ADEDEJI Olusegun

• Engr. Prince Olusegun Adedeji was born to the Abede Ogunlowo Royal family of Ilesha, Osun State on Friday 19th May 1939.

• After his primary education at St. Matthews School, Ijebu-Jesha; N.A. Practising School, Ibadan and Holy Trinity School, Omofe Ilesa, he entered the famous and prestigious Government College Ibadan for his secondary education on 18th September 1953 on full Boarding and Tuition Government Scholarship having come second in the highly competitive National Entrance Examination.

• Because his father was one of the first set of students of that college and he, being the first son of an old student to be admitted to the College, the Old Boys Association of Government College, Ibadan also awarded him a full boarding and tuition scholarship, which was converted to forty-two pounds cash since he was already a Government scholar.

• Adedeji had a very distinguished secondary education, passing the Cambridge School Certificate in Grade 1 in 1958 with distinctions in Mathematics, Additional Mathematics and all the Science subjects. His performance was so impressive that he was exempted from taking the entrance examination to the Higher-School Certificate class and he was again awarded a full Government Scholarship for the Higher School Certificate which he passed with distinctions in 1960, thus laying a solid foundation for his engineering career.

• Adedeji was indeed a very outstanding student at the Government College, Ibadan. He was the Head of Swanston House and the Head of School, that is, the Head Prefect in 1960, the Nigerian Independence Year. His academic excellence made the college recall him to teach Maths and Physics after his H.S.C, from January to August 1961 when he had to leave Nigeria for the U.S.A again on double scholarships from the Federal Government and the African Scholarship Programme of American Universities. (ASPAU).

• He studied Civil Engineering at the reputable Washington State University Pullman Washington and obtained a B.Sc degree with honours in 1964 having been on the University Honour Roll every semester in the three years at the University. His performance earned him the membership of Tau Beta Pi and Sigma Tau, American National Engineering Honour societies for outstanding engineering students.

• In his pursuit of more academic laurel, Adedeji applied to the famous Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth, one of the IVY league Universities, to participate in a very special Internship/Research Programme in Engineering. He was one of the very few students admitted to the programme from outside Dartmouth in view of the anticipated problem of adjustment which outside students could have, because, unlike the traditional engineering education programme in most other Universities, the Unified Engineering Education philosophy at Dartmouth did not recognise the separation of the various specialisations in Engineering. Adedeji again had for this programme, three scholarships from the Federal Government, the African Graduate Scholarship Programme and Dartmouth University itself which gave him a research fellowship.

• After completing the one year programme at Dartmouth in 1965, he obtained a Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering from New York University in 1966. This was financed through two scholarships from the Federal Government and the African Graduate Scholarship Program (AFGRAD)

• Engineer Adedeji was indeed a scholar. Except the primary education, all his education up to Master’s Degree level was financed by various scholarships.

• Armed with a Master’s Degree and very wide and varied experience in civil engineering practice, Adedeji returned to Nigeria in 1968 to join the Western Nigeria Water Corporation (1968-1971) and the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (1971-1973) He left the Government Service as a Deputy Chief Engineer in 1973 to join Messrs Sshwed Associates, Consulting Civil/Structural Engineers, as a founding principal partner. He remained at Sshwed till 1983 when he left to found his own Civil/Structural Engineering Consultancy firm - Segun Adedeji Associates, where he was the principal consultant till 2009 when he retired from active practice.

• In exploiting his natural creative instinct, he started Comasfa Nig Ltd. in 1981, manufacturing various Aluminium products such as windows and doors and completely knock down furniture items such as baby cots, room dividers, kitchen units and book shelves. Also in 1989, fascinated by the limitless engineering potentials in the foundry practice, he set up a company, Castek Ltd. for non-ferrous centrifugal casting of various items including lead security seals, medals, battery terminals, accoutrements used by the military and other forces, and gift items such as key holders and photo frames. For a civil engineer to be involved in all these, Engineer Adedeji has no doubt encroached successfully on the Mechanical Engineering field judging by the productions from his mechanical workshop which is very well equipped with all basic manufacturing machines and tools.

• In his unending search for local alternatives to imported technology, Engineer Adedeji has designed and built a very effective centrifugal casting machine for non ferrous metals and plastics. His Company, Comasfa Nig. Ltd. won the 10th Africa Award for quality of products in 1989.

• The highlights of his Engineering career include the following:

Engineering Career Highlights:

