BIOGRAPHY OF PROFESSOR MUFTAU FEMI AGBALAJOBI

1st of October, 1940 to 18th of September, 1997 

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Prof. Muftau Femi Agbalajobi was born on 1st of October 1940 in Lagos to Pa Yinusa and Madam Abigail Bada Agbalajobi.

He was brought up in Lagos and Epe where he had his primary and secondary education. He studied Mathematics at the University of Ibadan from where he graduated with honours in 1967. He obtained his Masters Degree in Computer Science from the University of London and Ph.D in Medical Computing in 1978.

Apart from his academic qualifications, Prof. Femi Agbalajobi held a number of professional qualifications. He was a member of the British Computer Society and also a fellow of the Computer Association of Nigeria.

He worked as Systems Engineer, Programmer and Analyst with the Shell -BP Petroleum Development Company and later as a lecturer in Computer Science at the University of Lagos. He retired voluntarily from UNILAG in May 1989.

Throughout his academic career, he travelled widely, visiting several countries in Europe, North America and Africa to deliver papers and meet with his peers. He also served as a member of the world Health Organization's International Consultative Group on Health Informatics for Developing Countries.

Prof. Agbalajobi had a tremendous interest in the welfare of the people and sought the political landscape to channel his ideas. During the Second Republic, he was a member of the Unity Party of Nigeria.

He served his tutelage as a politician under Alhaji Lateef Jakande and from October to December 1983, served as the Secretary to the Lagos State Government. He also served on the Boards of the Lagos State Polytechnic and Lagos State College of Education. He was one of the founding fathers of the Lagos State University.

When the ban on politics was lifted in 1989, Prof. Agbalajobi joined the centre left Social Democratic Party, SDP. He was later nominated as one of the aspirants for the Party's gubernatorial candidates.

He won the election as the party's candidate but was controversially denied the opportunity to face a wider electorate. Nevertheless, he displayed a remarkable strength of character and did not harbour any bitterness, grudge or ill feelings towards anyone.

After the Federal Government banned political parties in 1993, Prof. Femi Agbalajobi was one of the people who was turned to for assistance in calming the anxieties of the Nation and the State. To show his magnanimity and his love for Lagos State and for his home town, Epe, in particular, he served as Commissioner for Finance and Commissioner for Education under Colonel Olagunsoye Oyinlola, the Military Administrator of Lagos State.

Professor Agbalajobi was a kind devout Muslim, a gentleman, a loving family man and had a keen sense of humour. He had a strong sense of duty and responsibility.

He was a devout family man and devoted a lot of time to the welfare of both his nuclear and extended families. He was an amiable man and loved children.

Despite all his achievements, he was a humble man. Whenever you met him, we would be in high spirits, full of laughter and had the gift of making everyone he met feel important.

Professor Agbalajobi was a peace maker to the end. His last assignment on earth was to foster unity between the different factions of his home town, Epe, which he loved so much. In his last hours, he still organized a meeting of Epe sons remotely. 

He breathed his last at 9pm on Thursday, 18th September 1997. He is survived by his wives and children.

May Allah grant him eternal rest.

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