educational materials and sharing their experiences with teachers in Nigeria as well as developing collaboration between schools in the two countries.

 Towards this end, Professor Durodoye utilized a grant he received from Allied Consulting and Educational Partnership of Texas to organise workshops in which teachers from Nigeria participated at workshops held at the University of North Texas in 2002 and in 2005.
 GLOBE was an essential component of the teaching materials used in the workshops, with Dr. Rebecca Boger ,GLOBE Deputy Director, International/U.S. Partnerships and Outreach and International Project Scientist teaching many of the protocols in the Atmosphere, Phenology,Soils ,Hydrology and Land Cover / Biology investigations .
According to a release by U.S. Embassy, Public Affairs Information Section, GLOBE,as an education program for K-12 students all over the world, has provided an inquiry-based, non-advocacy partnership encompassing over 11,000 GLOBE schools in 97 countries.
Dr Roberts corroborated the assertion and described GLOBE as the great integrator of science ,adding:" In more than three decades of teaching physics to all levels, pre-medical  engineers,physicist and teachers of science,  I have come to the conclusion that the GLOBE Program is the greatest vehicle to deliver science knowledge and to show the relevance of science to the needs of mankind that I have experienced during those years ."

Former Minister of Education, Professor Babalola Borisade at the pact-signing agreement between GLOBE and Nigeria ,was hopeful that Nigeria joining 88 other countries as a GLOBE member, would become an important partner in international environmental research while enhancing the scientific and mathematics skills of students and teachers in Nigeria.

He then acknowledged the efforts of Professor Durodoye through whose commitment, assiduity and tenacity, Nigeria became a member of GLOBE,positing that Nigeria's joined because of its belief in the initiator of the programme, former U.S.Vice President, Al Gore and the US .
 At the 2006 Ondo State workshop in which 80 participants drawn from over 30 schools attended, Professor Durodoye described the period as " ONE OF THE BEST DAYS OF MY LIFE " and that the workshop which followed at Osun State where-in more than 60 University Professors, graduate students and Ministry of Education representatives participated was a fulfillment of his long-term ambition to give back to Osun State.

" I found home in a progressive community in which academic-assisted talent plays vital role. Improving the quality of humanity through education, health care delivery, economic development and agricultural mechanization are the focal points. " the Professor of Mathematics remarked.

Dr. Olusegun Agagu, the former Governor of Ondo State and  Professor Rafiu Durodoye took the first giant step forward by hosting the first GLOBE Nigeria Trainer Workshop in Ondo State.

 " With this workshop, Ondo State has developed a roadmap for the creation of a future generation of scientists by providing access and opportunity in Mathematics, science and technology, and a sustained professional development program for teachers.  This roadmap will be implemented in the next workshop in Osun State !" Professor Durodoye remarked at the occasion.

True to his words,  a week-long second GLOBE workshop was subsequently held in 2007 at the African Regional Centre  for Space Science and Technology Education located at Obafemi Awolowo University, ile-Ife, Osun State. At the workshop, Mrs Tiffany Litton , one of the members of the International team described the forum as " a model of an international collaborative effort. "

To ensure  long-term sustainability of GLOBE in Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola , the Governor of the state, equally provided 20 schools with the necessary equipment to implement Atmosphere, Soil and  Hydrology protocols while including funding of the programme in the state budget to support future GLOBE workshops.

Professor Durodoye explained that his motive for facilitating Nigeria's membership of GLOBE was to afford him the  opportunity to " serve boys and girls in Mathematics, science and technology ( STEM), starting from Osun State  ,adding that : the original plan was the expansion of the project to  over 36 states of the country and link them with over 144 countries. 

" With this strategy, we develop alumni as role models for the programme while serving as networking towards academic interactions and solicitation of financial resources." Professor Durodoye stated .
According to him, the partnership between GLOBE students in Nigeria and other countries is partly intended to supplement research equipment  provides autonomy and confidence in the research experiments and protocols. 

The independent knowledge and skills will serve as paradigm of global integrity for our students. " He responded.


.BY OLALERE FAGBOLA

WHEN A MATHEMATICIAN AND ENVIRONMENTALIST ENTERS THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE

It's no surprise that mathematicians often make significant contributions to governance, administration, and public life. Mathematicians who understand interdisciplinary studies excel in various fields, whether in public or private roles.

