Professor of Electronic and Electrical Engineering
“I have therefore gained so much more than I could possibly give to God and the University and I am incapable of adequately voicing my gratitude…In the beginning, God gave man dominion over the things He created. Some such creations of God that have been so very well utilized (through technology) are electronic materials. Electronic materials, in turn, gave birth to electronic devices and electronic devices are the foundation of electronics and power electronics. These technologies have become indispensable in supporting our lifestyle, our health and our safety, social interaction and security.” – Professor Oladipo
Fondly called Prof Ladi Osasona, he recently celebrated his 70th birthday on 28th August 2020 with accolades pouring in from near and far, chronicling his good deeds and how he has been of immense blessing to the Body of Christ.
A man of humble beginnings, he once said that he wouldn’t have seen the four walls of a university but for the sacrificial sponsorship of his brother Dr. Olagbemi Osasona. He graduated from the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) in June,1975 with a Bachelor of Science in Electronic and Electrical Engineering with a First Class (Honours) degree. He proceeded for the compulsory National Youth Service at the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) but wasn’t retained because the Public Service sector wouldn’t employ anybody with a First Class degree at that time, knowing fully well that they would go back for further studies.
He began his academic career as a Graduate Assistant at the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Ife, though he had been offered admission letter to Manchester University by the External Examiner as it was the norm in those days for the External Examiners from either Manchester University or the University of Sussex to offer First Class candidates admission letters for further studies in their University in the UK.
He however declined the offer based on advice from his senior colleagues to utilize his time for academic research and instead registered for an M.Phil. degree with the Solid State Electronic Research group, University of Ife. He became the first to be awarded a Ph.D. degree in the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering through a multi-site postgraduate work: including research at the Imperial College, London in 1980; the University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, supported by the Sir Adam Thompson (British Caledonian Airways) Scholarship, in 1984 and 1985.
During his inaugural lecture on 25th November 2015, he postulated that Nigerian undergraduate students should be trained with more fundamental science course contents: more Physics courses for the Electronic and Electrical Engineering students; more acoustic-related courses in both Departments of Architecture and Music in order to provide a sound foundation for their continued excellent performance.
It’s little wonder that he advocated for acoustic related courses in the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering since he is a living proof of the foundation of Music in his excellent performance. Besides his notable academic achievements, he has also contributed his quota in the Body of Christ especially in Nigeria. Prof Ladi Osasona is an ordained Pastor at Foursquare Gospel Church and also serves as the Head of Electronics Department, Redemption Camp, RCCG. Moreover, he is the Visioneer/ Convener of Livingspring Christian Music Festival, an annual musical festival, credited to be the first organized gospel music event at Obafemi Awolowo University which started in 1983 with testimonies of revival fire emanating from the platform including shaping of the lives of teenagers and young adults for the Master’s use and birthing of ministries.
Evangelist Mike Bamiloye recently shared his encounter at Livingspring Christian Music Festival:
“When we were growing up in ministry, looking for where to catch some Ministry Fire, one of those places I caught my earlier REVIVAL FIRE was Living Spring… It was LIVING SPRING 1984 that I had a wonderful experience. I had gone there as usual. I had sat in the hall as usual. Then the music ministrations began from many Ministers and mostly Youths. The glory of the Lord came down heavily; I ran out of the Hall, came outside and sat on the pavement crying and praying just one prayer:
‘Lord! Use Me Too!
If You Can Use Anything, then, Use Me too!’
Gbam!
God heard my Prayers!
The following year, 1985, Mount Zion Ministries began. Then, 1986, I mobilized few of my members, including my Fiancée, Gloria Olusola to the LIVING SPRING 86 and we made three Cloth Banners to welcome people to Living Spring 86. We wrote it this way:
‘Mount Zion Christian Productions, Nigeria, WELCOME YOU TO THE LIVING SPRING 86.’
There are some men whose contact with you push you forward at some point in the race.”
Moreover, the theme songs of Agbara Nla and Ultimate Power (Mount Zion movies) were produced in 1993 at Prof (then Dr) Ladi Osasona’s studio: Shalom Studio.
He is married to Professor Mrs Cordelia Olatokunbo Osasona (nee Odubanjo) who has been a consistent trail blazer and pace setter in the field of Architecture (first female architect to be produced by the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University); the first alumna to take up a teaching appointment in the Department and Faculty; the first female Head of Department and Vice-Dean, in the Faculty of Environmental Design and Management; the first female Professor in the Faculty; the first female to give an Inaugural Lecture in the Faculty and, more significantly, the first Professor at all, to give an Inaugural Lecture in the Department of Architecture; first female Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA) in Osun State, Nigeria; only female Fellow of the NIA who is also a Professor and the first female Professor of Architecture in southwestern Nigeria).
Sources: Oladipo Osasona’s inaugural lecture publication, Cordelia O. Osasona’s inaugural lecture publication, Mike Bamiloye’s page, Encomium online, LivingspringCMF’ page