- Assistant Secretary General of the Nigerian Society of Engineers 1978-1981.
- Secretary General, Nigerian Society of Engineers 1982-1984.
- Member of Council of Nigerian Society of Engineers 1979-1990. Member of Various Committees including Policy Guideline, Membership; Building; Finance and General Purpose; and Conference/Seminar Planning.
- Chairman, International Relations Committee of Nigerian Society of Engineers 1983-1990.
- Member, Civil Engineering professional interview Panel for Nigerian Society of Engineers 1979-1989.
- Listed as International Expert and Resource Person on Ferrocement 1982.
- Represented Nigerian Society of Engineers in the Commonwealth Engineers Council Affairs 1983-1990.
- Represented Nigerian Society of Engineers at the inauguration of the Commonwealth Engineers Council African Region (CECAR) at Harare, Zimbabwe 1983.
- Participated in the International Conference on Materials of Construction for Developing Countries held at Bangkok, Thailand 1978.
- Member (COREN) Curriculum Development Committee for Civil Engineering professional Examination Syllabus.
- Member (COREN) Committee on Education and Training/Registration of Technicians, 1982-1990.
- Member COREN Visitation Panel to Federal University of Technology, Minna 1989, Federal University of Technology Akure, 1990 and Ondo State University Ado-Ekiti 1989.
- Registrar of Council of Registered Engineers of Nigeria (COREN) 1988 – 1990.
- Represented Nigerian Society of Engineers on the Panel Set up by the Lagos State Government on the Review of Town and Country Planning (Building Plan) Regulations in Lagos State – 1990.
- Member of the Committee set up by the Lagos State Government on the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless – 1987.
- Member, Planning Committee, 1st National Conference on Steel – 1983.
- Member, Panel of Three that investigated Kainji Flooding – 1989.
- Prepared Report to Federal Ministry of National Planning on Study of Unit Cost of Projects for cost appraisal of projects in the 4th National Development Plan – 1980.
- Chairman of Ad-hoc Committee that prepared the memorandum to Federal Government on “How to increase the quantum of Nigerian Engineers, in the Public Sector” – 1982.
- Member, Lagos State, Town Planning Appeals Committee – 1991.
- Vice Chairman, Civil Engineering Division Nigerian Society of Engineers, 1992 – 1993.
- Member of Committee that updated and metricated the Highway Design Manual – 1991.
- Chairman, Review of Curriculum for Civil Engineering Technology in Nigerian Polytechnics, 2001.
- Appointed the Lagos Area Supervisor for COREN – 2002-2015
• Pioneer Chairman, Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers 2002-2003.

• Chief Examiner for COREN Professional Examination, Lagos 2002- 2015.
• Appointed member of the Presidential Projects Assessment Committee (PPAC) set up by President Goodluck Jonathan March 2010 to June 2011.
• Appointed member of the Tribunal of Inquiry on Collapsed Buildings in Lagos State set up by Lagos State Governor Fashola, May to November 2013.
• Represented the Nigerian Academy of Engineering at the International Convocation of Academies of Engineering and Technological Sciences (CAETS) held in New Delhi India, 12th-16th October 2015
• Member of Council of Nigerian Academy of Engineering 2016 – Date
• Member of Committee on Amendment of COREN Act 2017 - 2018
• Member of the Committee on Nigerian Society of Engineers Memorandum and Articles of Association Amendment 2018 - 2019
• Chairman Nigerian Society of Engineers Election Committee 2018 - 2019

• In the course of his professional development Engr. Adedeji has been particularly interested in the materials of construction in Civil Engineering and in this regard, he has published the following:

- Introduction to Ferrocement: Proceedings of the National Engineering Conference 1980.
- Untapped Local Materials in Civil Engineering Construction: Proceedings of National Symposium of Civil Division of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, 1998.
- Bamboo as a Building Material: Proceedings of the National Workshop on the Sourcing and Utilisation of Local Raw Materials for Housing Development in Nigeria, 1989.
- Utilization of Bamboo as a Material of Construction: Proceedings of Seminar on Cement and Allied Construction Materials, 1987.

• Engr. Adedeji, COREN Registered, No. R0509 is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Charter Fellow International Ferrocement Society, Member, Nigerian Institute of Management and while in active consulting practice, he was an active member of the Association of Consulting Engineers of Nigeria. He was a pioneer member of the Civil Division of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, becoming the Pioneer Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers (NICE) when the Division became chartered.

• Engr. Adedeji has received many honours and awards which include:

- Merit Award of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, 1983.
- Certificate of Honour by the Government College Ibadan Old Boys Association, Lagos Branch, 1988.
- National Merit Award of the Government College Ibadan Old Boys Association, 1995.
- Vicar’s Recognition Award for Service to Bola Memorial Anglican Church, 1992 & 2016
- COREN Award for Meritorious Service.
- Service Recognition Award, Christian Morning Star Society of Bola Memorial Anglican Church.
- Nigerian Society of Engineers, Civil Engineering Division Merit Award, 2000.
- Y’s men International Club Ambassador, 1996.
- Life Achievement Award by the Nigerian Academy of Engineering - 2013

• In his ever busy schedule, Engr. Adedeji has been able to spice his professional life with various social and religious activities which include the following:

- Life Member, Lagos Country Club
- Chairman, Government College Ibadan Old Boys Association, Lagos Branch 1992 – 1994.
- President, Christian Morning Star Society, Bola Memorial Anglican Church, 1995 – 1996.
- Member, Young Men Christian Association Bola Memorial Anglican Church.
- Vicar’s Warden, Bola Memorial Anglican Church, 1995.
- Peoples’ Warden, Bola Memorial Anglican Church, 1996.
- Member of the Choir and the Bandmaster of Bola Memorial Anglican Church.
- Foundation Member of May Group, a Social Club of distinguished men.
- Patron, Egbe Ifelodun, Bola Memorial Anglican Church.
- Grand Patron, Christian Youth Circle, Archdeacon Ogunbiyi Memorial Anglican Church.
- Vice President, South West, ASPAU-AFGRAD-ATLAS Alumni Association.

• Engr. Prince Segun Adedeji, the honest, diligent, highly disciplined and very meticulous professional engineer is always very proud to assert that he is one Nigerian who has never received bribe or any undue gratification. It was in recognition of his transparent disposition, discipline, hard work and absolute devotion to duty, that the late former General Manager of the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation, late Architect Jinadu, in 1972, virtually forced him to apply for allocation of the land on which he built the house he now lives. He believes that acquisition of earthly properties and material wealth is worthless.

• Engr. Adedeji, a master guitarist, lover of music, is a contented and very happy family man blessed with four great children, Olufemi, Olubukola, Olubunmi and Olufunso and seven grandchildren, Sikemi, Tamilore, Ebunife, Ayoife, Ileriife, Olujimi, and Joba
ENGR. PRINCE OLUSEGUN ADEDEJI