This investigative journalism is the first of its kind in the Science firmament. Preference is given, without any bias, to those that met the standards of the Nigerian Academy of Science – the highest scientific body in the land – and the Nigerian Academy of Engineering. Recipients of the Nigerian National Merit Award (NNMA) in pure sciences, which is the highest intellectual award in the country, were also considered. LOREL – UNESCO Science Prize winners and the Nigerian LNG Science prize recipients – Nigeria’s own Nobel Price, were other benchmarks used in raising the bar. Nominations by the general public on Nigerian Scientists both at home and in the Diaspora, that have contributed outstandingly to National development in the fields of science, medicine, agriculture, mathematics, engineering and technology was another mechanism used in the selection. Just like in Nobel Prize, self-nomination automatically disqualifies a candidate. STANLEY CHIBUIHEM AMALAHA wishes this intellectual property selected painstakingly will serve as a standard of measurement for selecting top Nigerian Scientists of all times. Enjoy!
Enoch A. Adeboye
Quintessential Clergyman
Humility Personified
Mathematician
Nigeria’s greatest Living Legend
“University of Lagos means a lot to me. By the grace of God, I am the first M.Sc and Ph.D graduate of the Department of Mathematics of the University of Lagos.
It was at the University of Lagos that I started my teaching career in the university. But, far more than that, it was while I was at the University of Lagos, that I gave my life to Jesus. So, I owe a lot to the University of Lagos.
When the idea of establishing professorial chairs came up, I said we would start with the University of Lagos” These are the words of Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, made in Heaven, assembled in Nigeria and exported to the world. Words hardly suffice when the subject of discussion is the revered Pastor E.A. Adeboye.
His biography, if carefully written, could be likened to a lexicon. He has consistently maintained a visible and very transparent track record in ecumenical world, where many have had to battle with one form of accusation or another in connection with financial misappropriation, suspected supernatural powers and social improprieties. E.A. Adeboye, humility personified, was the first graduate for the degrees of M.Sc and Ph.D Mathematics of the University of Lagos with specialisation in hydrodynamics.
The quintessential clergy has gradually and steadily worked towards actualising his vision for Nigeria, as being to the Christians, what Mecca is to the Muslims through the intense attraction of the Holy Ghost services and congresses to Christians all over the world.
His Holy Ghost congresses have marked the largest congregation of people on earth. His personality, character and endeavours have been widely acknowledged and recognised. He made the list of Newsweek magazine’s 50 most influential personalities of the world in 2008/2009, precisely coming at the 49th position.
Enoch Adeboye humourously says that his family was so poor that even the poor called them poor. However, from a humble beginning, he rose to greatness and was unanimously voted Nigeria`s greatest living legend in a maiden edition of national survey organised by Vanguard media and Silverbird group in Nigeria.
He has been conferred with several honorary degrees and national merit awards in appreciation of his contributions to humanity, including the recent Doctor of Science, honorary causa of the University of Lagos. Pastor Adeboye was among 100 Nigerians honored recently at the nation’s centennial celebration.
What a rare feat! We cannot but admit that certain individuals like Adeboye, whether by design or default, by natural selection or sheer circumstantial providence, have played strategic and pivotal roles in the direction and development of our world. Even if we all take our walk and march through the sands of time in turns, only the footprints of a few called the great ones like Adeboye, are visible.
However, these visible footprints would serve no useful purpose, if we merely glance or passively gaze at them, for cosmetic and ecstatic acknowledgement rather than allowing them to arouse our interest, activate our sense of progress to follow the steps and even make the prints clearer and deeper for posterity. It is with this regard that we bring to you the similitude or a scratch from the surface of the biography of Nigeria’s greatest living legend- Pastor E. A. Adeboye.
Daniel K. Olukoya
Clergy
Researcher
Music Composer
Molecular Geneticist
When Dr. Daniel Kolawole Olukoya was born, little or non did his parents know that they had taken delivery of an exceptional child ordained by God to fulfill a destiny that would, in turn, positively affect the destiny of others. And in pursuit of that destiny, Olukoya laid down an academic blueprint whose pedigree remains outstanding.
Excellence was his watch word. Rather than occupy himself with exuberance that was a common feature among the youths, he developed a passion for God. Daniel Olukoya’s academic profile took a leap at the prestigious University of Lagos, where the genius graduated with a first class honours degree in Microbiology.
In fact, it was the first from the department since the university was established in 1962. Dr. Olukoya’s thirst for more academic laurels found expression at the University of Reading, UK, where, with a Commonwealth scholarship, he studied for a PhD in Molecular Genetics, which was completed in record time, making him probably the first Nigerian to obtain a Ph.D in this subject area.
He was a lecturer as well as external examiner to a number of Nigerian universities: among them are: the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and University of Benin (UNIBEN). Dr. Olukoya is on record as having been the first scientist to establish an indigenous Molecular Biology and Biotechnology laboratory in Nigeria. One of his important contributions to biotechnology and health care delivery is the creation of a new type of Pap (Ogi), named Dogik, a weaning food that has improved nutritional qualities that can control diarrhea. The laboratory also ranks among the first to do genes in Nigeria.
His love for academics made him to donate a central research laboratory to the University of Lagos, probably the biggest university research laboratory in Nigeria. He has supervised over 20 Ph.D. students.
As a researcher, Olukoya has over 80 scientific publications to his credit. Notwithstanding his exploits on the academic, he devotes much of his time to God through preaching, delivering papers at seminars, singing etc.
He is the General overseer of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries Dr. Daniel Kolawole Olukoya is anointed by God with an uncommon gift and finds expression as a prophet, evangelist, teacher and preacher of the word of God. In addition to his over 80 scientific publications, he has written more than double that number of spiritual books, 150 of them, most of which are bestsellers.
PRAYER RAIN, a prayer manual, which has become a companion. Besides, he has composed over 70 Christian songs. His amiable life and that of his wife, Pastor Shade and their son, Elijah Toluwani, are living proof that all power belongs to God.
William F. Kumuyi
A leading light
Clergy
Mathematician
Academic
“Nature and nature’s laws lay hid in night: God said, let Newton be! And all was light.”
These were the words of Alexander Pope when he eulogised Isaac Newton whose record of achievements stands out like a lighthouse in the dark. If William F. Kumuyi is substituted in the above statement, it becomes: “Nature and nature’s laws lay hid in night: God said, let Kumuyi be! And all was light.”
In reality, William Folorunso Kumuyi has been a leading light to millions of people all over the world. Physically, spiritually and academically. A first class mathematician from the nation’s premier university – the University of Ibadan – he doubles with his post graduate programme in the same field at the University of Lagos.
An accomplished don to whom distinction is inborn, his diligence, foresight and distinctive leadership style have set him aside as one of the greatest Christian leaders of our time. William Kumuyi is a rare combination of God’s rich and matchless grace and the religious discipline of the academic.
He is the General Superintendent of Deeper Life Bible Church, which started in 1973 at the University of Lagos where he was a lecturer of mathematics. Pastor Kumuyi’s style of leadership centres strictly on holiness.