Professor Raphael Dele Olarinoye was born on 1st June 1944 at Omupo in Kwara State to a couple, Mr. Emmanuel Amoo Olarinoye and Mrs. Felicia Akanke Olarinoye. He attended St. Michael’s Primary School, Omupo from January 1950 to December 1957 for his first School Leaving Certificate and PROVINCIAL secondary school, Ilorin (January 1958 to December, 1962) for his secondary education. There after, as a result of sixth form entrance examination by the West African Examination Council, he was posted to Federal Emergency School of Science, in Lagos for his GCE/AL (January 1963-December, 1064). After passing the A/L examination, he entered Ahmadu Bello University in September 1965, to read Physics at B. Sc. Degree level. He passed his B. Sc. (Hons) degree in Physics in June 1968 with a second Class Division. With the Award of Ahmadu Bello University Post-Graduate Scholarship, he studied Advanced Electronics and Telecommunication in the same University. He later studied for a Post-Graduate Diploma in Education 1973/74.
In 1975, under the Federal Government Scholarship and Ahmadu Bello University Study Fellowship Scheme, he travelled to the United States of America for his Doctorate Degree, which he successfully completed in August 1978.
After his formal Education, Professor Olarinoye started his working career in St. Paul’s College, Wusasa, Zaria as physics and Mathematics teacher and later the head of Physics Department and a housemaster. He later left the service of the college in 1971 for a Lecturer II post at the Institute of Education, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria with assignment at a constituent college, Advance Teachers’ College, Kano. He served in the College as a teacher, head of Physics Department, head of Division of Science, Vice Principal or Deputy Provost, Principal or Provost and head of degree programme at the College. He started the degree programme in the college. He was transferred to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa College, Bauchi (Later Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University of Technology in 1984. Here, he started the Science Education Programme as the Coordinator, nursed and nurtured it till 1999. He has been a Professor of Science Education since October 1990. He has served in several capacities in the University: Coordinator; Chairman Hall Warder; member, University Senate; Chairman, Industrial Training Coordinating Committee; Chairman, Examination Committee; Chairman, Technology Teacher Training Programme; member, Appointment and Promotion Committee; Chairman, Research and Public Committee and member, University Governing Council. Professor Olarinoye has served State and Federal Governments, NGO, Government Parastatals as consultant; a special case is his service as Special Adviser and consultant in Science Education to Bauchi State Government under the governorship of Col. Theophilus Bamigboye. Earlier, he served the same Bauchi State Government as a member of Governing Council of the State Polytechnic and directorate of Science and Technology. He has also served many Universities and Colleges of Education as external examiner and assessor for promotion and appointment. He belongs to several professional bodies among which are: Science Teachers Association of Nigeria, Science Association of Nigeria; Curriculum Organization of Nigeria; Nigeria Academy of Education; Institute of Physics, United Kingdom; Association for Science Education, United Kingdom; and Nigerian Association for Comparative Education. He was the President of Curriculum Organization of Nigeria for four consecutive years. He has several honours and awards among which are: Best Student in Mathematics, Physics and History in Secondary School; Imperial Chemical Industry Prize for the best graduating student in Physics (1968); University and Federal Government Scholar; Fellow of STAN; Fellow of Curriculum Organization of Nigeria; Fellow of Institute of Administrative Management of Nigeria; Certified Distinguished Administrator; Fellow of Nigerian Academy of Education; who is who in Kwara State, who is who in Nigeria; who is who in Science and Technology education in Africa and a Chartered Physicist, U. K.
Professor Olarinoye is a devoted Christian of Anglican denomination. He served as the Chairman of the implementation committee of the missionary Anglican diocese of Bauchi. He was the first Lay Synod secretary of Kano Diocese before moving to Bauchi. With the inauguration of Bauchi Diocese, he became the first project adviser and later the education Adviser. In the later capacity, he prepared the education policy and a handbook of general information to secondary school students of the Diocese. He is a Jerusalem Pilgrim (JP).
Professor Olarinoye is also a community leader. He served as the Chairman of his community (Igbomina/Ekiti) in Bauchi for over ten years. In recognition of his role in the Socio-economic development of his home community, Omupo – Land, he was honoured with a Chieftaincy title of Otun-Basorun. After putting in over 35 years of meritorious service in Nigerian University system, he retired as a Professor and Dean of Science and technology Education on 30th June, 2007. As he is not tired he is presently the Director of Academic Planning of a Baby University, University of Mkar, Mkar in Benue State and a visiting Professor of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi. He is also serving as a consultant to ECOWAS.
Professor Olarinoye has over 120 published articles, conference papers, books and Book Chapters to his credit. As a lover of peace, he was honoured with the title, Ambassador for Peace (AFP) by Universal Peace Federation (UPF), an Inter-religious and International Federation for World peace. He is married with children.
Professor Olarinoye's Blog 