An Igbo scholar, Dr. Samuel Okafor, has made one-time Aviation Minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, look so small and uneducated by using facts and figures to demolish the claims he made in the controversial August 8 article, “The Bitter Truth About The Igbo”, which set off a storm that almost threatened Igbo-Yoruba relations.

In the first part of an article entitled “The Lies of Femi Fani-Kayode”, Okafor, who has a First Class in History from the University of Nigeria Nsukka and then did a Ph.D in Nsukka on scholarship, dismissed Fani-Kayode as a “half-baked intellectual.” He then proceeded, point by point, to address what he termed “the most reckless amongst the tangle of reckless comments spewed by Femi, a character who with each punch of his keypad stresses his severely unwell conditions of logorrhoea, delusions of enlightenment, history and sociology – amongst others.”

Below are Okafor’s words:

FEMI AND HIS SEVERELY IGNORANT LIES:

•Femi Lies About the Yorubas Being Nigeria’s Earliest Graduates:

From his myopic bubble Femi FaniKayode claims the Yoruba were the first to acquire Western education; the first ever known record of a literate Nigerian in the English Language is the narrative of an Ibo slave who regained his freedom and documented his life history as a slave from the time he was 11 years old in present day Ibo land till the time when he gained his freedom in the middle of the 18th century. He later married an English woman and had 3 children. He died in 1795.

Femi, a basic Google-research will do you good here; check out the name, Equanoh OLAODAH. Further Femi claims that the Yoruba were the first lawyers and doctors in Nigeria. This is again a big falsehood. The first Nigeria doctor was an Effik man Silas G. Dove who obtained a medical degree from France and returned to practise medicine in 1840 in Calabar. This fact can also be verified from historical medical records in Paris.

I would also ask that you google the name BLYDEN – Edward Wilmot BLYDEN – an educated son of free Ibo slaves who by the mid-19th century had acquired sound theological education. He was born in Saint Thomas in 1832. He is one of the founding missionaries that established the Archbishop Vining church in Ikeja. Before the next time you succumb to your long-running battle with logorrhoea, Femi please do some research.

What about the third president of a free Liberia – President J JRoyle – again, a man of Ibo descent. Please take some time to do some research so that we can discuss constructively. It is wrong to peddle lies to your people. It is academic fraud to knowingly misrepresent facts just to score cheap points with people who do not have the discipline to do research and accept anything you pour out simply because they say you are well educated. To again quote the great Nobel Prize Winner in Economics Joseph Stiglitz; Femi fits into the category of third rate students from first rate universities with an inflated sense of self-importance. Let’s go on!

Who was the first Nigerian Professor of Mathematics – an Ibo man – Professor Chike Obi – the man who solved Fermat’s Last Theorem. He was followed by another Ibo man, Professor James Ezeilo, Professor of Differentail Calculus and the founder of the Ezeilo Constant. Please do some research on this great Ibo man. He later became the Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria Nsukka and one of the founders of the Nigerian Mathematical Centre. Who was Nigeria’s first Professor of Histroy – Professor Kenneth Dike who published the first account of trade in Nigeria in pre-colonial times. He was also the first African Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan. Who was the first Professor of Microbiology – Professor Eni Njoku; he was also the first African Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos. Anatomy and Physiology – Professor Chike Edozien is an Asaba man and current Obi of Asaba. Who was the first Professor of Anatomy at the University College Ibadan? Who was the first Professor of Physics? Professor Okoye, who became a Professor of Physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1960. He was followed by the likes of Professor Alexander Anumalu who has been nominated for the Nobel Prize for Physics three times for his research in Intermediate Quantum Physics. He was also a founding member of the Nigerian Mathematical Centre. Nuclear Physics and Chemistry – again another Ibo man – Professor Frank Ndili who gained a Ph.D in his early ’20s at Cambridge Univesity in Nuclear Physics and Chemistry in the early ’60s. This young Asaba man had made a First Class in Physics and Mathematics at the then University College Ibadan in the early ’50s. First Professor of Statistics – Professor Adichie who’s research on Non-Parametric Statistics led to new areas in statistical research. What about the first Nigerian Professor of Medicine – Professor Kodilinye – he was appointed a Professor of Medicine at the University of London in 1952. He later became the Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria Nsukka after the war. What about Astronomy – again another Ibo man was the first Professor of Astronomy – please, look up Professor Ntukoju – he was the first to earn a double Ph.D in Astronomy and Mathematics.

