A renowned geologist, Professor Solomon Obaje, will deliver the 60th inaugural lecture of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA), on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. The lecture, which marks a significant milestone in the university’s academic calendar, is expected to draw scholars, students, and dignitaries from across the country.
Titled “Not Medicine, But Mission: From Disappointment to Discovery in Geoscience for National Development”, the lecture will take place at the University’s Multipurpose Hall. It is scheduled to begin at precisely 2 pm, and guests are expected to be seated by 1:30 pm. The Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration) and Chairman of the Ceremonies Committee, Prof. Adebisi Daramola, confirmed in a statement that the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, will preside over the event.
Prof. Obaje began his academic journey in 1988, when he earned a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree in Geology from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He obtained his Master of Science degree in Geology, specialising in Mineral Exploration and Geochemistry, from the same institution in 2002. In 2012, he completed his Doctor of Philosophy in Geology with a focus on Biostratigraphy at the Federal University of Technology, Minna. He joined Adekunle Ajasin University in 1990 as a Graduate Assistant in the Department of Earth Sciences and has since risen through the academic ranks, becoming a Professor in 2022.
Throughout his career at the university, Prof. Obaje has served in various capacities, including two terms as Acting Head of Department, Departmental Examination Officer, Pioneer Departmental Postgraduate Coordinator, and Coordinator of the Departmental Geology Programme. A seasoned researcher, he has contributed a chapter to a book and authored 46 published articles. He has also attended and presented papers at 43 conferences, both locally and internationally, in countries such as Ghana, Egypt, Luxembourg, and Turkey. Beyond his home institution, he has worked as a Senior Lecturer at Delta State University, Abraka, and at Salem University, Lokoja, and as a Lecturer in Geology and Mining at Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna.
A testament to his scholarly achievements, Prof. Obaje has received numerous awards, grants, and sponsorships. These include the AAUA Research Grant (2024), the Tertiary Education Trust Fund sponsorship for Computer ICDL training and certification at AAUA (2020), the FME/World Bank STEP-B PhD Geology Research Grant (2010), and the Surveyor General of the Federation’s Grant for PhD Thesis Writing (2009). In addition, he has received sponsorships to attend conferences such as the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists’ Annual International Conference (2018) and the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society’s 53rd Annual International Conference (2017). His awards also include the CGG-Veritas-NAPE Grant in Aid Award for PhD Geology Research (2009), the Nigerian Association of Geology and Mining Students (NAGAMS) Meritorious Award (1987), and the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics Service Award (1995).
Prof. Obaje is affiliated with numerous professional bodies in Nigeria and abroad. He is a member of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (MNAPE), an affiliate of the Nigerian Computer Society (AMNCS), and an Associate Member of the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (AMCPN). He is also a Fellow of the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (FNMGS), the Institute of Policy Management and Leadership Development (FIPMLD), and the International Society for Development and Sustainability (FISDS, Japan).
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