ONDO STATE AT DAWN-UNMATCHED PROFILE OF SEN.(PROF.) ROBERT AJAYI BOROFFICE
The highest expression for a gifted personality is selfless service to the fellow men and intrinsic capability to unravel problem of the masses. An unusual powerful gift of nature moulded and polished by education and upbringing. Professor Robert Ajayi Boroffice was born on 23rd of April 1949 at Iboje Quarters, Oka-Akoko in Ondo State, to the family of Late Pa Zachaeus Omololu Boroffice and Late Mrs Comfort Aina Boroffice.
He had his elementary education in Christ School Oka-Akoko between 1955 and 1960, and later proceeded to African Church Grammar School, Oka-Akoko between 1961 and 1965 for his secondary education and graduated in the first division in the West African School Certificate Examination. He also attended Victory College Ikare-Akoko between 1966 and 1967 for his Higher School Certificate and graduated in flying colours.
In 1968 after teaching briefly in his Alma matter, African Church Grammar School, he proceeded to University of Ibadan for a degree in Geology, but he later changed his course to Zoology. He graduated in 1971 as the best student in the department with Second Class Upper division which was very rare in the Zoology department in University of Ibadan at that time. As a result of his excellent performance, he was admitted to pursue his Doctorate degree programme in that same department. In 1975, Prof. Boroffice bagged a Ph.D. degree in Genetics. In 1978, he proceeded to University of Newcastle – Upon Time for a Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship in Human Genetics.
During his secondary school education, Robert was on the then Western State Scholarship. In the undergraduate programme, he was on West-German government Scholarship and for his graduate studies; he enjoyed the Bulgarian government grant. As a Post-Doctorate Research Fellow, he enjoyed Inter-University Council Fellowship Award.
Professor Boroffice started his academic career at the University of Ibadan as Lecturer II in 1975. He served on various Committees and in several capacities while in the University of Ibadan. These include among others:
·
House Allocation Committee
·
Chairman Business Committee of the school Senate
·
Secretary of the University Congregation
·
Assistance hall warden, Kuti hall
While in Lagos State University, he served in various capacities which among others are:
·
Head, Department of Biological and Chemical
Sciences
·
Dean, Faculty of Sciences
·
Chairman Committee of Deans
·
Chairman University Examination Committee
·
Chairman Staff Welfare Committee
·
Chairman LASU Staff School PTA
·
Chairman Chapel Committee, Chapel of Light,
Lagos State University
·
Chairman Board of Trustees, Chapel of Light
Lagos State University
Professor Boroffice served on various boards among
which are:
·
Ondo State Scholarship Board
·
Chairman, Ondo State College of Education,
Ikere-Ekiti
·
Member, Governing Council of the Nigerian
Institute of Social and Economic Research
·
Member, Governing Board of Nigerian
Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Abuja
·
Member, Governing Council of Lagos State
University
·
Chairman Board of Directors, Nigerian
Communication Satellite Limited
·
National Space Research and Development Agency
(NASRDA)
·
National Biotechnology Development Agency
(NABDA)
·
National Information Technology Development
Agency (NITDA)
·
United Nations Committee on Science and Technology
for Development
·
United Nations Committee on Peaceful Uses of
Outer Space
·
Committee on Earth Observation Satellites
Today, the name of Professor Robert Ajayi Boroffice is bold in the evolution
of Space Science and Technology in Nigeria and Africa. He has created a
collection of monuments in the field of Space Science and Technology, and one
cannot but be fascinated by his lifestyle and monumental achievements. Under
his guidance and leadership, NASRDA became the fastest growing space agency in
the world. He successfully developed from a virgin land to what is now a pride
of Africa-Obasanjo Space Centre. In addition to the physical infrastructure on
ground, he pursued aggressively capacity building in all areas of Space Science
and Technology. Thus, the agency can now boast of over 150 Space Scientists
trained in different parts of the world.The highlights of his achievement in NASRDA include:
·
The successful launch of a low Earth Orbit
Micro-satellite code named NigeriaSat-1 in 2003. The first of its kind in the
black world.
·
The successful launch of Geostationary Orbit
Communication Satellite code named NigcomSat-1 in 2007. The first in the black
world.
·
The manufacture of NigeriaSat-2, a 300kg Earth
Observation Satellite with a 2.5m resolution in the panchromatic band and 5m in
the multispectral band- this was launched in 2011 by his successor.
