Our Founders
Professor Olumbe Bassir
BSc (Hons);Ph.D, D.Sc (London); FRIC, FRSC, C.Chem, MRSC(London), FNI Nuc.Eng., Hon FMCP (Nig.), FAS
The University of Ibadan’s first Professor and Head of the Biochemistry department (1955–1979) was Professor Olumbe Bassir (1919–2001). He established the first medical school in West Africa’s history and became a full professor in 1958.
He was born on May 20, 1919 in Louga, Senegal. He started his primary education in Bo Town, Sierra Leone. In 1941, he graduated from Yaba College in Lagos with a higher college credential. He thereafter proceeds to the United Kingdom, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1949 and his PhD in 1951 from Liverpool University.
He was a pioneer medical scientist, seasoned administrator, and an eminent teacher. He joined the staff of the physiology department as head of sub-Department of Biochemistry in 1955, and later become a professor of Biochemistry in 1962, with special interest in Nutritional Chemistry and later pioneering head of the department in 1960. He was chairman of the congregation that designed the University of Ibadan Act (1960-1962).
He was a distinguished fellow of the Royal Institute of Chemistry in the UK (1959), a member of the New York Academy of Science (1962), and the Royal Institute of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene in the UK (1962). He was an expert for the United Nations International Energy Agency and a consultant to UNESCO in the field of social science peace research.
From 1963 to 1975, Professor Olumbe Bassir served as the University of Ibadan’s public orator. An Anthology of West African Verse was among the publications he wrote about African culture and he was also a well-known columnist in Nigerian daily newspapers.
Professor Olumbe Bassir served as the Dean of Faculty of science at the University of Ibadan from 1964 to 1965 and 1968 to 1970. He also served as an acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan on several occasions between 1968 and 1979, in addition to acting frequently as Dean of the Medical Faculty.
After retiring he started what was known as the Open House in 1980 at his home in Bodija, Ibadan, where friends, coworkers, and acquaintances dropped by to share opinions on contemporary issues over lunch. From 1983 through 2000, his birthday which was in May was celebrated with an annual event called the Open House Colloquium/Study Conference.
After retiring from the University of Ibadan, he remained active for several years, continuing to act as editor of the West African Journal of Biology and Applied Chemistry. He also served as chairman of the Wellcome Nigeria Fund, which later became the Bassir-Thomas Biomedical Foundation in the early 1990s. He also regularly organized the annual Open House Colloquium.
Professor Olumbe Bassir, BSc(Hons);Ph.D,D.Sc (London);FRIC,FRSC,C.Chem,MRSC(London),FNI Nuc.Eng., Hon FMCP(Nig.),FAS is unarguably one of the most distinguished African BioChemists of the 20th Century.