Victor Adenuga Oyenuga, CFR (April 9, 1917 – April 10, 2010) was a

Nigerian Nigerians or the Nigerian people are citizens of Nigeria or people with ancestry from Nigeria. The name Nigeria was taken from the Niger River running through the country. This name was allegedly coined in the late 19th century by British jour ...

Professor Emeritus ''Emeritus'' (; female: ''emerita'') is an adjective used to designate a retired chair, professor, pastor, bishop, pope, director, president, prime minister, rabbi, emperor, or other person who has been "permitted to retain as an honorary title ...

Agricultural science Agricultural science (or agriscience for short) is a broad multidisciplinary field of biology that encompasses the parts of exact, natural, economic and social sciences that are used in the practice and understanding of agriculture. Profession ...

and pioneer President of the

Nigerian Academy of Science The Nigerian Academy of Science is the official science academy of Nigeria. The academy of science was established on 18 January 1977, as an association of Nigeria's foremost scientists, but incorporated in 1986. It is the apex scientific organ ...

. He was the first Emeritus Professor of the

University of Ibadan The University of Ibadan (UI) is a public research university in Ibadan, Nigeria. The university was founded in 1948 as University College Ibadan, one of many colleges within the University of London. It became an independent university in 196 ...

Early life

Professor Oyenuga was born on April 9, 1917, at Isonyi, a town in the city of

Ijebu Ode Ijebu-Ode is a town in Ogun State, South Western geopolitical zone in Nigeria, close to the A121 highway. The city is located 110 km by road north-east of Lagos; it is within of the Atlantic Ocean in the eastern part of Ogun State and p ...

Ogun State Ogun State is a state in southwestern Nigeria. Created on 3 February 1976 from the former Western State. Ogun State borders Lagos State to the south, Oyo State and Osun State to the north, Ondo State to the east, and the Republic of Benin to the ...

, southwestern

Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...

by late Thomas Oyenuga, a peasant farmer. He attended Emmanuel Primary School in

Ado Ekiti Ado Ekiti is the capital city of Ekiti State, Nigeria. It is the headquarter of the Ekiti central senatorial district, southwest, Nigeria. History Ado Ewi is an ancient city, founded by Ewi Awamaro the son of Biritikolu. Awamaro (the restles ...

, Emmanuel Primary School before he was admitted into Wasinmi African Church Secondary School, Ijebu Ode. He proceeded to

Durham University , mottoeng = Her foundations are upon the holy hills (Psalm 87:1) , established = (university status) , type = Public , academic_staff = 1,830 (2020) , administrative_staff = 2,640 (2018/19) , chancellor = Sir Thomas Allen , vice_chan ...

Newcastle upon Tyne Newcastle upon Tyne ( RP: , ), or simply Newcastle, is a city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England. The city is located on the River Tyne's northern bank and forms the largest part of the Tyneside built-up area. Newcastle is ...

where he received a bachelor's degree in

Agricultural chemistry Agricultural chemistry is the study of chemistry, especially organic chemistry and biochemistry, as they relate to agriculture—agricultural production, the processing of raw products into foods and beverages, and environmental monitoring and re ...

in 1948 and doctorate degree in Agricultural biochemistry and

Nutrition Nutrition is the biochemical and physiological process by which an organism uses food to support its life. It provides organisms with nutrients, which can be metabolized to create energy and chemical structures. Failure to obtain sufficient n ...

from the same university in 1951. In 1977, he bagged an

Honorary degree An honorary degree is an academic degree for which a university (or other degree-awarding institution) has waived all of the usual requirements. It is also known by the Latin phrases ''honoris causa'' ("for the sake of the honour") or ''ad hono ...

Doctor of Science Doctor of Science ( la, links=no, Scientiae Doctor), usually abbreviated Sc.D., D.Sc., S.D., or D.S., is an academic research degree awarded in a number of countries throughout the world. In some countries, "Doctor of Science" is the degree used f ...

from

Obafemi Awolowo University Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) is a federal government-owned university that is located in the ancient city of Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. The university was founded in 1961 and classes commenced in October 1962 as the University of Ife ...

, the same year he was elected President of the

and in 1978, he was honored with a

degree by Durham University for his outstanding publications in reputable journals. In 1996 he was honored with Doctor of Science by Ogun State University in recognition of his immense contributions to Agricultural science.

Career

He began his career in 1935 as a classroom teacher at Teacher Anglican Church Mission, Ijebu. He later joined the University of Ibadan as an academic staff in the department of Animal Nutrition where he rose to the position of a Senior Lecturer in 1958, the same year he was appointed head of department agricultural chemistry, a position he held for three years. In 1961, he became a Professor of Obafemi Awolowo University where he served as head of department of Agriculture. In 1972, he was appointed Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, a. Position he held 1976 and in 1979, he became the first Emeritus Professor of the

. In 1992, he was appointed a Pro-Chancellor and Chairman Governing Council,

University of Port Harcourt The University of Port Harcourt is located in Choba in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, Nigeria. It was established in 1975 as University College, Port Harcourt and was given university status in 1977. The University of Port Harcourt was rank ...

Personal life

Marriage and family

On April 11, 1950, Victor Adenuga Oyenuga married Sabinah Babafunmike Oyenuga (Nee Onabajo). They had five (5) children, three sons and two daughters.

Fellowships

*Fellow,

Royal Society of Chemistry The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) is a learned society (professional association) in the United Kingdom with the goal of "advancing the chemistry, chemical sciences". It was formed in 1980 from the amalgamation of the Chemical Society, the Ro ...

*Fellow,

Royal Institute of Chemistry The Royal Institute of Chemistry was a British scientific organisation. Founded in 1877 as the Institute of Chemistry of Great Britain and Ireland (ICGBI), its role was to focus on qualifications and the professional status of chemists, and its aim ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Oyenuga, Victor Adenuga 1917 births 2010 deaths Fellows of the Nigerian Academy of Science Nigerian agriculturalists People from Ijebu Ode Nigerian schoolteachers Academic staff of the University of Ibadan Academic staff of Obafemi Awolowo University University of Port Harcourt people Alumni of King's College, Newcastle Fellows of the African Academy of Sciences