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Dr. Isaac Adeola Odeyemi
Dr Isaac Adeola Odeyemi (born 11th December 1939) is a Nigerian entrepreneur and advocate for computer literacy. He is the first Nigerian scientist to have obtained a PhD in Computer Science from Manchester University, England, in 1970. In the early 1980s, Dr Odeyemi became a trailblazer for future technology helping establish Nigeria's internet domain registry (NiRA) which manages the TLD for the country.

He paved the way for the introduction of the sales, services and use of micro computers and printers like Apple Computer, Epson Printers, Compaq Computer and Psion PDA to the Nigeria IT market. This happened in an era when Government establishments and university communities were dominated by the use and installation of mainframe - and mini computers, and other IT practitioners considered micro computers mere toys.

Early life and education
Dr Odeyemi was born into a Christian family to Daniel Odeyemi and Dorcas Famokunse Odeyemi at Ilara-Mokin in Ondo State, Nigeria. His father was one of the first Christian converts in Ilara-Mokin at the turn of the century and later became a Bible teacher in his local church, St Michael Anglican Church, in Yoruba.

His mother was an active Christian leader and strong community activist in Ilara-Mokin. She valued the education of her children and extended family; enrolling the young Adeola at school at the age of five, while most children were only enrolled between the ages of eight and 10.

Adeola’s early years were enriched with a strict Christian upbringing. Because of the early Spartan lifestyle in which Adeola grew up, he found no difficulty in adjusting to life outside his home and joyfully took on the challenges of life.

From 1961 to 1964, Adeola attended University College in Ibadan and graduated with a First Class Honours in Mathematics in the B.Sc. Special (London) examination. The following year, he obtained a Diploma in Advanced Mathematics from Balliol College, Oxford. He then returned to Nigeria and took up a career in tertiary education; first as a part-time lecturer in Mathematics at the University of Lagos in April 1966, and later, in September 1966, as an assistant lecturer at the then University of Ife.

In 1967, he proceeded to the University of Manchester for postgraduate studies, where he obtained a PhD in Computer Science in 1970. He was the first Nigerian to obtain a PhD in this new field.

Career progress and entrepreneur journey
Dr Odeyemi started off his career as a Research Officer at the Computer Science Department of Manchester University in September 1969 till December 1970. He then returned to Nigeria in December 1970 and pioneered the establishment of the first Computer Science Degree programme at the University of Ife (Unife), Ile Ife, in 1971. He is credited with helping Adenike Osofisan become the first women in Nigeria to obtain a PHD in Computer Science. In 1973, Dr Odeyemi was promoted to Senior Lecturer and was appointed Ag Director of Computer Centre Unife; a position he held between 1975 and September 1977, before acting as Director from 1978 to January 1981..

During his career at the University, he pioneered the development of computer applications to support university administration as well as the state government. He served as a member of the National Census Board from 1972 to 1975, and offered his services as an External Examiner at the Universities of both Benin and Lagos from 1977 to 1981. From 1976 to 1981, Dr Odeyemi also directed the design and implementation of the first computerized NYSC mobilization programme.

Through his active engagement in technology, Dr Odeyemi established DEBIS (Nigeria) Ltd in 1980, which was one of the first groups of indigenous IT companies to offer services in Computer Education, Computer Sales and Services, Computer Software Development, Computer Application Software Development and Computer Consultancy Services. DEBIS (Nigeria) Ltd provides services to a wide range of customers, including government departments and agencies, education institutions, multinational organizations, professional practitioners and individuals.

From the inception of the Computer Association of Nigeria (COAN) in 1978, he has been an active member of that Professional Body, serving as Chairman of the first Education Committee and, later, as Chairman of the Lagos Chapter. Dr Odeyemi was also the Convener and First Provost for the NCS College of Fellows from January to August 1993, and Past Provost between 1998 and 2003. He has since remained a member of the College of Fellows of the Nigerian Computer Society (NCS, formally COAN). He was later honored by the NCS for his contributions in 2016.

Family
Dr Isaac Adeola Odeyemi is married to Mrs Olabisi Alake Odeyemi (Nee Olaleye). They have 4 children and 5 grandchildren.

Psychological resilience
Psychological resilience is the ability to mentally or emotionally cope with a crisis or to return to pre-crisis status quickly. Dr Odeyemi has had his fair share of challenges in life, including two life-threatening situations, and has remained resilient.

In 1988, he had a near-fatal car accident on the Ore-Akure Road in Ondo State, Nigeria. An abandoned broken-down low loader trailer (long truck) was stalled on the road and his driver, who had his headlights dimmed, did not see the truck ahead until it was too late. In a bid to avoid the impact, the driver swerved in such a way that Dr Odeyemi’s side was most impacted. As a result of the accident, Dr Odeyemi sustained several injuries, including four broken limbs and several broken ribs. Before he could bleed out, some ‘Good Samaritan’ travelers rescued him and his driver; taking them to a nearby under-equipped hospital in Akure, Ondo State. They were finally able to call his wife the next day, after he had received emergency treatment.

After an excruciating transfer to Lagos in an ambulance, he was admitted to the emergency room of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi Araba, Lagos, Nigeria, where he spent a further six months in the orthopaedic unit.

Though incapacitated at the hospital, he kept on working; running his business and office remotely with the help of his wife and trusted business partner, and supported by a few key managerial staff. He personified the uncommon exemplary fighting spirit. Dr Odeyemi and his family also further chose not to sue the company that had abandoned their broken-down vehicle on the highway.

He recovered, albeit with a remaining arched limb, after one whole year of physical therapy and several specialist orthopaedic treatments. He now walks with a shoe platform, yet never lets this handicap limit his drive, the continuous pursuit of his passions, or his impact on society.

The other life-threatening event came in the form of prostate cancer diagnosis in 2012. This time, Dr Odeyemi underwent preliminary treatment, namely surgery at the University of Ife’s (now Obafemi Awolowo University) Teaching Hospital, Oyo State, Nigeria. He underwent further treatment in New York City, New York, United States of America, with the constant support of his wife.

As a cancer survivor, Dr Odeyemi is grateful for life, and believes that he was able to the disease through timely medical intervention, a fighting spirit, prayers, family support and a healthy diet. Through all his trials, there was no stopping him from being a fighter and winner.

MEMBERSHIP OF PROFESSIONAL AND LEARNED SOCIETIES


 * Associate member of the British Computer Society (1969 – 1975)
 * Member of the British Computer Society (1975 – Feb. 1986)
 * Member of the Nigerian Computer Society (1972 - 1978)
 * Member of Computer Association of Nigeria (1978 – April 1990)
 * Associate Member British Computer Society (1969 – 1982)
 * Fellow of the British Computer Society (Mar 1986 – 2002)
 * Fellow Nigerian Computer Society (formerly COAN) (Apr. 1990 to date)
 * Registered Member Computer Professional Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN) (1995 to date)

Awards and accolades
1999-2000

●     1999 Nigerian Institute of Physics Certificate of Excellence Award

●     2003 Oyemekun Grammar School Old Students Association Golden Jubilee Distinguished Old Students Award

●     2007 Nigeria Computer Society Contribution Award

●     2011 Ilara Mokin Youths Award

●     2013 Nigeria Computer Society President Life Service Award

●     2013 ISPON (Institute of Software Developers) Award for Best Software Entrepreneurs Developer of the Year