WHEN Alhaja Bintu Tejumola Abebi went into labour on April 14, 1935, never did she know she was going to bequeath a great son to Ibadanland in particular and Nigeria in general. However, the wife of Horatio Vincent Sowemimo Olunloyo, a church organist, gave birth to the son who was named Victor Omololu. His birth, however, exemplified the nature of religious tolerance that has always been existed in Yorubaland, his mother being a practicing Muslim had also invited Islamic clerics led by Sadiq Folorunso of Popoyemoja, Ibadan, who later became the Chief Imam of Ibadanland to perform the Islamic version of the eighth day naming where the new baby was named “Abdulhakeem”, which according to the Holy Quran means “A man of knowledge”. Dr Victor Omololu Olunloyo was indeed a man of knowledge and a man of many firsts. Right from his elementary education to the peak of his political career, the “Omo wa ni, e je o se” beneficiary was able to record remarkable achievements, that made him to be regarded as one of the greatest men to have come out of Ibadanland.
Despite the fact that his father died in 1948 when he was just 13 years old, and was in his first year at Government College, Ibadan, Victor Omololu did not allow the development to deter him as he went on to become great in his education, his chosen career, in politics and in the entire society.
Dr Victor Omololu Olunloyo’s exemplary life began early with his education as was always top of his class, this, he exhibited up to post graduate level and later on in life.
Early Education Life
Victor Olunloyo by providence completed his primary education after attending four different primary schools in Lagod, Ibadan and Gbongan. He commenced his educational journey at Holy Trinity Primary School, Ebute-Ero, Lagos in 1939. In the following year he attended Olowogbowo Methodist Primary School, Lagos, before attending St Peters Primary School, Aremo, Ibadan between 1941 and 1946. He completed his primary school education at St Paul’s Anglican Primary School, Gbongan in Osun State, 1947.
He later proceeded to the Governmnet College, Ibadan. After passing Standard 5, he applied for a place at Government College, Ibadan and he was one of over 2000 students who applied for this secondary school and was placed 10th and this qualified him scholarship as the top ten students were awarded a scholarship. So in 1948, he began his studies at Government College, Ibadan, funded with a scholarship. He however, had initial setback in his education because he was the only one in his class who had come after passing Standard 5, the others all having passed Standard 6. Being less well prepared than the other students he struggled in his first year, coming 21st out of 23 students in his class, but he quickly, made up the lost ground and for the rest of his time at Government College he topped his class.
At the Government College, Ibadan, Olunloyo had the privilege of having equally great men of Nigeria as his roommates with the likes of Prof Sulaiman Botsende Lagundoye, who became a radiologist and medical professor, Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, Prof, Oladipo Olujumi Akinkugbe, who became a professor of medicine, and Dr. Lekan Are, who became “Nigeria’s foremost agronomist, civil/public servant, philanthropist as his mates.
Coming top in Ibadan province in the Higher School Certificate (HSC) examinations, he entered the University College Ibadan, in 1953 and studied privately for his A-levels which he was awarded in 1954. He applied for scholarships to fund his university studies in Britain. He later gained admission into St Andrews University, Scotland where he bagged Ph.D in mathematics and Engineering. After submitting his thesis On the Numerical Determination of the Solutions of Eigenvalue Problems of the Sturm-Liouville Type.
He returned to Nigeria and was appointed as a lecturer in the Department of Mathematics of University College, Ibadan.
Political Life
The young Olunloyo first came to limelight when he was appointed a commissioner at the age of 27 in 1962 by the administrator of Western Region, Moses Majekodunmi and he was saddled with the Ministry of Economic Development in the Western Region. After the political unrest that engulfed Nigeria and culminated in the 1966 coup by the military, the Military Governor of Western Region, Gen Adeyinka Adebayo, again appointed Victor Olunloyo as Commissioner for Economic Development. He also served as Commissioner for Community Development and, on two occasions, Commissioner for Education and Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. He later served as Chairman of the Western Nigerian Development Corporation. As the commissioner in charge of chieftaincy affairs, Olunloyo was instrumental to the enthronement of prominent Yoruba traditional rulers, including the late Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, the late Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Jimoh Oladunni
In August 1983, Olunloyo, as a member of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) contested the governorship seat of Oyo State against the then incumbent, Chief Bola Ige of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). The Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO) declared Olunloyo as the winner, having polled 58 percent of the vote against 40 percent for Bola Ige. Olunloyo’s victory was, however, short lived as he was governor for only three months as there was a military coup on December 31, 1983, which brought in Major General Muhammadu Buhari as the Head of State.
