Celebrating Thompson Adeyemi Badejoko: As my destiny helper goes home
Some soft lessons my teacher and mentor Professor Thompson Adeyemi Badejoko (1945 to 2024) taught me include how to be just in the application of power and discretion; to always be compassionate; to always defend the weak, the oppressed, the downtrodden and the underdog.
It is, therefore, apt to celebrate my Geochemistry lecturer as an undergraduate at the Department of Geology of the prestigious University of Ibadan from 1977 to 1981. Dr Thompson Adeyemi Badejoko (as he then was) was an amiable, relatively young and dashing Lecturer.He rode one of the most beautiful cars on the University Campus.
Fast forward to 1986/1987 : I applied for Lectureship position in a number of Nigerian Universities including UI, Ekiti State University Ado Ekiti, Olabisi Onabanjo University Ago Iwoye and Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Bauchi. All were positive in their replies as to the possibility of my joining them. The HoD of Geology at Ibadan up until 31st July 1987, Dr. Olusegun Kokumo Agagu (1948 to 2013) who taught me Sedimentology and Petroleum Geology and Dr Thompson Adeyemi Badejoko (as he then was) who took over from him as the HoD effective 1 August 1987 were favourably disposed to offering me employment instantly in the Department of Geology University of Ibadan. As it turned out I had to submit my doctoral thesis first and take the oral examination. I cannot thank these my two former teachers enough for facilitating my employment which the then Dean of Science, Professor Gabriel Babatunde Ogunmola and the then Vice-Chancellor Professor Ayo Banjo (1934 to 2024) approved.
Assumption of duty as an academic staff: April 1988
On arriving in Ibadan to take up my employment as a Lecturer Grade II on 21st April 1988, I had to stay with the Badejokos at their Atiba Street home, New Bodija for about two weeks before travelling to Ilesa to visit my parents.
I believe that low aim is a crime and there shouldn’t be half measures. My strategic plan as an ambitious person was to vigorously engage in teaching, research and community service and become a Professor some day in the foreseeable future. This was ambitious but I considered it to be doable with some element of luck.
Rising along the academic ladder and intervention of my destiny helper
Promoted Lecturer 1; 1991.
Promoted Senior Lecturer: 1994
The next Promotion to the professorial cadre (Reader or Professor) under extant guidelines of the Appointments and Promotions Committee for Academic staff was realisable only after a minimum of five years.
With two tracks:
1. Regular Track: Promotion to the grade of Reader and then eligible for consideration for Promotion to Professor after a minimum of three years making a minimum of eight years after Promotion to the grade of Senior Lecturer.
2. High Flier Track: Candidate could be considered for Promotion to the grade of Professor after a minimum of five years on the Senior Lectureship grade.
I was hopeful of being eligible for Track 1 if I was able to work very hard and have quality research applications.
I was away to Germany as Alexander von Humbodt Fellow at Technical University Berlin from 1997 to early 1999. I returned from Berlin at the end of April 1999. As soon as I returned to Ibadan I reported in the Department and I contacted the HoD, Professor Thompson Adeyemi Badejoko to confirm my safe arrival back in the country.
The following conversation ensued:
HoD Professor Badejoko: When would you be eligible for Promotion.
Olayinka: Later this year, Sir. (five years after my 1994 Promotion to the grade of Senior Lecturer).
HoD Professor Badejoko: How many research publications do you have?
Olayinka: Thirty one, Sir, comprising 29 articles in Journals, one Chapter in a book and one Edited Conference Proceeding.
HoD Prof Badejoko: That is enough for consideration for Promotion to the grade of Professor.
Olayinka: Readership is even okay for me, Sir (My ambition was to be promoted to Reader that year and if I was successful I would, with some luck be in a pole position for Promotion to Professor three years later).
HoD Professor Badejoko: I have been assessing candidates from other sister Universities for Promotion to the grade of Professor and many of them did not have half of your total number of publications.
Olayinka: Thank you for your very kind compliments and willingness to recommend me for Promotion, Sir.