 

My brother, a respected mathematician, once shared with me that mathematics is unique in that its results are absolute.
 According to him, mathematics is like facts, which are sacred, whereas other subjects are like comments, which are open to interpretation.
 He noted that a correctly solved mathematical problem would yield the same result regardless of who marks it or where it's evaluated.

Being a mathematician, however, doesn't automatically guarantee expertise in all areas. Unfortunately, some mathematicians may struggle to find employment that matches their skills.

EXPLORING THE CONNECTION BETWEEN MATHEMATICS AND EDUCATION
The GLOBE program has introduced a scientific and excellent approach to teaching mathematics. Those who understand the connection between mathematics and spirituality recognize the underlying principles of cause and effect in spiritual laws.
Meanwhile, those who understand the connection between mathematics and spirituality are less likely to be offended by spiritual laws, such as "whatever a man sows, so shall he reap" (Galatians 6:7) and "as for the good, good will be theirs, and for the evil, evil will be theirs" (Qur'an 24:26).
JESUS' TEACHING ON CAUSE AND EFFECT IS MATHEMATICAL
Jesus' commission to his disciples to teach nations about cause-and-effect principles can be seen as a form of "mathematizing" nations.

PROFESSOR RAIFU DURODOYE'S STORY
Professor Raifu Durodoye, a mathematician based in Texas, exemplifies persistence and patience. He credits his Nigerian education for providing a solid foundation, enabling him to compete globally. With over a decade of experience collaborating with experts, Professor Durodoye has promoted environmental research and scientific skills through the GLOBE program.

GLOBE
The GLOBE program's mission aligns with Professor Durodoye's efforts, enhancing scientific and mathematical skills. His work explores the intersection of mathematics, education, and environmentalism, demonstrating innovative approaches to learning.

BY OLALERE FAGBOLA.

Easter: Prof Durodoye preaches peace, love, patience, sacrifice, tolerance | Calls for continued prayer for Security in the Country

A professor of Mathematics and Chieftain of All Progressives Congress,  APC, Osun state Prof. Oyewole Rafiu Durodoye has called for peace, love and tolerance among Nigerians in the spirit of Easter celebration.

In his Easter message which he personally signed, Prof Durodoye has heartily felicitated Nigerians, the people of Osun State and his town, Osogbo, particularly the Christians, as they join their brethren across the world in celebrating Easter.

Durodoye who is a frontline politician and an academician urged all Nigerians to pray for peace and security amidst seemingly intractable insecurity around Nigeria and an end to terrorism in the land.

According to him, Easter which is the season of the remembrance of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ marks the trial, sacrifice, victory and completion of the divine mandate of the author of the Christian faith.

He appealed to all to practise the Christian virtues of sacrifice, patience, love and abiding faith in order for us as Nigerians to have a better tomorrow which has been symbolized in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

According to him, nations can be developed and grow bigger where  Christian virtues of love, sacrifices for one another, patience and hope for a better future are in place.

Prof. Durodoye who called on Nigerians to remain committed, faithful,  hopeful, stressed the need for all to continue to support President Bola Tinubu’s efforts in the challenge of building a better society that would be devoid of rampant insecurity, just as he prayed that the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ will open a window for a better Nigeria with hard work and prayers.  

Durodoye said, “As we celebrate the unique occasion, let us keep in mind the significance of the season, which is the perfect demonstration of sacrificial love to others. As the lent ended in triumph, the season should also rekindle our hope of victory over personal and communal challenges.

” I pray that the triumph of Christ will encourage all people of faith to be hopeful of victory against trials and challenges, whether as individuals or as a nation.

“Our nation is faced with rampant insecurity from Boko Haram Insurgents, bandits’ attacks, kidnapping, herders/farmers clashes that are not only affecting the economy and the progress of the nation but threatening its existence. I call on all to pray for peace and security during the celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.”

