Exploring the Success Secret of one of Africa’s Finest in Mathematics – Professor Aderemi Kuku

Professor Aderemi Oluyomi Kuku is a world-renowned Professor of Mathematics and the current President of the African Academy of Sciences. He is a Distinguished Professor of Mathematics at the National Mathematical Centre, Abuja, and was, at one time, the William W. S. Clayton Endowed Professor of Mathematics at Grambling State University, Louisiana, USA.

Professor Kuku began his teaching career at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University, 1965) before transferring to the University of Ibadan, where he became a full Professor of Mathematics in 1982. And after 28 years of illustrious career at Ibadan, he was a Professor of Mathematics at the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), Trieste, Italy (1995-2003). His research and administrative experiences include: Sub-Dean Postgraduate, Faculty of Science and Chairman, Committee of Sub-Deans Postgraduate, University of Ibadan (1978-80); Head, Department of Mathematics, University of Ibadan (1983-1986); Dean, Post-graduate School, University of Ibadan (1987-1990); Foundation Chairman, Committee of Deans of Post-graduate Schools in Nigerian Universities (1987-90); President, African Mathematical Union (1986-1995); Member, Institute of Advanced Study (IAS) Princeton, New Jersey, USA (2003-4); Visiting Research Professor, Mathematical Science Research Institute (MSRI) Berkeley, California, USA (1992 & 2004); Visiting Professor, Cornell University Ithaca, New York, USA (1993); Distinguished Visiting Professor, Miami University Oxford, OHIO,  USA (2005-6); Visiting Professor, Howard University, Washington DC, USA (1994); Visiting Professor, Max Planck Institute for Mathematics, Bonn, Germany (1994 & 2007); Visiting Professor, Ohio State University Columbus, OHIO, USA (2005); Visiting Professor, IHES, Paris, France (2006), and a host of others.

Learning from the Masters

(An editorial in the September-December 2016 edition of the magazine: The Budding Scientist – Grooming Successors in Science, Mathematics and Engineering)

The time of tutelage is a critical time in the life of any student. It is the time the student is expected to learn and imbibe some of the cardinal principles needed for effective participation in his/her chosen career. But how well a student learns is dependent on the tutor. Also, how distinguished the student becomes in future is dependent on who taught him.

It is written in the Holy Bible that a servant cannot be greater than the master (at least, not when he is still a servant). In other words, the quality of the master determines, to a large extent, what the servant would become. Like must beget like! And a lion must give birth to a lion. Even with the mind-blowing advances in biotechnology and genetic engineering, this fundamental law of nature is yet to be faulted. Or have you seen a lizard giving birth to an alligator?

Leading the 21st Century Intellectual Revolution

(An editorial in the January-April 2016 edition of the magazine: The Budding Scientist – Grooming Successors in Science, Mathematics and Engineering)

A glance at the present era will convince us that science makes history, and that the growth of knowledge is a compelling force in historical events. The historical changes in the life of man are expressions and consequences of intellectual development – a new manner of thinking, a new way of seeing the world – inevitably bring about the changes in man's activity (even in his everyday life).

The western intellectual tradition, no doubt, has seen a lot of these changes. Was it not believed that the basic essences of the universe (matter) are earth, water, air,

and fire? These Aristotelian elements were accepted as the building block of matter for over 2000 years. Meanwhile, within these periods, Democritus, a solitary thinker, regarded as a madman by his neighbours and fellow citizens, had developed the idea of the atom as the building block of matter. But this saw no light of the day until the English chemist and meteorologist, John Dalton, came with his atomic postulates in 1803.

The Budding Scientist, vol. 2, no. 2

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Giving Honour to Whom it is Due: Science Nigeria Lectures 2015

It was a matter of who is who in the Nigerian scientific firmament and the intellectual community in general as members of the public, scientists, educationists, students and students-alike gather for the maiden edition of the Science Nigeria Lectures which held Wednesday June 17, 2015 at the ETF Hall, University of Abuja. This event, which turned a huge success, had Professor Amagh Nduka, world renowned Professor of Theoretical Physics and Applied Mathematics, and Former Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, as the guest lecturer.

