Prof Albert B. Olayemi gave his valedictory lecture on the 16th of August, 2023 at the Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Ilorin.

He titled his lecture as his journey with the invisible allies. The invisible allies here are microorganisms. It was a loaded one hour plus lecture of his life experiences before and during the university appointment till he retired.
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Professor Albert Bamikole Olayemi was born on the 15th day of August, 1951. He was born into the family of Late Chief Micheal Olayemi and Mrs. Ibironke Olayemi of Iyara-Ijumu L.G.A., Kogi State. Prof. Olayemi was born into a polygamous family of twelve children and he happened to be in the middle of them all.
Prof. Olayemi had his early days in the village of Iyara-Ijumu, Kogi State, Nigeria where he had his primary school education. All through his primary school days at St. Paul’s Primary School, Iyara, he was dogged in learning. His quest for a secondary school education took him out of the village of Iyara to the neighbouring town of Kabba, where he attended St. Barnabas Secondary School, Kabba. Prof. Olayemi passed the West African School Certificate (WAEC) with Division One in 1968.

In pursuit of his desire to become a medical doctor, after secondary school, he proceeded for his Advanced Levels (HSC) at Federal Government College, Sokoto from 1969 to 1970. Upon completion of his A-levels programme, he advanced to the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria for his Bachelor’s degree between 1971 and 1974.
Prof. Olayemi was one of the best students retained by the Department of Microbiology at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria as Graduate Assistants in 1975. Hence, he started his well decorated university career in 1975. Prof. Olayemi’s love for knowledge made him to pursue a Master’s degree and bagged his M.Sc. degree from the same university (ABU) in 1978. He left the system briefly to join the Leather Institute of Technology, Zaria in 1981 as a Principal Research Officer. On realizing the difference, he rejoined the University system, working with the University of Ilorin as a lecturer in the Department of Microbiology in *** and obtained his Ph.D. in 1990 from University of Ilorin. He rose through the ranks to become a Professor in 1999.

Although Professor Olayemi’s original goal was to become a medical doctor, it however changed to teaching afterwards. According to him, “teaching was the most prestigious occupation at that time”. This made him to be resolute in his approach towards his teaching and research career.
Over the years of his teaching career, Prof. Olayemi has reproduced himself, through supervision/mentoring of several students at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Some of his students are today reputable professors, senior lecturers in different higher institutions within and outside Nigeria. Several others are top rated captains of industries today. Prof. Olayemi said he considers that as his “most fulfilling achievement and success”. Professor Olayemi truly is an accomplished academic and has all through these years been proud of being a professor with no regrets. He believes the only thing that can top it all off is to become the Vice-Chancellor of a renowned university.

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Professor Olayemi was not only an academic but also a socialite. He was, and still is, a member of various clubs both within the University and outside. He was once the president of Unilorin Senior Staff Club. At his leisure time, Prof. Olayemi plays games such as darts, draft and badminton.

Prof. Olayemi held a series of administrative and managerial responsibilities on campus. .
He was appointed as Director, Academic Planning Unit of the University of Ilorin in 2002. He was Deputy Vice Chancellor, Management Services, University of Ilorin, from 2008 to 2012. Other responsibilities held by Prof. Olayemi are: Chairman, Organizing Committee, University of Ilorin Aid for Haiti that raised 33,000 USD as Donation to the Republic of Haiti. He was Chairman, West African University Games (WAUG), in 2012 and raised N42,511,200.00 as donations. He was Desk Officer – MOU with Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Republic of Korea. The consummation resulted in donation of laboratory equipment and materials. Prof. Olayemi was appointed as Focal Person, Regional Centre of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development, Ilorin (RCE-Ilorin) by the then-Unilorin VC, Prof Ambali in 2016. He held this position until he retired in 2021.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AotFjnY1jM