PROFFESOR ADEGOKE OLUBUNMO WAS NIGERIA'S FIRST PROFESSOR OF MATHEMATICS!!! WHY CAN'T IGBO'S STICK TO FACTS.

EXIT OF ONE OF THE EARLY NIGERIAN ACADEMICS, PROF ADEGOKE OLUBUNMO (1920-1992)

One undoing that should be addressed is the speed and manner Nigerians consciously or unknowingly neglects their home grown geniuses! This does a lot in killing the spirit of excellence and diligence in present-day generation! If we don't document lifetime stories of distinguished men and women who had made their marks and accord them the right place in history, our children and those that are yet to be born may think that it is a case of another fiction. This will also compliment efforts to sanitize the increasingly disturbing corrupted system. Thus, let's celebrate our past heroes perhaps it will help to curb the excesses of few wrong people in position of authority and power who seem to be having temporary victory in their unhonorable ways for now!




Orin-Ekiti could be described as a community that was made popular to some extent by the Farm Settlement project introduced in the 1950s by the old Western Regional Government. Also for producing the first Professor of Mathematics in Nigeria in person of Professor Adegoke Olubunmo unarguably gave it an immeasurable mileage. The humane Professor Adegoke Olubunmo was apparently the most renowned son of his community in his lifetime and yet was very humble. As a matter of fact he was in the league of eminent Ekiti academics that brought prominence to their fatherland and contributed to the respect accorded the Ekitis for their scholarship and brilliance in the history of Nigeria. He loved his root, home town and associated with them as evident in being among the 1st set of Ekiti elites abroad who built befitting country houses in their respective home towns as far back as 1960s.

He was born circa 1920 into a royal family in Orin-Ekiti. He attended Methodist Primary School, Ifaki-Ekiti and concluded his Standard Six at Christ's School, Ado-Ekiti in 1936/37 which included his name among the 1 st set of the foremost school in Ekiti. His quest for higher education did not stop as a Methodist trained and certificated teacher, he proceeded to Freetown and Timbuktu for further studies. How he made the journey to Sierra Leone still remains an unresolved mystery to most of his associates. A product of Fourah Bay College where he met Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin who was instrumental to his coming to Imade College Owo in 1949 where he worked as a Mathematics and English teacher. Among his students at Imade College was a retired Chief Judge of Ondo State, Justice Adeloye.

In 1951 Professor Olubunmo traveled to Britain and within five years he returned to Nigeria as a PhD holder in Mathematics. Before the turn of a decade he became the first Professor of Mathematics in Nigeria. A testimony of his scholarship and successful academic exploits. His students attested to the fact that punctuality was his hallmark, coupled with brilliance embedded with humility and forthrightness. He was indeed an embodiment of decency, who imparted convention of respectable behavior to the people around him and this he did by example and certainly not by precept. To this writer it was a privilege growing-up to know the erudite Professor Olubunmo as a devoted person to his true friends as evident in his condolence message to the family subsequent to the transition of Chief D.O. Adetunmbi, I quote: "Accept my sympathy on the transition of a man I know was very close to you as a father and friend. You can all take consolation in the certain knowledge that your father lived a truly wonderful life in all respects. For my part, I count myself most fortunate to be numbered among his friends, to have shared his experiences, his joys and sorrows and his deep friendship, sincerity and loyalty for over fifty years. May his great soul rest in peace"

Professor Olubunmo was someone with strong passion for traditional ceremonies and cultural events. He was strict yet kind and approachable. Every opportunity he had he was always bringing his nucleus family to Ekiti to enable them interact with his siblings, relations and family friends. He was inclined to planning his visits to Ekiti such that it afforded him the opportunity to see some annual traditional festivals in his community and environs. There were few instances when his family came to join his very close ally the Adetunmbis to see Ikosun and Okorobo festivals at Ifaki as far back as 1960s. He had a very liberal disposition to life which explained his inter tribal marriage to his beloved wife of Calabar origin. Like every other mortal he had his own share of low periods when he lost his devoted wife and mother of his three brilliant children in the late 1970s.