Dignitaries that graced the occasion include: the chairman of the occasion, Professor Peter Okebukola, who was represented by Professor Wilson Herbert of Bingham University, Nasarawa State; the host and of course, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Professor Michael U. Adikwu, represented by his Deputy Vice Chancellor Academics,

Proceedings of the Science Nigeria Lectures 2015

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Science Nigeria Lectures: Promoting the Works and Contributions of Nigerian Scientists

There is no gainsaying the fact that there is insufficient conversation between Nigerian scientists and the public, and, as a result, some people have asked, “Is science being studied in Nigeria?” “Are there scientists in Nigeria?” A thousand and one of these

The Budding Scientist, vol. 2, no. 1

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A Brief Pictorial Report

On the

Abuja Science, Technology and Innovation Promotion Confab for Young and Aspiring Scientists 2015

Held

Tuesday November 17, 2015

At the

Abuja Chamber of Commerce Hall, Along Airport Road, Abuja

Summary

With over 350 participants (from 22 Government 

L –R: Dr. (Mrs) Jane Bassey (representing Dr. H.D. Ibrahim, DG, RMRDC); 

Alh. Isa Mekawa (representing Engr Dr. Mohammed Jubrin, DG, NBTI);

Mr. Godwin Omeje (representing Prof. Lawrence Dim, DG, NNRA);

Chigozie Ubani (coordinator of the event), and Walter Uko (representing the

 Director, FCT Secondary Education Board) whiling singing the national anthem. 

Senior Secondary Schools, two Private Secondary School and one Federal Unity College in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja), the Abuja Science, Technology and Innovation Promotion Confab for Young and Aspiring Scientists 2015 held successfully Tuesday November 17, 2015 at the Abuja Chamber of Commerce, along Airport Road, Abuja. This event, which began by 9.30am in the morning, had in attendance captains from the various science and technology research centres in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The dignitaries include: Professor (Mrs.) Lucy Ogbadu, the Director-General/CEO of the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA);

Science Nigeria Lectures 2015: Wednesday 17th June 2015 at the University of Abuja Main Auditorium

We hereby invite all members of the public to the Science Nigeria Lectures 2015 which holds Wednesday 17th June, 2015 at the University of Abuja Main Auditorium by 10am prompt.

The Science Nigeria Lectures is an effort towards creating an interface between Nigerian scientists and the public. The lecture will not only inculcate the much-needed scientific culture in the lives of Nigerians, but will at the same time, generate and sustain interest in the sciences in public domain. Through this lecture, many Nigerians will be enlightened the more on the works and contributions of Nigerian scientists.

Professor Amagh Nduka: Our Great Masquerade for the Science Nigeria Lectures 2015

Our great masquerade for the Science Nigeria Lectures 2015 is no other than Professor Amagh Nduka, Africa’s finest in Theoretical Physics and Applied Mathematics.

Born in Amankalu, Igbere, in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State, he attended Igbere Primary School and Hope Waddle Training Institution (Calabar) for his primary and secondary school education respectively. And through an American scholarship, he proceeded to the Western world, where he obtained Bachelor of Science degree (University of California, Berkerly, 1965); Masters of Science (Stanford University, 1967), and Doctorate degree in physics, under the supervision of Physics Nobel Laureate – Professor Subramanyan Chandrasekhar (University of Chicago, 1971).

THE BUDDING SCIENTIST – Grooming Successors in Science, Mathematics and Engineering, vol. 1, No. 1, Jan.- April 2015

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Grooming Successors in Science, Mathematics and Engineering

(An editorial in the maiden edition of the magazine: The Budding Scientist – Grooming Successors in Science, Mathematics and Engineering.)

As the cycle of life unfolds – with plants dropping off their leaves during winter, insects shedding off their outer cuticular layer to give way for new ones, and other animals, giving birth to their young – so is the immutable process that buffers distortion in the ecosystem. Also, anyone familiar with what happens when a piece of land is cleared will invariably appreciate this natural process. When a piece of forest is cleared and left alone, plants slowly reclaim such area (confirming that nature abhors vacuum). Over time, signs of the clearing disappear and the land becomes forest again. These analogies aptly summarize the word succession, which is, the replacement of one organism by another. 

Why Abuja Science, Technology and Innovation Promotion Confab for Young and Aspiring Scientists 2014?

It is no longer news that many of our students in secondary and tertiary schools have defective backgrounds in science. Many of these students have also lost interest in pursuing careers in science and technology. Worse still, most young and aspiring scientists

Young People’s Participation in the 21st Century Science

(Published in the Proceedings of the 1st Abuja Science, Technology and Innovation Promotion Confab for Young and Aspiring Scientists which held Wednesday November 6 2013 at the Abuja Chamber of Commerce hall, along Airport Road, Abuja.)

Every century comes with its successes and challenges. So has it been for the 21st century. From one area of science to another, outstanding breakthroughs mark this era. These breakthroughs have in no small measure made science the news that stays news and biotechnology, as one of its witnesses. The seemingly impossible man’s complete genetic information has been successfully decoded. Cloning is also another visible one. A totipotent cell from one animal can be used in getting another identical animal with the