Upon the return to democracy in 1999, Dr Olunloyo joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and in 2002 he contested the governorship primaries of the party and lost to the eventual winner, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, who went ahead to win the general election.
Sometimes in 2009, an unfortunate event happened at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology LAUTECH), Ogbomoso when part of the Pharmacy section of the institution collapsed. The then governor of Oyo State, the late Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, set up an investigation panel and made Olunloyo the chairman of the panel. After weeks of thorough investigation, the panel released a report that was believed to be controversial as it indicted the state government and the contractor who handled the project for poor execution, the state government on its part said the report was shoddily prepared and cannot stand. A newspaper report had quoted the former governor as saying that the government and the contractor handling the project failed to follow the right procedure in the execution of the project. This was said to have angered Alao-Akala, who allegedly moved to prevail on his predecessor to reconsider the committee’s position and rewrite the report, but Olunloyo refused.
However, in 2012 the former governor left the PDP and joined the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).
The man and his many firsts
Dr Victor Omololu Sowemimo Olunloyo, was a man that scored many firsts while alive. He was the first Rector, The Polytechnic, Ibadan and first Rector, Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin. On the political scene, he was the first Ibadan man to be elected governor of Oyo State.
Man of many parts
Dr Olunloyo was a man of many parts. He was known to many as a mathematical and engineering guru, but there are other parts of this enigma that have also endeared him to many people. Olunloyo was very good at Classics, he was a good at classical music, he was not only interested in his mathematical studies for he was also the President of the Musical Society. Apart from this, he was a good sportsman and also a very good cricket player. Not only did Olunloyo excel at mathematics at Government College, Ibadan, but he was also an excellent cricketer, an outstanding opening bowler, who played in the school team.
Many that had the opportunity of having encounters with him said he was also good at literature as he was widely read and this culminated in him becoming a frontline columnist for the Nigerian Tribune with his column known as “Monday Think Thank
And the man died
Olunloyo was a man that can be described as a cat with nine lives, because his death has been announced on two different occasions before now. However, he bid the world goodbye on Sunday, April 6, 2025, nine days to his 90th birthday after battling with a disease linked with old age.
Announcing his death, a former editor of Nigerian Tribune, Barrister Dapo Ogunwusi, in a statement on behalf of the family said, “With a heavy heart but gratitude to the Almighty, we announce the passing into glory of Dr Victor Omololu Olunloyo, former governor of Oyo State, mathematician and engineer and renowned technocrat, a few days before his 90th birthday.
“The Balogun of Oyo and Otun Bobasewa of Ife, Dr Olunloyo was first Rector, Ibadan polytechnic and first Rector, Kwara State Polytechnic among other notable appointments.
“His long record of service to the nation and humanity is a source of pride to his family and associates even as we come to grip with this devastating event.
“The Olunloyo family will appreciate the understanding of the press and the public as they commence efforts to give him a befitting burial.
Torrent of tributes
Among early notable Nigerians to mourn the late former governor was President Bola Tinubu, who described Olunloyo as a renowned mathematician. He said: “Dr Olunloyo will be celebrated in academic circles for his brilliance and foundational contributions to applied mathematics and number theory. As an educator, he profoundly influenced future leaders and fortified educational institutions”.
Reflecting on Dr Olunloyo’s tenure as governor of the old Oyo State, President Tinubu remarked: “Although his time in office was brief, his tenure was marked by exceptional vision and leadership. The abrupt end to his administration due to military intervention did not deter him from continuing to serve the nation.”
Also, the Chairman of Southern Governor Forum and Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun described the death of Omololu Olunloyo, former governor of Oyo State, mathematician, engineer, and renowned technocrat as a great loss to Nigeria and intellectuals around the world.
Abiodun, in a statement issued in Abeokuta, described Omololu Olunloyo as a titan who left legacies that every Nigerian should be proud of.
He added that Omololu Olunloyo’s unique achievements as a prodigious scholar with reputable papers and as an octogenarian with a sharp memory and wit, not to mention a lifelong dedication to books and the quest for knowledge in various fields, were well known.
He said: “Alas, like many giants before him, Dr Omololu Olunloyo has gone to rest. Although a scientist, Baba loved reciting poetry, particularly those by William Shakespeare, and, remarkably, did not read with glasses even in his old age.
“He was always on hand to offer wise counsel to the present generation of leaders, regardless of party affiliation.”
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