By Uzor Odigbo
Three days after the demise of its eighth Vice-Chancellor Professor Ibidapo Obei, the University of Lagos (UNILAG) has lost another of its distinguished academics, Prof. Duro Ajeyalemi
The Professor of Education was the pioneer Registrar/Chief Executive of the Joint University Preliminary Examinations Board (JUPEB) a body that conducts standard exams for students taking approved foundation/diploma programmes in universities for direct entry. He also served as the Dean of Education at UNILAG.
Born November 7, 1950, Ajeyalemi had his primary education at the St Peter’s School, Ibokun (1956-61); secondary at LA Secondary Modern School, Ibokun (1962) and Kiriji Memorial College, Igbajo (1963-67) before proceeding for his tertiary education at the Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo (1970-72) and UNILAG (1973-76). He had his postgraduate education at the University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK (1978-81).
Ajeyalemi began his career at the Nigerian Ports Authority in 1968 and was there till 1970. He moved on to Lever Brothers as a Management Trainee in 1977 before joining UNILAG as a Graduate Assistant in 1977-81. He rose through the ranks becoming Lecturer II, Department of Curriculum Studies (1981-83); Lecturer I (1983-84); Senior Lecturer (1984); AG Head, Department of Curriculum Studies (1992-94); and became Sub-Dean, Faculty of Education (1991-92).
In 1989, he became an Associate Professor until 1992 when he was appointed Professor of Curriculum Studies. He served as Dean of Students Affairs in 1995; and Dean, Faculty of Education in 2006
Ajeyalemi and Ibidapo-Obe were among the workers presented with long service awards in 2019.
Ajayelemi was a member, Royal Society of Chemistry (1984); and member, National Association for Research in Science Teaching, USA (1990).
