THE LIFE AND TIME OF LATE PROFESSOR OLAJIRE AREMU ADEGOKE

It is on record that late Prof. Aremu Olajire Adegoke was born on the 21st August, 1970 in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria. He had his nursery school education at the Oke elerin Baptist Nursery School, Ogbomoso (1973-1975). He attended the Osupa Baptist Day Primary School, Ogbomoso (1975-1977), St. Joseph Primary School, Vom, Plateau State (1977 - 1979) and then again Osupa Baptist Day Primary School (1979-1981). 

Due to serious family financial crises, he had to accompany his mother to sell vegetables, cooked groundnuts and was a regular hand at building sites in later primary school years. After his primary education, he proceeded to the Baptist Secondary Grammar School Ahoyaya, Ogbomoso (1981 - 1986). Enabled by God's grace, he graduated as the overall best graduating student (8 'A' and 1 'C') and as the best graduating student in Additional Mathematics, Chemistry, Economics and Geography. He was a part-time bar waiter at the Terminus Hotel, Oja`gbo Ogbomoso all throughout his secondary school years.

For his higher education, he was at the Federal School of Medical Laboratory, Jos, Plateau State (1987-1989). He was on the distinction roll at the school throughout his studentship. Due to his desire to acquire a University degree and by God's leading (which he did not know then); he gained admission to study Pharmacy at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Jos in 1989, after two previous failed attempts with the JAMB Matriculation Examination. Enabled by the grace of God once again, he graduated in 1995 (due to ASUU strike) with an overall distinction, which due to the declassification of the Bachelor of Pharmacy degree translates to a First Class degree. He was the best overall graduating student and best student in Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Technology, Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Pharmacology, Pharmacognosy and Clinical Pharmacy. He won eight out of the nine convocation prizes available then in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Jos. The grace of God was demonstrated as he studied Pharmacy as a part-time student because he was saddled with the responsibilities of managing the family grinding machine business (the only one in the University quarters) and a then flourishing, one and only, mini supermarket in the Bauchi Road Staff quarters in the University of Jos.

By God's special favour and grace, he was specially invited to the prestigious National Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Idu-Abuja as the pioneer Intern Pharmacist (1995-1996) after a brief stint as an Intern Pharmacist at the Pharmacy Department, Jos University Teaching Hospital (September, 1995). Due to God's evident grace, he was granted the status of a Junior Research Fellow at NIPRD for three months prior to National Youth Service. He had his mandatory National Youth Service at the General Hospital, Dutse, Jigawa State (1996-1997).

After a brief General Pharmacy Practice at MICONY Pharmacy, Jos, he gained admission to study for MSc in Pharmaceutical Chemistry at the University of Ibadan and he completed the degree with an overall distinction in 1999. He completed his PhD in Pharmaceutical Analysis and Synthetic Chemistry from the same Department, after seven semesters of part-time registration (minimum semester is 8 for part-time registration), in 2005. These are also, once again, evidences of God's grace upon his life.

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Late Professor Jire Adegoke was a recipient of many scholarships, prizes, fellowships, grants and opportunities divinely arranged by God. He was a University of Jos Scholar from 1991-1995. He also miraculously received Chemical and Allied Products (CAPL) Plc undergraduate scholarship (1991-1994, 3 years) and Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited undergraduate scholarship (1991-1995, 4 years) awards. During his Master's programme, he was "mistakenly" awarded the University of Ibadan's Graduate Assistant-ship (August 1998 - December 1999) which was divinely sufficient for him to complete the MSc programme. 

During his PhD programme, he was awarded the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation grant that enabled him to visit the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK. He won four prizes (two each in 2007 and 2009) for publications of articles from PhD, a scheme initiated by the Postgraduate School, University of Ibadan. He has been a recipient of many postdoctoral fellowships and grants including; TETFUND Overseas Conference grant to attend Drug Discovery and Therapy World Congress in USA (2014), West African Research Association Travel Grant (2013), CV Raman International Fellowship for Senior African Researchers (2013), University of Ibadan Senate Research grant (2012), COIMBRA Short Stay Fellowship for Young African Researchers (2011), INSA JRD TATA Fellowship (2010), CAS-TWAS Postdoctoral Fellowship in China (2008) and University of Ibadan Senate Research grants (2007 & 2010).

