Foremost Educationist, Dotun Oyewole dies at 94 : BIOGRAPHY

It has been reported that the formost educationist, Chief Dotun Oyewole, One of the Oyewole twins that Governor Ibikunle Amosun named -  in this month's 40th Anniversary Of Ogun State - in one of the model schools commissioned  by the State government is dead. He died at the ripe age of 94 years Old.

BIOGRAPHY

Chief Dotun Oyewole was born an identical twin on
June 5, 1922 in Abeokuta.
He attended primary school at St. John’s
School, Igbein, Abeokuta from 1928 to 1933 and
secondary school at Abeokuta Grammar School,
Abeokuta from 1934 to 1940, where he also began his
teaching career in 1941 as a pupil teacher. He attended science preparatory classes at
Yaba College in 1942 and between 1946 and 1947 he
taught physics and mathematics at Abeokuta Grammar
School.

In 1947, Chief Oyewole was awarded a Nigerian
Government scholarship to pursue an honours degree
course in physics at the University of Durham, UK as
well as a post-graduate certificate in education at the
University of London, Institute of Education. He
earned a B.Sc. Hons. in physics from the University of
Durham in 1950, and a post-graduate certificate in
education from the University of London.

Upon
returning to Nigeria in 1951, he went back to teach at
the Abeokuta Grammar School as Senior Physics and
Mathematics Master. He was also a part-time Latin
teacher at the Anglican Girls Grammar School,
Surulere, Lagos.

In appreciation of his valuable contribution to Science
and education Chief Oyewole received the following
honours: Fellow of the Science Teacher Association of
Nigeria (FSTAN) in 1980 and Distinguished Sustained
Service to Science of Education (DSSE) in 1997; Ogun
State University Development Foundation Presidential
Merit Award for Distinguished Contribution to the
University and Educational Development in Nigeria in
1998; UNAAB Alumni Award for contribution to the
Development of the University of Agriculture,
Abeokuta as Pioneer Council Member; West African
Examination Council Merit Award for meritorious
services to the Council; and the Fellowship of the
Federal College of Education, Abeokuta 1999.

Publications to his credit include: An Introduction to
Physics; Advanced Physics for Secondary Schools
Books I, II and III; Physics for “O” Level Books I, II and
III; and Our Autobiography – Incorporating fun with
the Twins.

Chief Oyewole has served selflessly in federal and
state governments, the Church and various voluntary
organizations. He was Chairman Board of Governors
of several secondary schools where his contribution
helped shape the future of many of our children. As
co-proprietor of two educational institutions,
Abeokuta Continuing Education Center (ABEOCEC) and
Oyewole Twins International Secondary School, he has
contributed immensely to the education of the youth.

Since 1930, he has served in various capacities in the
Church. In recognition of his services to the church he
was honoured with three chieftaincy titles:
Akingbogun of Igbein Christians; Akingboye of Egba
Christians; Baba Ijo of St. John’s Church, Igbein,
Abeokuta.
Since 1952 he has served the Egba community in
various capacities, as initiator or mobilizer of
improvement programs such as the Abeokuta
Improvement Association, Economic Planning Council
of Egbaland, Society for the promotion of Education
in Egbaland, National Mental Health Association and
Community Singing Group. For his contribution to the
Community, he was honoured with the title of
Distinguished AGSOBA by the Old Boys Association of
the Abeokuta Grammar School. He was elected into
the membership of the Nigerian Academy of Education
and received an honorary Doctor of Sciences degree
(D.Sc.) by the University of Agriculture. Abeokuta
(UNAAB). He also received a national award, The
Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) awarded by
President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2002. In recognition of
his illustrious career in education, Chief Oyewole was
selected by the West African Examinations Council as
a distinguished friend of the Council.

Many of his
former students occupy important positions in this
country and around the world.
They are found in the
church, civil service, legislature, judiciary, medicine,
engineering, armed forces and leadership of
educational institutions.

His
children are: Deji (of blessed memory), Bayo, Sola,
Molara (of blessed memory), Babi, Layo and Bandele.
His grandchildren are: Jumoke, Modele, Seni, Rotimi,
Seun, Muyiwa, Tosin, Tokunbo, Lydia, Joshua, Mary,
Alima and Chizara.

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