OYEDOKUN COMMENDS ADELEKE FOR HIS COURAGE

 

"Anyone who knew how the former Asiwaju of Ede, Chief Adetunji Adeleke impacted positively, the lives of People of his hometown, Ede ,Osun State and the entire country, Nigeria ,would have no option than to rejoice with  Governor Ademola Jackson Adeleke for his courage in stepping into the shoes of his late brother as the new Asiwaju of Ede land ."

The Oluomo of Inisa, Chief Shuaib Afolabi Oyedokun has noted.

In a statement released  by the Oluomo of Inisa, he described the life of the former Asiwaju of Ede as a brilliant testimony and demonstration of the golden thought which says that:" it isn't life that matters but the courage  one puts to it ."

"With Chief Adetunji Adeleke, charity also, did not only begin from home ,  the training he imbibed from his Adeleke Dynasty towards his passion for and sense of pursuing people's welfare, became an undying badge which he wore courageously as he expanded the legacy of good governance to the state and Nigeria in general" He  recalled .

 "It is therefore along the pleasant metaphor which  the traditional chieftaincy title of Asiwaju has  exuded in the dynasty, bequeathing worthy  heritage from one generation to another, that I am congratulating  the Osun State Governor for taking up the mantle as the Asiwaju of Ede." Oyedokun added. 

According to him:

It is my prayers that the Governor would brace up to the privileges and challenges which the chieftaincy aptly confers, even towards the progress of the state, not forgetting to do proud the fulcrum , goodwill  and platforms upon which he rode to power, particularly the welfare of the commoners which his Dynasty fought for since the days of his father.

The Oluomo of Inisa then commended the Timi of Ede,His royal Majesty, Oba Munirudeen Adesola Lawal as well as his council of chiefs for the great honour done to Governor Adeleke and for their commitment to the advancement of the ancient town and the state in general. 

"That this honour is  coming  at a time the Governor is clocking 64, shows that the new age portends  double blessing commensurate with the responsibility of tapping into the wisdom there-from while preparing him graciously for the task a-head ." Oluomo reckoned.

PRECISION HAND OF GOD IS FANTASTIC IN JOURNALISM

 

How does Precision come into the Hand of God in Journalism  ? One may ask.

It is like the promise or covenant which God gives ; it is purified seven times  and re-purified in the fire of fulfillment seven times. 

Conversely, It is an open secret , for instance, that my brand of Journalism practice goes beyond one which fulcrums  on mere western paradigm .

This had become apparent since 1989 when I won my first Best Reporter of the Year award, and after which the then Cross River State University, Uyo,( Department of Communication Arts) invited me to contribute a chapter to a journalism textbook which was then on the drawing board .

 It was after I submitted my contribution that God, during my journey into trance,revealed to me the secret of Journalism, where-in, His breath exuded into the documents while it translated to my first Journalism textbook titled:" JOURNALISTS AND THE HAND OF GOD.

Precisely, the message  in the Book of Revelation in the Bible, Chapter four put it most succinctly :

" After this I looked, and,  behold,  A DOOR WAS OPENED IN HEAVEN ( emphasis in capital letters is mine ) and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, COME UP HITHER AND I WILL SHOW THEE THINGS WHICH MUST BE HEREAFTER. "

No doubt, the Hand of God has been working for me in the profession, knowing full well that in the business of Journalism, which is geared at ensuring good governance, whatever door government is trying to shut for selfish end, is the same door that journalists set out to open up in the interest of the public.

Let me confess here however that until April,14,1994, I didn't know that midwifery is an office with its own door, and that only the HAND OF GOD opens and closes the  door as He chooses.

 Conversely ,when a new King over Egypt which knew not the Biblical Joseph ascended the throne, it was his plan to kill all male children of Hebrew and upon which he recruited midwives detailed to carry out the dastardly act.

King Pharaoh resultantly gave them the order :" When ye do THE OFFICE OF A MIDWIFE , to the Hebrew women ,and see them upon the stood, if it be a son, then ye shall kill him, but if it be a daughter then she shall live ."( Exodus 1:16 ) Today  April, 14, 2024 ,I am happy to recall that God, on April, 14, 1994, intervened in opening the Door of the office of midwifery for my wife, Prophetess Idowu  Deborah Fagbola who gave birth to Kayode John Fagbola, now marking his 30th birthday today. 

How did it happen  ?

