On Monday, the 9th day of July, 1956, the world was blessed with a gift for humanity, a researcher par excellence and gentle man of God who carries the message of Jesus Christ to nooks and crannies of the world.
Little Samson Oloyede Olanipekun, hailed from Igboora in Oyo State began his education career in Children Boarding School, Osogbo for his primary education between 1963 and 1968. He returned to his hometown, Igboora for his Secondary education at Igboora High School between 1969 an 1974.
He was. Great Polyte as he his Advanced studies in The Polytechnic, Ibadan 1975-77.
Samson Oloyede Olanipekun both his 1st Degree and Master in the prestigious University of Lagos before he got his
PhD at the master piece aesthetic and Great University of Ife now know as Obafemi Awolowo University between 1985 and 1990.
He participated in National Youth Service Corps, NYSC and was deployed to Ogun State and served the nation when he lectured at the Ogun State College of Education in 1981 where he eventually commenced his Civil Service Career as he was retained after service and rose to become Lecturer before transferring service later to the National Population Commission, NPC.
While in Ogun State College of Education, his Duties & Responsibilities included:
Lecturing/Head of Unit
Member, Academic Board
Member, Governing Council Appointments and Promotions Committee (Senior)
Chairman, Seminar, Research and Publications Committee, School of Humanities
Chairman, Senior staff Committee on the Review of Conditions of Service
Member, Calendar and Timetable Committee
Chairman, Consumer Sub Committee, Staff Cooperative Multipurpose Society
Chairman, Essential Commodities Distribution Committee.
When he got to National Population Commission (NPC), he served as Local Government Area (LGA) Comptroller
Head, Technical Unit, Oyo State Office;
Head, Population Statistics Division, Zone 6 Headquarter; State Director, Ogun;
Director and Head, Planning & Research, National Headquarter, Abuja.
At the NPC, Dr S. O. Olanipekun’s Duties and Responsibilities included: General Administration and Head of LGA field Operations; Supervision of State Technical Operations in the LGAs; Supervising Census and Survey Activities in the Component States of Zone 6 (Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Kwara and Kogi States); and Chief Accounting Officer for Ogun State Operations.
Dr S. O. Olanipekun attended several trainings on various management and technical subject matters while in the service.
A man of many parts who attained the Septuagenarian status today had extra Curricular Duties which involved his field of Planning and Research.
He was the Team Coordinator, Evaluation of UNICEF Assisted Projects of the Oyo State Agency for Adult and Non formal Education; UNFPA Principal Consultant, Country (Nigeria) Report on ICPD+15 Member, Delegate (Nigeria); Study tour to India on Birth Registration Systems and participant, Africa Leadership and Forum (ALF) Dialogue and Conference Series 1992-94.
Dr Olanipekun was also a Member, Delegate (Nigeria), Workshop on the Principle and Recommendations for the 2010 World Programme on Population and Housing Censuses, Maputo, Mozambique and participated actively as Zonal Training Coordinator, 2023 Population and Housing Census.
His impact was not only felt in the academia and the public service as he embarked in several missionary Journies as Minister if the gospel in Nigeria’s premier Church – Methodist Church Nigeria. He was either as Deacon, Reverend Minister and Presbyter in the following Methodist Churches: Methodist Church Nigeria, Diocese of Elekuro
Methodist Church, Agodi
Methodist Church, Iyana Church
Methodist Church, Owobaale
Methodist Church Nigeria, Diocese of Kubwa, Cathedral of Grace
Methodist Church, Olodo
Wesley Methodist Church, Odan, Idi Araba,
Methodist Church, Truro, Cornwall, United Kingdom.
Very Revd Dr Samuel Oloyede Olanipekun occupied the following positions while in various duties; President, Student Assembly, TMM, 2008 contact session
Foundation Minister, MCN, Owobaale
Foundation Minister, Wesley Methodist Church, Idi Araba, Odan
Deacons Coordinator, Diocese of Kubwa
Coordinating Minister, Synod Secretariats, Dioceses of Kubwa and Agodi (at different times)
Chairman, Seminar and Research Committee, Diocese of Kubwa
Chairman, Ministers Contributory Welfare Schemes, Dioceses of Kubwa and Agodi (at different times)
Conference translator, Discipleship manuals
Diocesan Statistician, Dioceses of Kubwa and Agodi (at different times)
Ministerial Representative, Diocese of Kubwa,
Conference Communication correspondents.
The life of impact of the Revd gentleman attracted several awards and distinctions. They included:
AWARDS AND DISTINCTIONS
Awardee, Children’s Day Essay Competition (Ibarapa, Oyo State Zone), May 1973
Awardee, Oyo State Government, Overseas Post Graduate Scholarship Award 1981
Awardee, University of Lagos Post Graduate Scholarship Award 1982
Awardee, Federal Government of Nigeria, Postgraduate Scholarship Award 1985
Grantee, Council for the Development of Social and Economic Research In Africa (C.O.D.E.S.R.I.A.), Dakar, Senegal (September 1988 Award)
Distinguished Ambassador of The Senior Staff association, Tai Solarin College of Education, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, 1991
Award for meritorious Service as Chairman (2006-2008) by the Forum of Federal Establishments, Ogun State.
DECENCY GLOBAL NEWS rejoices with the celebrant and the family of Very Revd Dr Samuel Oloyede Olanipekun as he attained the age of 3 score and 10. Happy celebration!
