Abel Guobadia
Encyclopedia
Sir Abel Guobadia was an educator, administrator, diplomat and retired public servant.
, Nigeria
. He attended C.M.S. Primary Schools in Benin City (1939 -1945); Government College, Ibadan
(1946 - 1951); University College Ibadan (1952 - 1957). In 1962, he won a scholarship for graduate studies in the United States of America and was awarded the Ph. D in Solid State Physics from the University of Pittsburgh
, Pennsylvania, USA in 1966.
, Nsukka (1961 - 1962). From 1966 - 1971, Dr. Guobadia was a Senior Lecturer and Head of Department of Physics at the University of Lagos
, Nigeria.
Guobadia worked at Nigeria's National Universities Commission throughout most of the 1970s and early 1980s and rose to the position of Director of Academic Planning and subsequently, Executive Secretary of the Commission. In 1983, Dr. Guobadia helped the University of Benin
, Benin City establish a Consultancy Services Unit and became the pioneer Director of the Unit.
In January 1984, Guobadia was appointed Commissioner of Education for the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria under the military administration of then Brigadier Jeremiah Useni
. Later in 1986, the Colonel John Mark Inienger
military administration appointed him the Bendel State Commissioner of Finance and Economic Planning.
In 1987, President Ibrahim Babangida
appointed Abel Guobadia Nigeria's first resident Ambassador to the Republic of Korea.
Upon retirement, Abel Guobadia floated a private educational consulting firm, Advanced Educational Services Limited, that was responsible for developing academic programs for several universities in Nigeria. Abel Guobadia and Professor T. M. Yesufu played an influential role in the establishment of the Igbinedion University
, Okada in Edo State, Nigeria.
In 2000, the government of President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed Guobadia Nigeria's Chief Electoral Officer.
Dr. Guobadia was confirmed as the Chairman of Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission
by the Nigerian Senate in May 2000.
Guobada retired from this position in May 2005 becoming the first, and so far, only Chairman of the Electoral Commission since Nigeria's independence in 1960, to complete his tenure.
Abel Guobadia has served as Chairman and/or member of many boards including that of the New Nigeria Bank, West African Examinations Council and the Nigerian Standards Organization. He has served in several capacities on Governing Councils of several Universities in Nigeria. Guobadia was former Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council of the Edo State University, Ekpoma
. Abel Guobadia was the President of the Science Teachers Association of Nigeria (STAN) from 1971 to 1976 and remains an honorary life fellow of STAN. He is a Special Member of the Senate of the University of Benin
, Benin City.
In seeking to advance the development of his cosmopolitan Edo community in mid-western Nigeria, Guobadia worked as the Secretary of the Benin Forum and Chairman of the Edo Forum respectively from 1992 to 2000.
Currently, Abel Guobadia serves as Chairman, Board of Trustees of a prominent non-governmental organisation, Women's Health and Action Research Centre (WHARC) located in Benin City, Nigeria.
Guobadia died on February 4, 2011 at the age of 78.
Education
Abel Guobadia was born on June 28, 1932 in Benin CityBenin City
Benin City, is a city and the capital of Edo State in southern Nigeria. It is a city approximately twenty-five miles north of the Benin River. It is situated 200 miles by road east of Lagos...
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. He attended C.M.S. Primary Schools in Benin City (1939 -1945); Government College, Ibadan
Government College, Ibadan
Government College Ibadan, , is a "boys only" secondary school located on the hills of Apata Ganga in Ibadan, Nigeria.-History:...
(1946 - 1951); University College Ibadan (1952 - 1957). In 1962, he won a scholarship for graduate studies in the United States of America and was awarded the Ph. D in Solid State Physics from the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
, Pennsylvania, USA in 1966.
Career
Prior to enroling for his Ph. D, Abel Guobadia began his career as a Physics teacher at Osogbo Grammar School (1957); Ilesha Grammar School (1958); Government College Ughelli (1958 - 1959); Edo College, Benin City (1960); Government College Ibadan (1960 - 1961) and the University of NigeriaUniversity of Nigeria
The University of Nigeria, commonly referred to as UNN, is a federal university located in Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria. Founded in 1955 and formally opened on 7 October 1960, the University of Nigeria has four campuses – Nsukka, Enugu and Ituku-Ozalla – located in Enugu State and one in Aba, Abia...
