BIOGRAPHY of SUNDAY SAMUEL ADESEGUN ODULARU

A distinguished academic librarian, was born at 45 Araromi Street, Ijebu Ode, on October 11, 1938. He was the fourth born to James Kasumu ODULARU and Eunice Efunyemi ODULARU (Nee Falolipe). In the 1940s, the youthful, enthusiastic and brilliant Samuel schooled at Christ Church School Porogun, Ijebu-Ode under the headmastership of Mr. E. O. J Bamiro. His chequered primary educational career took him to St Paul’s School Gbongan (Osun State). In 1949, he was baptized by Late Canon Olunloyo at St Paul’s Church, Gbongan. Subsequently, Samuel attended the Wesley School Mamu, a boundary market town between Ibadan and Ijebu-Ode. Later, Samuel attended The St. James’ School Okebola, Ibadan for some time and finally concluded his childhood schooling at Christ Church School, Mapo Ibadan in 1953.

In 1954, Samuel embarked on a teaching career at St Paul’s School, Egbeda (now Ajoda New Town), Egbeda Local Government, Ibadan. In addition to both teaching and pastoral assignments, he was responsible for registering children for the Universal Free Primary Education at his station - Idiomo-Ogere, Old Ife Road, Ibadan. In the years between 1956 and 1959, he undertook the Teachers’ Grade Two Course at (St. Luke’s College, Molete, Ibadan). In the 1960s, Samuel was a foundational Chorister of the St. Anne’s Church Molete, Ibadan, as well as, the member of Young Men Christian Association (YMCA).

Samuel’s university education career started at the University of Ibadan in 1962. He was the foundation student of the then recently introduced courses at the University – French, Communications, Language Arts, and Arabic and Islamic Studies. He graduated with Bachelor of Arts in 1967. His desire to acquire more knowledge like a sinking star led him to go for further studies where he bagged Postgraduate Diploma certificate in Library studies in 1970. Sequel to this attainment, and in 1976/77, Sunday Samuel Adesegun Odularu added another feather to his cap with Masters of Arts degree from Loughborough University of Technology, England, United Kingdom.

Sunday Samuel Adesegun ODULARU was the only British Chartered Librarian. He was offered an appointment at the Ibadan University Library (now, Kenneth Dike Library, since 1988) by the founding father of the Ibadan University Library, the Late Professor John Harris. He happened to be the last librarian who was recruited by the Late Professor. The librarianship profession afforded Samuel the opportunity of receiving a commendation letter from Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, as a result of his scholarly detailed reports on the Sopolu Library which was located in Ibadan, Ikenne and Lagos. Consequently, the Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo immediately wanted collaborate with Samuel in order to implement the report recommendations and also advance joint research interests for Nigeria's socio-economic transformation. However, Samuel humbly turned down the offer because of his commitment to the Ibadan University Library as well as an unadulterated attachment to his family.

In addition, Samuel traveled to many national religious and academic institutions for accreditation purposes. Among them to mention are University of Calabar Library and Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijebu Ode. For over four decades as an academic librarian, Samuel was religiously committed and sacrificially dedicated to uplifting the goals, vision, and mission of the Ibadan University Library systems. Samuel represented the University of Ibadan Librarian in various official capacities as members of Academic Boards, Committees, and Faculties. He recommended and implemented many innovative and practical solutions towards overcoming the challenges that were faced by the Ibadan University Library, Nigeria. Some of these include the circulation mechanism which was established since 1979, the security system to halt library books and property theft, et cetera. He continually kept his green memory of all matters, including his write-up on the Ibadan University Library during the 50th anniversary of the University of Ibadan, and a myriad of other scholarly works. He is continuously being cited as one of the foremost authorities as well as the greatest Nigerian academic librarians. Samuel’s valued public service will continue to remain the gracious recipient of state, national and international awards in recognition of his scholarly work on librarianship.

Samuel was a certified librarian. He published books such as Manuscript Collection of Ibadan University Library in 1987, research papers and edited professional journals in Nigeria and overseas. Sam also supported robust research, scholarship and innovative knowledge dissemination in librarianship, records, and archives. In 2003, the Council of Ibadan University promoted him from the post of Deputy University Librarian and appointed him as the Acting University Librarian, the position Samuel held until his retirement. Having contributed to strengthening the Kenneth Dike Library (KDL) for four decades (1964 – 2004), Samuel was immediately engaged as the Head of Knowledge Management and Dissemination System at the Development Policy Centre (Aboyade House), Bodija, Ibadan.

Further, Samuel was a beloved figure in his community, where he embarked on a number of leadership positions based on his wide interests and buoyant personality. Some of the other roles he played so wonderfully include inspirational friend, teacher, mentor, citizen, neighbour, collaborator, polyglot, keen book collector (with personal library of rare books), public intellectual, avid writer, gifted historian, story-teller, narrator, lucid thinker, powerful orator, indefatigable champion, visionary leader patron of the arts and humanities, active member of many scholarly advisory committees at the University, quiet activist, public servant, and an advisor at all levels of government.

On February 2, 1974, Samuel got married to a beautifully loving, dedicated and good wife, Alice Taiwo Odularu (Nee Oyemade), whose late parents were workers in the divine profession of Methodist denomination, Sagamu, Ogun State. He was a very loving husband and father. God blessed his marriage with responsible and successful children. Samuel’s survivors include Mrs. Alice Odularu, his children: Olufunmilayo, Ayodele, Gbadebo, Oluwakemi, Tolulope and Oluwayemi, as well as, brother, nieces, nephews and in-laws. Samuel and Alice Odularu made their home at Moniya in the historic Ibadan City and have been dedicated to this city that provided numerous opportunities for them to be of service to humanity.