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Oluyomi Kuku: Tribute to a mathematical genius
At the inception of University College Ibadan which in 1962 metamorphosed to the formidable University of Ibadan, the founding principal, Dr. Kenneth Mellanby made sure that high level research activity was one of the pivotal goals of the new university. In order to achieve this objective, he made sure that pursuance of knowledge through cutting edge research was enshrined in the ordinance with which the university was established. The emphasis on research made Dr. Mellanby to supervise the first PhD thesis in the whole of British colonial university in 1952. The title of the thesis was 'Ecology of Cyclops in South- West Nigeria and their Relation to the occurrence of Dracunculus medinensis (the guinea worm) in that Region'.
The thesis was written by Professor Sanya Onabamiro who later became the professor of parasitology in the university.
One of the giants at Ibadan who actualized the dream of Dr. Mellanby in making Ibadan a citadel of sterling academic research was the late Professor Aderemi Oluyomi Kuku, the renowned professor of mathematics who died on February 13.
The late Professor Kuku was an academic colossus in mathematics. He obtained his PhD degree in 1971 at the University of Ibadan and his area of specialization was in algebraic K-theory, commutative and non-commutative algebra and non-commutative algebra and group theory. In his research activities, the late Professor Kuku was involved in algebra/number theory/geometry/representative theory-a contemporary and multidisciplinary subject that also has applications in mathematical physics, dynamic system and control theory.
From this awesome research interest, Professor Kuku taught many generations of students and produced many PhD students. Among students produced by Professor Kuku, are the present Head of Department of Mathematics at the University of Ibadan, Dr. Micheal Enioluwafe and Professor Ajetumobi of Lagos State University. For his prodigious contributions in his discipline, Professor Kuku was promoted to full professor in 1982, and he held many posts in the university such as the Head, Department of Mathematics and Dean of the prestigious Postgraduate School now Postgraduate College from 1986- 1990.
The University of Ibadan was fortunate to have the late Professor Kuku as the Dean of the Postgraduate School. From the beginning of his tenure to the end, he brought his characteristic energy and academic prowess into the administration of the school. He laid the foundation of the process for the computerization of the postgraduate school results and prompt issuance of transcripts. His greatest contribution in the school was the introduction of interdisciplinary discourse in 1990. The discourse has been going on since then. The first in the series of the multidisciplinary discourse was delivered on February 27, 1990 by the late Professor G C M Bakare of the Department of Guidance and Counselling with the title 'Leadership in Nigeria, some lessons from psychological research'. Professor Kuku himself gave the 75th edition on August 27, 2018. The title of his lecture was "Higher Education in Mathematics, Science and Technology"
This mustard seed sown by the erudite Professor Kuku at the postgraduate school has grown into a solid and formidable Iroko tree whose shade provides a regular meeting place for brilliant intellectual exchanges. At present, 79 lectures had been given under this multidisciplinary discourse, and it has showcased top academics in different disciplines within and outside the university. As the Dean of Postgraduate School at Ibadan, he was instrumental to the formation of the Committee of Deans of Postgraduate Schools in Nigerian universities and he was the first president of the committee.
The late Professor Kuku through his discipline of mathematics conquered the intellectual world and brought glory to Nigeria. He was for many years the resident mathematician at Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy where he helped many young Nigerians. He also held many professorial positions at highly reputable universities and research institutes in Europe, Canada, USA, China, Hong Kong and Nigeria. The late professor had 85 research articles in highly regarded journals, 10 books/monograph and 23 articles on topical issues.
The late Professor Kuku deservedly was honoured both at home and abroad for his immense contributions in his discipline. He was a Fellow of Nigerian Academy of Science (FAS) and the federal government awarded him in 2009, Nigeria National Order of Merit (NNOM), which is the highest academic honour in Nigeria. Before that time, he was given the national honour of Order of the Niger (OON) in 2008. At his hometown, he was given the chieftaincy title of Otunba Ofiran of Ijebuland. Outside the shores of the country, he was the president of the African Mathematical Union (AMU) (1986-1995) and president of the African Academy of Sciences, 2014 to 2017.
I commiserate with the family of this academic giant and intellectual colossus, for this irreparable loss. It is not their loss alone; the whole academic community has lost an academic gem. The family like those of in academic world should take consolation from the fact, that the late professor brought glory to Nigeria and black race through his discipline in mathematics. Like Caesar, we can truly say that he came and saw and conquered.
May 13, 2022 © The Nation