 My wife had in 1994 kept shuttling, time without number,  between our Ring Road  Ibadan residence and Punch's Oke-Bola-based hospital, anticipatory  and preparatory to her time of delivery in which the arrival of the expected child was mysteriously delayed. 

On the afternoon of this April 14 ,1994, Mummy ,was still in the usual protracted labour when the Lord inspired me to go to the family altar where we always prayed to God ,giving me His gentle instruction that I should fill up the hand bell there with water, bless it and give my wife to drink .

Barely twenty minutes after she took the water, she put to bed effortlessly right in our three-bed room flat.

Hallelujah, Kayode is a child of prayer and indeed an answer to God-inspired prayers.  It was shortly before his birth that Punch Management approved for me a car loan with which I bought my first car, JETA. 

The second precision to this Miracle birth which heralded the arrival of my car was that it revealed the potency in Precision Journalism in which we scoop out big news through subjecting  statistical data into intelligent and intelligible interpretation .

Mrs Christie Ohuabunwa , who was on the Crime Beat, being our Amazon Crime Correspondent, had stormed the news room one afternoon with her usual exclusive stories. 

When I demanded from her the source of her stories, she yielded to me two heavily bound books of Crime statistics which she got authoritatively from credible source. 

After she had exhausted her write-ups from the documents, she yielded the books to me, on request, and for three months, I locked myself up in my office, being the Acting News Editor of Sunday Punch,interpreting the statistics of crime intelligently and intelligibly. 

For a whole quarter of the year, 1994, the statistics of various crimes in Nigeria by Nigerians from 1950 to 1994 were speaking to me while I plotted data of crimes which lay in the kitties of both Federal and State governments in Nigeria. The result was fantastic  !

The Sunday Punch under the supervision of my Editor, Godwin  Nzeakahnnamdi, alias Ogbefi was for the period commanding frontline respect in the market with the newspaper becoming an instant sell out. At one of the board meetings presided over by our actuarial and mathematical Chairman,  Chief Ajibola Ogunshola, my editor gladly presented my case for a car loan, based on my excellent performance while the request was granted instanter.

The Hand of God in Precision Journalism is indeed fantastic. 

OLALERE FAGBOLA REPORTING

EXPERTS CALL FOR SCHOOL PRESS CLUB IN THE FIGHT AGAINST DRUG ABUSE

Amid increasing cases of  substance abuse and gender-based violence in Nigeria, with attendant toll on socio-political and economic life of the youths ,two child experts and educationists have stressed the need for schools to adopt a threefold educational initiatives towards urgent implementation of ongoing fight against the social malaise.

The recommendations which were adopted at a recent workshop for teachers in Osun State are the setting up of Drug-free Press Club in schools ,the energisation of literary and debating society programmes and the engagement of students in creative drama which fulcrums on  the upliftment of moral values in school environments.

The three-pronged policy is encapsulated from two lectures delivered separately by the Assistant State Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Dr Yetunde Ofoha and the Director of Public Schools, Mrs. A.O. Adeoye .

The two experts agreed that the impartation of needed knowledge through the faithful implementation of their recommendations would go a long way to inculcating sound academic and moral values in the lives of students while building in their psychology, the stamina vital to coping with pressure of life as well as helping to debunk the fallacy that prosperity comes without labour.

Both of them stressed that it was important to integrate the three initiatives into the school time table and argued that if the ongoing fight against drug abuse and addiction would not end up as a mere shadow-chasing antics,  the sensitisation must be methodically inculcated into the school system, beginning from their assembly so that it would serve as a lifeblood which students would carry beyond the four walls of the schools .

The Assistant State Commander of NDLEA expressed regret that Nigeria which formerly was regarded as a transit country for hard drugs has now become a producer, consumer and trafficker country, pointing out that the immediate victims are youths, regarded as future leaders.

Dr Ofoha equally noted that it was not even palatable that Osun state is purportedly classified among states with the highest cases of drug addicts.

 She however noted with delight that the United Nation has encouraged the incorporation of spiritualism in the prevention of substance abuse and in the rehabilitation of drug addicts, adding that the NDLEA has equally been operating new strategies in its War Against Drug Addiction, acronymed WADA.