, Nsukka (1961 - 1962). From 1966 - 1971, Dr. Guobadia was a Senior Lecturer and Head of Department of Physics at the University of Lagos
University of Lagos
The University of Lagos - popularly known as Unilag - is a federal government university with a main campus located at Akoka, Yaba and a college of medicine located at Idi-Araba, all in Lagos, Lagos State, southern Nigeria...
, Nigeria.
Guobadia worked at Nigeria's National Universities Commission throughout most of the 1970s and early 1980s and rose to the position of Director of Academic Planning and subsequently, Executive Secretary of the Commission. In 1983, Dr. Guobadia helped the University of Benin
University of Benin
There are several institutions called the University of Benin in West Africa:*The National University of Benin, in Cotonou, Benin*The University of Benin in Benin City, Nigeria*The University of Benin in Lomé, Togo, now known as the University of Lomé...
, Benin City establish a Consultancy Services Unit and became the pioneer Director of the Unit.
In January 1984, Guobadia was appointed Commissioner of Education for the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria under the military administration of then Brigadier Jeremiah Useni
Jeremiah Useni
Jeremiah Timbut Useni was a Lt. General in the Nigerian Army and Minister responsible for the administration of the Abuja Federal Capital Territory under the Sani Abacha military junta. He came from Plateau State. He served Nigeria in various capacities such as Minister for Transport and...
. Later in 1986, the Colonel John Mark Inienger
John Mark Inienger
John Mark Inienger was a Nigerian soldier who served as Governor of Bendel State between 1985 and 1987, during the military administration of General Ibrahim Babangida.-Background:...
military administration appointed him the Bendel State Commissioner of Finance and Economic Planning.
In 1987, President Ibrahim Babangida
Ibrahim Babangida
General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida CFR DSS mni , popularly known as IBB, was a Nigerian Army officer and military ruler of Nigeria...
appointed Abel Guobadia Nigeria's first resident Ambassador to the Republic of Korea.
Upon retirement, Abel Guobadia floated a private educational consulting firm, Advanced Educational Services Limited, that was responsible for developing academic programs for several universities in Nigeria. Abel Guobadia and Professor T. M. Yesufu played an influential role in the establishment of the Igbinedion University
Igbinedion University
Igbinedion University Okada is a private university in Nigeria. Located at Okada Wonderland, a town beside Benin City, Edo state. The university was founded by Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, a millionaire, philanthropist and local leader....
, Okada in Edo State, Nigeria.
In 2000, the government of President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed Guobadia Nigeria's Chief Electoral Officer.
Dr. Guobadia was confirmed as the Chairman of Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission
Independent National Electoral Commission
The Independent National Electoral Commission , set up in 1998, is the electoral body which was set up to oversee elections in Nigeria.The INEC has encountered several controversies in the run-up to the April 2007 general elections, including criticism about its preparedness from Sada Abubakar,...
by the Nigerian Senate in May 2000.
Guobada retired from this position in May 2005 becoming the first, and so far, only Chairman of the Electoral Commission since Nigeria's independence in 1960, to complete his tenure.
Abel Guobadia has served as Chairman and/or member of many boards including that of the New Nigeria Bank, West African Examinations Council and the Nigerian Standards Organization. He has served in several capacities on Governing Councils of several Universities in Nigeria. Guobadia was former Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council of the Edo State University, Ekpoma
Ekpoma
Ekpoma is a larger town in Edo State, Nigeria. It is the headquarters of the Esan West Local Government Area.The town has an official Post Office....
. Abel Guobadia was the President of the Science Teachers Association of Nigeria (STAN) from 1971 to 1976 and remains an honorary life fellow of STAN. He is a Special Member of the Senate of the University of Benin
University of Benin
There are several institutions called the University of Benin in West Africa:*The National University of Benin, in Cotonou, Benin*The University of Benin in Benin City, Nigeria*The University of Benin in Lomé, Togo, now known as the University of Lomé...
, Benin City.
In seeking to advance the development of his cosmopolitan Edo community in mid-western Nigeria, Guobadia worked as the Secretary of the Benin Forum and Chairman of the Edo Forum respectively from 1992 to 2000.
Currently, Abel Guobadia serves as Chairman, Board of Trustees of a prominent non-governmental organisation, Women's Health and Action Research Centre (WHARC) located in Benin City, Nigeria.
Guobadia died on February 4, 2011 at the age of 78.