Adenike Osofisan

“But also because as stated in my earlier articles on her, she is an inventor and an academic who had brought honour to the country.”

“This is more than the fact that she was the first female graduate and pioneer woman professor of computer science in Nigeria.”

“But of all of our old man’s offspring Nike is the first among equals in brilliancy and academic achievements.”

“Some academics had been honoured with one of the annual national awards and the NNOM. So, it would not be unusual if apart from the annual award l had recommended, if Professor (Mrs) Osofisan is also considered for the NNOM award.”

“Prof Adenike Osofisan is a pioneer and role model in the field of computer science. She has taught computer science at the University of Ibadan for well over two decades now and she has successfully supervised many PhD candidates in her discipline.”

“In fairness, I didn’t come across anything like sex- for-marks but I did come across discrimination that was gender and racial-biased. Some people believe that if you are a woman or black, you cannot be really good (intelligent).”

“Give and take! Forgive each other because nobody is perfect.”

“We have always lived life to the full. We will continue to do the same.”

“I would have loved to do certain things differently but no regrets. At the beginning I fought all battles that came my way, but with hindsight, I’ve realised that not all battles are worth fighting because you will just dissipate energy on needless battles. Don’t ask me for an example of such battles; they are personal and may cause embarrassment to some people.”

“Doing what I enjoy doing.”

“I have no idea. Officially I am retiring from the University of Ibadan next March. I am on accumulated leave leading to retirement. But I am not on leave in the real sense.”

“Sunday is the only different day; it is the day to rest.”

“I still multitask. I am involved in many activities that have to do with my home and being a wife, mother and grandmother. I work as a professor (teaching and researching), and engage in social engagements and professional and church activities. I do not have a dull moment.”

“It was very difficult but not impossible. I learnt time management and multitasking from home and from my secondary school. These came in handy.”

“I am grateful to God for all. Each has had its own impact in different ways, so it is difficult to identify one as being the most memorable.”

“I am his first critic. He is my editor. I have read and watched all his plays. I even attend his rehearsals.”

“The first two are into social sciences while the last two read computer science. However, they all have creative abilities.”

“We met in my hometown – Akure – when he was commissioned by the Akure Students’ Union to stage a play. The play was about politicians and my father, Chief J. O. Adedipe, was a politician. He was a lawmaker between 1954 and 1959 and I was curious and wanted to see how the likes of my father behaved. The play was a masterpiece. So I congratulated him at the end of the play. I was not aware that we had met earlier at the park when he arrived in Akure. He later told me that I did not answer him when he greeted me earlier.”

“Our stories are very interesting. He was a science pupil who became an arts pupil because of Principal D. J. Bullock. I was an arts pupil and I became a science pupil by providence. We are both familiar with the two terrains.”

“Of course yes. It was not an easy thing in the past for men to accept women in authority. Even women at the time were to not as supportive as they are today. I learnt to separate motherhood from ‘workhood’, if you know what I mean. I was a completely different person in the office from who I was at home.”