And so it was that I acquiesced to the support of my HoD, thanking God for my good fortune and unmerited favour from His throne of grace. It was his sole responsibility as the Head of Department to recommend me to the Faculty of Science Appointments and Promotions Panel. As of that time there was no elaborate provision for a Departmental Appointments and Promotions Panel. Where there were more than one Professor in a Department the HoD was only required to inform the other Professors of his/her desire to recommend Promotion candidates only as a matter of courtesy and just for their information and noting.
HoD Professor Badejoko: As soon as the promotion process is kick started we would continue our conversation on this matter.
Olayinka: Thank you, Sir.
My 1999 promotion was subsequently forwarded to the Faculty Appointments and Promotions Panel with Professor Oluwole Osonubi, the Dean of Science. There was an ASUU Strike at the time but as Dean Osonubi rightly believed that you do not have to cut your nose in order to spite your face he nonetheless went on with his meeting.
The Faculty A and P made a positive pronouncement and selected three Internal Assessors. Happily all three of them were satisfied with my publication portfolio and proceeded to seek a prima facie qualification (PFQ) from the University Appointments and Promotions Committee. By this time the eminent Biochemist, Professor Olufunso Olorunsogo was the Acting Vice-Chancellor.
The next stage after the PFQ was to seek the input of External Assessors from within and outside the country. The reports of the External Assessors were eventually taken at the University A and P in early April 2001, with Professor Ayodele Falase in the saddle as the Vice-Chancellor.
Thankfully I was pronounced a Professor of Applied Geophysics by Falase’s A and P, effective 1st October 1999, some three years before my original intention, aspiration and ambition. My good God and Professor Badejoko made this possible. I will never forget.
Playing the Nostradamus
It was one beautiful morning in early year 2000 and about time to appoint the next Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan. The incumbent helmsman, the notable historian Professor Omoniyi Adewoye was rounding off his tenure as Vice Chancellor. Professor Badejoko, then the Head of the Department of Geology, came into the Departmental complex and met a few of us in the quadrangle. After we had paid him the usual obeisance he asked a seemingly innocuous question as to what were members of the University community saying about the next Vice-Chancellor. I responded that the names of Professors (Ayodele) Falase and (Olufemi) Bamiro were reoccurring all over and everywhere on the Campus. Our HoD responded reflexly, _Falase should get it and Bamiro can succeed him_.
As of that time, the eminent cardiologist Professor Falase has had under his belt a rich University administrative experience as Provost College of Medicine, Dean Faculty of Clinical Sciences and Dentistry, and Head Department of Medicine. Similarly distinguished Professor Olufemi Bamiro, Alumnus of Government College Ibadan like Professor Badejoko, had been Dean of Technology, Head Department of Mechanical Engineering and Director Management Information Systems, among other preferments.
Under the then extant law, Council would forward three names to the President and Visitor to the University. The Visitor then selects one of the candidates or reject the list entirely.
Subsequent events that year (2000) and five years later proved Professor Badejoko’s casual observation and comment to be prophetic as Professor Falase was appointed by President Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR as the Ninth Vice-Chancellor of UI effective September 2000; he was succeeded by Professor Bamiro as the Tenth Vice-Chancellor effective December 2005 following his appointment by the then President Obasanjo.
Parting shots
As far back as the 1970s, you were one of the co-editors of the Journal of Mining and Geology. You will be greatly missed among the genre of fecund geological scholars who contributed immensely to our understanding of the world famous and classic Nigerian Younger Granites; you were the one who first propounded the theory of adiabatic crystallization of the Younger Granites.
Apart from a successful career in academics, you were also a highly successful entrepreneur and business owner. You established BAYAT Limited which was involved in the manufacture of ceramic products, drilling of water-supply boreholes and mineral resource development in many parts of the country. In the process, you offered employment to many gesocientists.
We commiserate with your wife of five decades, our Mama, Dr Adedoja Badejoko, daughter Tolu and her husband, son Subomi and his wife, and the grandchildren.
To love is nothing; to be loved is something; to love and be loved is everything.
Adieu Professor Thompson Adeyemi Badejoko, Fellow and Past President, Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society.
Rest in the bosom of our Lord Jesus Christ till we meet at Resurrection morning.
Adieu. Good night, Sir.
Idowu Olayinka
Your student and mentee &
12th Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan (2015 -2020)