From Taiwo Oluwadare, Ibadan
On Monday, March 24, 2025, the University of Ibadan (UI), Ibadan, Oyo State, honoured one of its distinguished academic figures, Dr. Adejoke Olamiti, as she retired from active service, bringing to a close, storied career that helped shape generations of computer scientists in Nigeria.
The event was filled with heartfelt moments, reflections and tributes from colleagues and former students. Olamiti was a foundational figure, Department of Computer Science, especially during its challenging pre-2000 years marked by manpower constraints.
Her mastery of data structures and pattern recognition left an enduring mark on the department’s curriculum and on her students’ academic development.
Indeed, every UI graduate currently serving on the department’s academic staff was once under her tutelage, a rare and remarkable legacy. They gave deeply emotional tributes, celebrating not only her brilliance but also her nurturing mentorship.
Olamiti was known not just for her intellect but also for her deep compassion. She always asked how you were doing before discussing any work, a simple but powerful gesture that reflected her human-first approach to education. Through kindness and consistency, she helped build a department culture rooted in empathy and excellence.
In a meaningful coincidence, the University Senate approved the creation of Faculty of Computing on the very same day, with five new programmes set to redefine computing education at UI. This historic step forever ties Olamiti’s legacy to a new era, the future she helped make possible.
Adejoke is married to Sir Folu Olamiti, a veteran journalist, devout Anglican and a respected public servant. He currently serves as the Publisher and Chairman of the Editorial Board at Newspot Nigeria.
She is not only a trailblazer in academia; she is family. Her light continues to shine. Her legacy will live on, not only in lecture halls and academic papers, but in the lives she touched so deeply.