A pleasant family man extraordinary who was blessed with and survived by Yewande a First Class product of University of Ibadan under the age of 20 years, Ronke, Gboyega a software Engineer based in USA and Mrs Olubunmo who took care of him until his transition. He retired from the University of Ibadan to take up appointment with his budding home state institution, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti where he served meritoriously until his transition in October 1992 and his body was laid to rest on November 14 1992.

Where is FFK the liar(shameless)?

NOTE OF WARNING TO THE IGBOS
ANY TIME YOU WANT TO DISTORT FACTS STEER CLEAR OF EKITI STATE.
WE BOAST OF THE FIRST PROFFESSOR OF PHILOSOPHY AND LOGIC IN WEST AFRICA!
FIRST PROFESSOR OF ARCHITECTURE IN WEST AFRICA!
FIRST PHD LOCAL GOVERNMENT CHAIRMAN!
100 PHD'S AND PROFESSORS IN A TOWN!

smartchoice: NOTE OF WARNING TO THE IGBOS
ANY TIME YOU WANT TO DISTORT FACTS STEER CLEAR OF EKITI STATE.
WE BOAST OF THE FIRST PROFFESSOR OF PHILOSOPHY AND LOGIC IN WEST AFRICA!
FIRST PROFESSOR OF ARCHITECTURE IN WEST AFRICA!
FIRST PHD LOCAL GOVERNMENT CHAIRMAN!
100 PHD'S AND PROFESSORS IN A TOWN!

why is that anytime you want prove a point,you guys will go and bring one back yard quote,please before we will take you seriously,you need to get. us,the school he attended,when he was made professor and by what school,until then take off this trash of yours.....burial eulogies are not evidence,we need evidence not burial remembrance speeches,we need records abeg

Like I said when you want to distort facts STAY AWAY FROM EKITI!

You might be wrong on the math issue
Check for full list by this poster
https://www.nairaland.com/225987/naija-mathematics-why-igbos-leading

Not trying to join the tribal bandwagon, buy i'm amazed as far back as when people scaled gr8 hieghts

go to UI for your confirmation.

smartchoice: NOTE OF WARNING TO THE IGBOS
ANY TIME YOU WANT TO DISTORT FACTS STEER CLEAR OF EKITI STATE.
WE BOAST OF THE FIRST PROFFESSOR OF PHILOSOPHY AND LOGIC IN WEST AFRICA!
FIRST PROFESSOR OF ARCHITECTURE IN WEST AFRICA!
FIRST PHD LOCAL GOVERNMENT CHAIRMAN!
100 PHD'S AND PROFESSORS IN A TOWN!

IMO state I has the highest number of Professors per state in Nigeria followed by ONDO, ANAMBRA, then EKITI, KWARA...etc Get your facts right from the Nigeria Universities Commission.

U MUST BE JOKING .....

specco:

IMO state I has the highest number of Professors per state in Nigeria followed by ONDO, ANAMBRA, then EKITI, KWARA...etc Get your facts right from the Nigeria Universities Commission.

Just correct the fact on the first mathematician in nigeria, find below the result from WIKIPEDIA:

Chike Obi
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2010)
Chike Obi
Born April 17, 1921
Anambra State, Nigeria
Died March 13, 2008 (aged 86)
Occupation Mathematician
Citizenship Nigerian
Genres Political fiction
Literary movement realism
Notable award(s) Sigvard Ecklund Prize
Spouse(s) Melinda (w. 2009)
Children 4
Chike Obi (April 17, 1921 – March 13, 2008) was a Nigerian politician, mathematician and professor.

The African Mathematics Union suggests that he was the first sub-Saharan Africans to hold a doctorate in mathematics.
Obi is the author of several books and journals on mathematics and Nigerian politics.[/color]

WIKIPEDIA?

j-high:
Just correct the fact on the first mathematician in nigeria, find below the result from WIKIPEDIA:

Chike Obi
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2010)
Chike Obi
Born April 17, 1921
Anambra State, Nigeria
Died March 13, 2008 (aged 86)
Occupation Mathematician
Citizenship Nigerian
Genres Political fiction
Literary movement realism
Notable award(s) Sigvard Ecklund Prize
Spouse(s) Melinda (w. 2009)
Children 4
Chike Obi (April 17, 1921 – March 13, 2008) was a Nigerian politician, mathematician and professor.

The African Mathematics Union suggests that he was the first sub-Saharan Africans to hold a doctorate in mathematics.
Obi is the author of several books and journals on mathematics and Nigerian politics.[/color]