 In her own contribution, the Director of Public Schools in the Ministry of Education, Mrs Adeoye who charged teachers that " discipline is inseparable from teaching," urged workshop participants to be mindful of their behaviours with students whom they are supposed to lead by examples, adding that:" a toaster ( child abuser) of students can't preach honesty before his or her students. "

The Director of Public Schools who described the workshop as very timely, stated that the ministry of education in Osun state is committed to the march against drug abuse and gender-based violence ,stressing that the month of March is intensifying its march against the menace through FIGHT, being the acronymed for Fill In The Gap And Halt The Trend .

 In the commitment of the state Government to rid Osun state of social malaise, Mrs Adeoye disclosed that no fewer than 5,000 new teachers are being recruited by the state government towards the education of youths while ensuring that they equip their students with moral armament needed to fortify them as future leaders.

 At the Uniosun Teaching Hospital, Osogbo workshop venue in which the Osogbo Window on America is located ,resource persons drawn from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA and the Ministry of Education ,presented papers while the Chief Executive Director of Trauma of Dreadlocked Publisher , Olalere Fagbola treated participants to  renditions of poetry  in support of the Fight.

Earlier, the Director of Osogbo Window on America, Mr. Samuel Ibitoye stated that the Window is an initiative of the Public Affairs of the U.S. Consulate , stressing that the workshop,through collaborative efforts with Imole foundation, is part of programmes by which the Window has not relented in empowering youths in Osun state through different educative initiatives geared at moulding their minds in being productive .

The Imole Foundation, a nongovernmental  organisation was established  by Mrs Hembadoon Babatunde and under the Board Chairmanship of Mr Kehinde Babatunde .

Imole foundation. The organisation is committed to the fight against drug abuse, sexual abuse and gender-based violence in schools across Africa.  

The founder has been using her book, WOUNDS THAT WON'T HEAL " now adopted by the Osun State Government for the use of schools in her sensitisation campaign to educate students as well as parents in different programmes for early advocacy for kids .

BY OLALERE FAGBOLA

ATAOJA ENACTS ADIRE PALACE POLICY : BESTOWS OSUNMUNREWA ON BALOGUN SANGO OF USA

The Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun Oyetunji has assured that no stone would be left unturned in the quest to restore the credible old Glory of Osogbo as the cradle of authentic Adire indigo in Nigeria. 

Beaming with smiles as he welcomed to his palace , visiting Balogun Sango of USA, Sangorinu Fabunmi Akinlana, who himself was bedecked in rich flowing Agbada gown of Adire fabrics, Oba Oyetunji added that all efforts would be made to encourage the production and promotion of Osogbo indigenous Adire and Batik all over the world.

The Ataoja announced that he is making it a policy that his chiefs as well as august visitors to his palace wear Adire to annual Osun festival and to other important ceremonies in Osogbo .

The Osun State government has also issued a statement in recent times that civil servants as well as pupils in primary schools and students in secondary schools should wear adire to office and schools respectively in order to encourage the promotion of the indigenous industry.

In recognition of the humanitarian efforts of Balogun Sango of USA, particularly his commitment in promoting the works of Adire and Batik in Osogbo , the Ataoja of Osogbo bestowed a new traditional name of " Osunmunrede on him , stressing that Balogun Sango's patriotic efforts were worthy of emulation.

 Balogun Sango has arrived Osogbo from America to launch the new "Adire digital " being pioneered by a blind genius and Proprietor of African Craft shop, Adebayo Muritala Akanbi David, popularly called AMAD BULLDOZER " .

 At the ceremony coming up this Friday at Zebaff Event Centre  Osogbo,  Balogun Sango along with a Ghana-based philanthropist ,Abdul Rasheed Sanni and Adebayo Muritala Akanbi David would introduce the adire digital as one of the projects of their non governmental organisation called " Three Good Hearts "

 In his response ,the Balogun Sango thanked the Ataoja of Osogbo for the honour bestowed upon him and promised to carry Adebayo's project to higher heights ,adding that his moving train is going to metamorphose into a moving aeroplane .

Among highly placed personalities who witnessed the occasion was Chief Jimoh Ibrahim, a forerunner of Nigerian art and bead works.