Prof. Olunloyo dies at 74

RIP PROF.

                                      Prof. Vincent Olusegun Olunloyo

Distinguished Emeritus Prof. Vincent Olusegun Olunloyo is dead.

A statement on Sunday stated that he died on Friday, October 13 in London, United Kingdom, at the age of 74.

He was a Fellow of the Academy of Science, a Fellow of the Academy of Engineering and a member of the Nigerian National Order of Merit.

Following a brilliant, all-round performance at the Igbobi College in Lagos, he attended the Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering (1967) and a doctorate in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (1972) after which he briefly taught at the university.e was also a Fellow of the Third World Academy of Science (2012).

The statement quoted the late professor as saying, “The institution (Cornell University) gave me a sound education for which I am forever grateful. Furthermore, by appointing me an Assistant Professor of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics in 1972, Cornell University pushed me into the limelight as the first black person ever to be appointed into an Ivy League faculty of engineering.”

He joined the engineering faculty of the University of Lagos in 1973 and became an associate professor in 1977.

In 1978, he was appointed professor and Head of Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Ilorin and then the foundation Dean of its Faculty of Engineering.

He returned to the University of Lagos in 1980 and in 1981 became the Dean of its Faculty of Engineering.

He became an Emeritus Professor at the age of 70.

Olunloyo’s expertise was sought on many public sector projects both within and outside Nigeria and he was at various times a consultant to UNEP, UNDP and the African Development Bank.

During the last decade, he was actively involved in the National Space Programme.

He is survived by his wife and six children.