A BRIEF CITATION
1. His Birth and Educational Background
Professor J. A. Fabayo was born in Emure Ekiti in Ekiti State of Nigeria on August 8, 1948 into the family house of Pa Mathew Fabayo and Madam Esther Fabayo, both of blessed memory.
He attended Ise-Emure Grammar School, Ise-Emure Ekiti (for his O’ level Certificate), Oyemekun Grammar School, Akure (for his Higher School Certificate or A’ Level) and the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University – OAU) where he obtained the B.Sc. Social Sciences degree in Economics 1972. He had his postgraduate education in the prestigious Department of Economics, Krannert Postgraduate School of Management, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47906 in the United States of America where he obtained the M.Sc. (1976) and Ph.D. (1978) degrees in Economics.
Professor Fabayo had a distinguished record and outstanding performance as a student. He had the best overall performance in Economics during his B.Sc. degree program in Economics, a FEAT that earned him an automatic employment as a Graduate Assistant in the same Department. For the uncommon scholastic waves he made during his postgraduate studies as a Rockefeller scholar. Professor John Wiley, the Chair of Economics in Purdue University in the progress report forwarded to University of Ife on August 16, 1976 had this to say about him:
“Mr. Fabayo has completed all course works and all preliminary examinations required for the degree of Ph.D. in Economics. In total, he has taken 163 credit hour economic courses covering the areas of Price Theory, Macroeconomics, Econometrics, Mathematical Economics and Applied Economics. He earned 9A’s and 7B’s, adding up to a cumulative index of 5.6 in a system where the maximum grade attainable is 6.0. He also took two courses in Mathematics. His overall performance index is 5.5. This is an outstanding record among all our Ph.D. students and the best we have had from a foreign student in years. His performance in the Ph.D. preliminary examination is also excellent. The faculty of this Department is extremely pleased with his brilliant performance, hard work, motivation and eagerness to learn. We are grateful to the University of Ife for sending us this fine student.”
2. Professor Fabayo as a teacher/Researcher/Community Servant.
Professor Fabayo’s academic prowess, his commitment to academic productivity and unalloyed dedication to the Nigerian University Industry saw him rise through the ranks to the full stature of Professor of Economics in October 1994. In this industry, this doyen of Economics distinguished himself as a role model in teaching, research and community service.
As a teacher, Professor Fabayo is thorough, painstaking and well-organized. He has a reputation for his effectiveness in communicating ideas to students in manners that challenge them to be more active and excited in their learning and more creative in their applications of what is learnt, contextually focusing on value creation and real skill development. Professor Fabayo is a lecturer per excellence, always demonstrating uncommon commitment to the progress of his students. He mentored an array of postgraduate students and colleagues through project supervision and collaborative efforts in research. His passion and caring disposition to students’ progress explains why he is generally respected and admired by his students many of who occupied/occupy exalted positions in the academia (as VC, DVC, Provosts, Deans, HODs, Directors etc.), in the Government (as Governors, Ministers, Legislatures, Economic Advisers, Commissioners, Heads of Service, Permanent Secretaries, etc) and in the Corporate World (as Industry Captains, CEOs, Registrars, Business Moguls, etc).
Professor Fabayo is an accomplished and versatile scholar who is well-known and respected nationally and internationally for his research skills. He has published more than 60 solid works in highly rated local and foreign journals in Economics. He is the author of many scholarly books including Quantitative Techniques for Economic and Management Decisions (771 pages), a popular text for University Postgraduate Students in Economics and Management Sciences.
While in service, Professor Fabayo had the privilege to hold many academic and non-academic positions in the University System where he had diligently and faithfully served humanity for 46 years. He was:
- Head, Department of Economics in OAU, Ile-Ife, twice;
- Vice Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences;
- Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences;
- Chairman, Ceremonial Committee, OAU, Ile-Ife (for several years);
- Chairman Security Committee, OAU, Ile-Ife (for several years);
- Chairman, OAU Alumni Association (Home Branch) (1992-1994);
- Coordinator of Research, Centre for Industrial Research and Development (CIRD);
- Editor, Ife Journal of Economics and Finance ) for several years)
- Chairman, Examinations Committee, Institute of Public Administration of Nigeria;
- Director of Programs, Institute of Public Administration of Nigeria;
- Regional Coordinator for Africa of Survival Development International, St. Anthonio, Texas, USA (for several years)
- Vice-Chairman, P &C Microfinance, Ikeja, Lagos;
- Member, Governing Council, OAU. Ile-Ife ; representing Senate;
- Member, Governing Council, IPAN (2001-till date)
- Member, OAU Senate for nearly 2½ decades.
- Member, Governing Council, representing Senate, Elizade University (EU), Ilara Mokin
- Member, F & GPC of EU Governing Council
- Member, AP & DC, EU Ilara Mokin
- Member of Senate, EU Ilara Mokin
- Dean, Faculty of Humanities, Social and Management Sciences, EU Ilara Mokin
- Chairman, EU Committee on Distance Education
- Chairman, EU Central Research Committee
- Chairman, EU Strategic Plan Committee
Under his leadership as Head, Department of Economics in OAU, adequate attention was given to students’ welfare in terms of quality teaching and project supervision, counseling and timely processing of examination results. The Department witnessed an impressive expansion in the academic staff strength and their productivity measured by effectiveness of their teaching, students’ project supervision, the quantity and quality of their research publications and earned promotions. He provided the leadership and the foundation needed to raise the profile of the Department to the solid and enviable position it occupies in the Nigerian University System today. His one-family vision for the Department remains the driving force behind the love, unity and vertical-horizontal respect that exists in the place till date.