He was appointed Lecturer II in Pharmaceutical Chemistry in February, 2000; promoted Lecturer I in October, 2003; Senior Lecturer in October, 2006 and Professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry with effect from October 1, 2012.

He has served as Sub-Dean (Postgraduate), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan (1st May, 2006 - 30th June, 2009); Member, University of Ibadan Zoological Garden Management Committee (2003 - 2007); Member, University of Ibadan Zoological Garden Finance Committee (2005 - 2007); Member, Public-Private Partnership Committee, Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, University of Ibadan, Ibadan (2008 - date); External Examiner, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (2009/2010, 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 academic sessions for B. Pharm. students as well as 2011/2012 and 2013/2014 for MSc. Students); Acting Head, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan (1st March 2010 to 31st March 2012); External Examiner, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos, Nigeria (2011/2012, 2012/2013, 2013/2014 academic sessions - B. Pharm.); Adjunct Senior Lecturer, Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Sagamu Campus, Ogun State, Nigeria (2009/2010, 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 academic sessions); Visiting Senior Lecturer, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (April 2013 to March 2014), Adjunct Senior Lecturer, Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ilorin, Nigeria (2014/2015); Member, West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists (2013); Member, Administrative Committee for the Multidisciplinary Research Central Laboratory (MCRL), University of Ibadan (July 2014 to date); Deputy Coordinator, Multidisciplinary Research Central Laboratory (MCRL), University of Ibadan (July 2014 to June 2015)

He was a Lifetime Member, West African Research Association; Member, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria and Member, Nigerian Association of Pharmacists in Academia. He was an Expert reviewer for over 25 journals focused on Spectroscopy, Organic Chemistry, Food Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Nanoparticles Research, Pharmaceutical analysis and Natural Products Chemistry.

He has several relevant professional and academic working experiences outside and within the country and these include; Visiting Senior C.V Raman Fellow, Laboratory of Genetic Toxicology, Centre of Advanced Study, Department of Botany, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, India; Visiting Postdoctoral WARA Fellow, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana; Visiting Fellow, Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Katholieke, Universiteit, Leuven, Belgium; Visiting Scholar, Laboratory of Genetic Toxicology, Centre of Advanced Study, Department of Botany, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, India; Post-Doctoral Fellow, Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Shanghai, China; Visiting Scientist, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, U.K and routine Laboratory diagnosis at Jos University Teaching Hospital in Parasitology, Microbiology, Blood banking, Hematology and Chemical Pathology.

Late Professor Jire Adegoke has over 82 publications to his credit comprising of 1 co-edited book, 1 Chapter in a book, 66 peer-reviewed journal articles, 11 conference papers and 3 journal articles in a press. Majority of the publications came as divine revelations in design, write-up and selection of publication outlets.

Professor Jire Adegoke gave his life to Christ on 24th August, 1987 in Jos, Plateau State and has received God's grace to serve in the Lord's vineyard. In the Baptist Student Fellowship of United Baptist Church, Jos, he was Prayer Secretary (1992) and President (1993-1994). He was also Programme Coordinator/Bible Study Leader of the Youth Fellowship in United Baptist Church, Jos (1995). He was President, Jos Central BSF (1993); President, Central Baptist Conference BSF (1994); Secretary, Northern Zone BSF (1994) and Secretary, BSF National Council (1995). He was the President, National Christian Corpers Fellowship, Jigawa State (1996/97 service year) and through the grace of God, his set acquired and developed a plot of land for the fellowship's "family house" to the lintel level before handing over in March 1998, the NCCF Jigawa has since been occupying the building from October, 1998. He was a Sunday School and Discipleship Teacher at UI Baptist Church (1999 - 2000). He joined the membership of El-Shaddai Baptist Church (formerly Agbowo Baptist Church, Ibadan) in June 2001 and has been an Usher since 2002. He was Youth Fellowship President (2003 - 2004), House Fellowship Coordinator (2006 - 2008) and was ordained a Deacon on May 19, 2007. He was a Sunday School and Enquirer's class teacher in El-Shaddai Baptist Church.

Late Professor Jire Adegoke was survived by his wife, Mrs. Adenike Esther, and three Children: IfeOluwa, IyanOluwa and IbukunOluwa.