Professor Hambolu to Receive Life-Time Achievement Award At Ekinrin Adde Day Carnival
A retired lecturer and Professor of Veterinary Medicine, Prof. Joseph Olajide Hambolu will be conferred with Life-Time Achievement Award at the forthcoming Ekinrin-Adde Day Celebration scheduled for 22nd June 2024.
This development was made known through a statement by the National Publicity Secretary of Ekinrin-Adde Community Development Association (EACDA), Adewale Victor Adekanye, over the weekend.
Adekanye noted that Professor Joseph Olajide Hambolu before his retirement from active service, made tremendous impact in Education and Community development initiatives to deserve the award.
Professor Joseph Olajide Hambolu was born 75 years ago to the family of late Pa Lawrence Folayan and Mrs. Esther Ibihunwa Hambolu in Ekinrin-Adde, his father was from Odo-Adde while his mother was from Ilaga.
Olajide completed his Primary Education at Holy Trinity School in Lokoja in 1963 before proceeding to Government Secondary School in Dekina. He then went on to Titcombe College in Egbe, where he obtained his Higher School Certificate (HSC) in 1969-70. Olajide’s academic achievements continued as he gained admission to Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, where he studied and earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree. He later obtained an M.Sc. from the same institution in 1982 and a Ph.D. in Anatomy from Kansas State University in the United States in 1985.
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Olajide is a Fellow College of Veterinary Surgeon of Nigeria (FCVSN) and has trained and mentored several veterinary professionals to achieve the same.
He began his long and distinguished career at Ahmadu Bello University in 1978 as a Lecturer II. Through his dedication and expertise, he rose through the ranks, becoming a professor in 1992. He was on the professorial rank for 27 years before retiring from active service in 2019. Over the course of his 42-year career, Olajide held several leadership positions, including Head of the Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Assistant Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. During this time, he taught and mentored countless undergraduate and postgraduate students, some of whom have risen to become Vice Chancellors of Universities in Nigeria.
Beyond his work within academic environment , Olajide has been an active contributor to the advancement of veterinary education in Nigeria. He has served as an external examiner to all the veterinary schools in the country and has been involved in accreditation processes for the National University Commission (NUC) and the Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN). Olajide has also published over 80 journal articles in both local and international reputable journals and has attended numerous conferences.
Throughout his illustrious career, Olajide has remained a compassionate leader and a bridge-builder within his community. Though disciplined, he takes great joy in education and mentorship.He has gone to great lengths to mentor and support the academic pursuits of numerous sons and daughters of Ekinrin-Adde. Regardless of location, whether in Zaria, Abuja, Lokoja, or the United States, Olajide is known for his unwavering commitment to peace and harmony, always working to ensure unity among his kinsmen.
Joseph Olajide Hambolu’s life story is a testament to the power of dedication, academic excellence, and community service. His contributions to veterinary education and the upliftment of his community has left an indelible mark, inspiring generations to come.
He is married to his lovely wife, Mrs. Leah Onirewaju Hambolu; blessed with children and grandchildren.