As HOD in OAU, Professor Fabayo was instrumental in leveraging goodwill with the First Bank of Nigeria PLC using our alumni (e.g. Prof. Segun Ajibola, his M.Sc. & Ph.D supervisee) to attract funds for the building of the First Bank Lecture Theatre or what can be aptly described as the Faculty of Social Sciences Building Extension.
As Dean, Professor Fabayo was able in 2005 to create for the Faculty a befitting and functional Board Room (for such academic engagements as Faculty Board & Review meetings, etc.) and a staff Common Room (to serve as a platform for staff informal intellectual interactions and social relaxations). The Faculty of Social Sciences in OAU witnessed tremendous peace, progress and facelift during his Deanship tenure.
Professor Fabayo is known for his enormous energy for building bridges across divides. His charismatic disposition enables him to relate meaningfully and effectively well with a broad spectrum of people: students, staff, unions and other stakeholders within and outside of OAU.
He is a courageous and forthright person who will speak the truth the way it is and no matter the situation. One particularly memorable and indelible demonstration of his courage was when, in the hands of destiny, he launched out as a rescue pad to save the University Vice-chancellor, the author of “Water Must Flow Uphill”, from the humiliating hands of OAU students on November 4, 2005. As a matter of fact, in a large measure and for over 40 years, God used Professor Fabayo to rescue the destines of many people (staff & students) in OAU and even in the larger society, from doom and destruction. He is a highly disciplined person who did everything within his power to restore law & order where they lacked and thereby brought sanity to not only Obafemi Awolowo University community but his immediate environment at all times.
3. Professor Fabayo as a Consultant
As an academic citizen of stature, Professor Fabayo consulted for many organizations both within and outside the country. Some of these include:
- UNDP; UNICEF; IPAN; ICAN; CBN; Survival Development International; IPAN Techno Consultancy; URBAN RENEWAL CONSULS and SEMAC CONSULS.
4. Professor Fabayo and Professional Association
Professor Fabayo belongs to many Professional platforms and intellectual space. These bodies include:
- Nigerian Economic Society (NES, as a life member); West African Economic Society; Royal Economic Society; American Economic Society; Institute of Public Administration of Nigeria (IPAN) and Institute of Public Affairs Management of Nigeria
5. Professor Fabayo’s Professional Recognitions/Awards.
Professor Fabayo is a recipient of numerous prizes and awards including:
- 1st prize for outstanding performance in Economics and Government during his Higher School Certificate in Oyemekun Grammar School, Akure
- The prestigious Rockefeller Foundation Scholarship Award for his postgraduate studies
- Fellow, IPAN
- Fellow, ICAM
- Meritorious Service Award, Governing Council, OAU
- Meritorious Service Award as Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, OAU
- Outstanding Performance Award as Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, OAU
- Special Guest of Honour Award, Staff Club, OAU
- Excellence Award, Postgraduate Students’ Association OAU
- Alumni Award, Postgraduate Students’ Association, OAU
- Alumni Award, 1970 Set of Graduate, Dept. of Economics, OAU
- Merit Award, Nigerian Economic Students Association (NESA), OAU
- Merit Award, NESA, Joseph Ayo Babalola University
- Longest Service Award CIBN
- ICON of St Joseph Award, Saint Paul’s Anglican Church, Emure Ekiti
6. Professor Fabayo and His Compassionate Heart
Professor Fabayo is a kind-hearted and compassionate person. This has made him a channel of blessing to many people who have come in contact with him in life and has endeared him to many more. He always demonstrates unalloyed and genuine interest in the welfare and progress of people, particularly the oppressed, the less-privileged and the physically challenged. His interest and involvement in the education and campus life of the physically challenged students in OAU are legendary. He identifies with this group on campus in a large measure, motivating then and assisting with their needs. Some of them are in this gathering today.
7. Professor Fabayo Historical Legacies and Travels
Prof. J.A. Fabayo is the first person to occupy the Chair of Industrial Economics as well as the longest serving Professor of Economics in OAU. He is the first indigene of Emure-Ekiti Kingdom to be appointed Professor of Economics in Nigeria. He is the only Nigerian known to have turned down an appointment as a Vice-Chancellor of a University because of his conviction that the appointment process failed the test of due process.
Professor Fabayo has travelled widely (in Africa, Europe, Canada, Asia & the USA) and had impacted stakeholders in several Universities as Teacher, Supervisor, Examiner, Assessor, Researcher, Mentor, Accreditor, Article Reviewer and Conference Facilitator.
8. Professor Fabayo: Home and Church Fronts
To the glory of God, Professor Fabayo is happily married to the delight of his life, Dr (Mrs.) Bamidele Adenrele Fabayo (nee OGUNLEYE) and their marriage is blessed with beautiful Children and grandchildren. Professor Fabayo fellowships in the Deeper Life Bible Church.
Prof. J. A. Fabayo is a truly humane man from a very humble background, an epitome of hard work, honesty and honour, a doyen of Economics, a charismatic leader, a Professor of Professors, a man of distinctions, a completely de-tribalised Nigerian, an enigmatic, selfless and erudite scholar, a pragmatic Economist, a defender of the oppressed and supporter of the less privileged in the society, a pillar of joy and rescuer of people’s destiny. He meritoriously and productively served the Nigerian University Industry for over 46 years without blemish. To the glory of God, Professor Fabayo made very great impact not only on the University community, but also to humanity.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is my highest honour and with gratitude to God Almighty that I now respectively and joyfully present Professor Joseph Ademola Fabayo for the award of LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN EXCELLENCE by the NIGERIAN ECONOMIC SOCIETY, OSUN STATE CHAPTER.