·
The manufacture of Nigeria Sat-X, that was later
launched in 2011 by his successor.
·
Telemedicine network linking six Federal Medical
Centres with two Teaching Hospitals in the country
·
Tele-education network linking via satellite,
the National Open University of Nigeria Lagos with 13 other study centres
across the country.
Asiwaju of Akokoland service to his community includes youth empowerment
through skill acquisition and employment and provision of boreholes in various
communities in Akoko. He is a practicing Christian and a complete gentleman, highly dedicated and very proactive in Christian activities. An elder in the New Covenant Church, Abuja, and a life member of Gideon’s International; a life member of the Full Gospel Business men Fellowship International, and a President and co-founder of Gaius Ministry.
For his academic excellence and service to his community, state, nation and humanity, Professor Boroffice has received many awards which include:
·
Officer of the Order of Niger, OON
·
Full member of International Academy of
Astronautics
·
Distinguished Scientist Award by the Science
Association of Nigeria
·
Environment Award by the Institute of Ecology
and Environmental Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife
·
Achiever Award by Adekunle Ajasin University,
Akungba-Akoko
·
Excellent in Science Award by the International
Association of Lion Clubs
·
The Development in Nigeria Merit Award
·
Geoson Award by Geoinformation Society of
Nigeria
·
Award of Honour by International Union of
Geodesy and Geophysics, and Nigeria Union of Planetary and Radio Sciences
·
Financial Integrity Award by the Editorial Board
Of Credit Market Magazine
·
Leadership Excellence Award by National Association
of Akoko Students
·
Spirit of Detroit Award by the City Council of
Detroit, Michigan, USA
·
Dr. Kwame Nkrumah Outstanding Merit Award by
West Africa International Magazine
·
Excellence Award by Federation of Yoruba Parapo
Students Union
·
Award of Leadership Excellence in Science and
Technology Award of Excellency by Akoko Union
·
Nation Builder Award by Nigeria in Diaspora
Organisation, Michigan, USA
·
Award of Excellency by the Nigeria Institute of
Physics
·
Ondo State Man of the Year for 2008, by Society
Watch International, Dublin Ireland and Owena Press Limited, Akure
·
Merit Award by Lagos State University Staff
School
·
Award of Excellence by National Association of
Ondo State Students(NAOSS)
·
Oka Distinguished Achievers Merit Award in the
field of Science by Oka-Akoko Community
·
A Distinguished Scientist and Achievers in the
Field of Science Award by Faculty of Science, Obafemi Awolowo University,
Ile-Ife
·
ASIWAJU OF AKOKOLAND- the title conferred on him
by all Akoko Obas in May 2009
After leaving office as active academician and public servant, Professor Boroffice quest to still serve his people did not fade. This factor arise his interest in active politics and prior to 2011 general election, he had positioned himself to vie for Ondo North Senatorial District seat. As a man who never disconnect with his people at the grass-root, though he faced little opposition yet, he got the ticket of his party to contest the senatorial election. He defeated other two contenders to emerged as the Senator representing his Ondo North Senatorial District people at the seventh National Assembly in Nigeria. Currently, he is the Chairman committee of Science and Technology at the senate.
Again, Asiwaju of Akokoland has presented himself for highest task in Ondo State, on 28th of December 2011; all roads led to Oka-Akoko the headquarters of Akoko South West local government where Boroffice officially declared his intention to contest the next gubernatorial election in Sunshine State under the platform of Action Congress of Nigeria while the mother of all political declarations will come up in Akure the State capital at later date. The event the ACN leaders called a huge achievement for them considering the popularity and virtue of Asiwaju of Akokoland. Senator Boroffice wants all to support him to rescue our beloved State from backwardness and mismanagement of our collective resources. He said to him, the race to Alagbaka for 2013 is divine so definitely; THE TRUE SUN IS SET TO SHINE.
Professor R. A. Boroffice is married to amiable Professor (Mrs) Olusinmibo Bamidele Boroffice, a Director in the National Board of Incubation Technology, Abuja. The marriage is blessed with children and grandchildren.
References
Ø
Pamphlet
of the Inauguration Ceremony of Professor Robert Ajayi Boroffice as ASIWAJU of
AKOKOLAND
Ø
Kakaaki
Magazine, Vol. 6 No 7 July Extra 2010
Ø
Wikipedia,
the free encyclopaedia
Ope Omoriwo & Orunpekun O Abraham
