Two PhDs at 25, Commissioner at 27: Inside Olunloyo’s extraordinary life

He graduated at 22, earned two doctoral degrees (PhDs) at 25 and 27, and became the Commissioner for Economic Planning under Dr Moses Majekodunmi as administrator, during the emergency rule imposed on the Western Region by Sir Tafawa Balewa. Dr Victor Omololu Olunloyo, a former Oyo State governor, who died on Sunday at the age […]

He graduated at 22, earned two doctoral degrees (PhDs) at 25 and 27, and became the Commissioner for Economic Planning under Dr Moses Majekodunmi as administrator, during the emergency rule imposed on the Western Region by Sir Tafawa Balewa.

Dr Victor Omololu Olunloyo, a former Oyo State governor, who died on Sunday at the age of 89, lived an extraordinary life defined by intellectual brilliance, passion and unwavering commitment to public service. He was also a ‘lucky man’ by longevity and achievements, which he recorded in his early years.

In an interview with Punch Newspaper, the mathematician admitted that at 89, he had lived long enough and surpassed the lifespan of an average living person.

He said he got his longevity gene from his mother, who lived for 102 years.

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“I’ve lived long enough in the first instance. I’ve long passed the lifespan of an average living person. I’ve lived 89 years plus, like the Olubadan candidate. I’ve had a full life and, like Nnamdi Azikiwe said, my life has been a joy to me.

“I think I got my longevity gene from my mother. She lived for 102 years. My father, who built this house, lived only for 42 years. He was the head of the Ibadan Native Administration at Mapo. So, I have 42 years on one side and 102 years on the other. My mother called herself during the last one or two years of her life, ‘Kokumo.’ I have the genes of both sides.

“I went to primary school, and moved to GCI, Ibadan, from Primary 5. I was admitted into the university at 18, graduated at 22, PhD at 25, and commissioner at 27. So, I have a lot to thank God for. I have been in charge of 27 federal parastatals.

“I was head of the Nigerian National Science and Technology Council. I was, at another time, in charge of 23 parastatals in the West, now called Oodua Company. My office was in Cocoa House, on the 17th floor, that’s the most beautiful office in Ibadan then, constructed by Alfred Rewane. I have enjoyed life, and I have everything to thank God for. Nothing but praises to God,” he said in the interview.

Born on April 14, 1935, Olunloyo came from the first educated family in Ibadan. His family was the first to go to school in 1853 when David and Anna Hinderer came as the first missionaries to Ibadan. The first woman in the family to attend school was Yejide Olunloyo, after whom Yejide Grammar School, Ibadan, was named.

Olunloyo was born to a Christian father, Horatio Olunloyo, the son of an Anglican priest and a Muslim mother, Alhaja Bintu Tejumola Olunloyo. He was named Victor by the priest and AbdulAkeem by the Chief Imam of Ibadanland at the time. He was the only son of his mother.

He enjoyed scholarships from the Western Nigeria Development Corporation, now Odua Limited, headed then by the late Pa Alfred Rewane. He used the first scholarship for his first degree in Mechanical Engineering. Dr Olunloyo graduated with a First Class (Honours) in Mechanical Engineering from the University of St Andrews, becoming the University Prizeman and visiting Buckingham Palace to meet with Queen Elizabeth.

Olunloyo earned a PhD in Applied Mathematics and Number Theory from St. Andrews University in Scotland at the age of 25. He completed his PhD in two years.

At 27 years of age, he became the Commissioner for Economic Planning under Dr Moses Majekodunmi as administrator, during the emergency rule imposed on the Western Region by Sir Tafawa Balewa. He was the first rector of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, before he was removed by the successive administration of Brig-Gen Oluwole Rotimi. Olunloyo was to later head federal research institutes in Nigeria, among other subsidiaries.

Olunloyo won the Oyo State governorship election in October 1983, defeating the incumbent, Chief Bola Ige. His victory was later affirmed by the inquiry led by the late Justice Bola Balakin. However, Olunloyo’s time in office was short-lived, lasting only three months before the December 31, 1983 coup led by then-Major General Muhammadu Buhari.

Following the coup, Olunloyo was among those banned from contesting in elections by the political parties formed by Gen Sani Abacha. He made attempts but failed in 1999 and 2003 before he withdrew from active politics.

Apart from his training in Mathematics and Engineering, Olunloyo had a deep knowledge and appreciation of the arts, food, wine and music.

He was often referred to as a walking encyclopaedia. He was a man of quality, style and taste.