Biographical Sketch: Julius OKOJIE
Institution: Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission,
Country: Nigeria
Professor Julius Amioba Okojie was born on 27th July, 1948. He had his primary and secondary education at Government Primary School, Uromi Annunciation Catholic College Irrua, and Federal Government College Warri. In 1969, he was admitted into the University of Ibadan to pursue a degree in Forestry. He graduated in 1972 with Second Class Upper Division. A few years later he proceeded to Yale University, USA for his Master's Degree in Forestry.
On his return to Nigeria his quest for greater challenges in the academia, led him to enroll for a higher degree programme at the University of Ibadan in 1978. He was awarded the Ph.D in Forestry Resource Management by the University in 1981. Before proceeding for his Masters Degree in the US, Professor Okojie had worked briefly between 1972 and 1974 as Research Officer at the Forestry Research Institute, Ibadan. In 1978 he joined the University of Ibadan as Lecturer II and was promoted Senior Lecturer in 1983. He rose to the rank of Professor of Forestry Resource Management in 1990.
Professor Okojie was appointed Vice-Chancellor, University of Agriculture Abeokuta in 1996, a position he held until 2001. He joined the National Universities Commission in August 2002. While in the Commission, he chaired the Standing Committee on Private Universities (SCOPU). It is to his credit that a large number of private universities established between 2002 and 2005 received the Federal Government’s approval during his tenure as Chairman, SCOPU.
Professor Okojie has held many administrative positions at national and international levels. These include
• Sub-Dean Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Ibadan, Ibadan;
• Dean, College of Environmental Resources Management , University of Agriculture, Abeokuta 1990-1994;
• Deputy Vice-chancellor University of Agriculture , University of Agriculture, Abeokuta 1994-1995;
• Vice-President, Association of African Universities, 2001;
• Vice-Chancellor, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta ;
• Member, Board of Association of Commonwealth Universities. 2001.
It is to the credit of this erudite unassuming scholar that during his tenure as Vice-Chancellor, the University of Agriculture Abeokuta was ranked No 1 Nigerian University from the NUC accreditation exercise.
Professor Okojie has at different times served as Chairman and member of various Standing and ad-hoc committees, special panels as well as serving as external examiner/ assessor to a number of Nigerian Universities. A good number of professors and higher degree holders owe their successes to the tutelage and diligence of Professor Okojie. His outstanding performance as Vice-Chancellor, amiable character and humility endeared him to his fellow Vice-Chancellors who chose to elect him to the exalted position of Chairman, Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Federal Universities in 2001.
A scholar of international repute, Professor Okojie has many chapters in books and scholarly articles in his field in national and international journals, in the sciences generally and on issues on higher education development.
His numerous Fellowship awards include the Royal Society (Nuffield Foundation) Fellowship; Senior Fulbright Fellowship; and the United Nations University Fellowship. He is a Fellow, African Academy of Science (FAAS); Fellow Science Association of Nigeria (FSAN) and Fellow Forestry Association of Nigeria (FFAN).
Following his excellent performance in previous administrative positions, the proprietors of Bells University of Technology, Ota, found Professor Julius Okojie worthy of appointment as pioneer Vice-Chancellor of the Institution in July, 2005.
Professor Julius A. Okojie is currently the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, a position he has held since August, 2006.
The Professor of Forestry Resources Management has remained an invaluable force in national development and an inspiration to both town and gown in and outside the shores of Nigeria. His consistent commitment to higher education has gained him national and international accolades. His unflinching concern for community development earned him the traditional titles of Aare agbe of Egbaland and Omotadese of Owu Kingdom which were conferred on him by the traditional rulers of both kingdoms.
A devout Catholic, Professor Okojie is married to Erelu (Mrs.) Oluremi Okojie, Principal, St Louis Grammar School, Ibadan. They are blessed with many children.
On his return to Nigeria his quest for greater challenges in the academia, led him to enroll for a higher degree programme at the University of Ibadan in 1978. He was awarded the Ph.D in Forestry Resource Management by the University in 1981. Before proceeding for his Masters Degree in the US, Professor Okojie had worked briefly between 1972 and 1974 as Research Officer at the Forestry Research Institute, Ibadan. In 1978 he joined the University of Ibadan as Lecturer II and was promoted Senior Lecturer in 1983. He rose to the rank of Professor of Forestry Resource Management in 1990.
Professor Okojie was appointed Vice-Chancellor, University of Agriculture Abeokuta in 1996, a position he held until 2001. He joined the National Universities Commission in August 2002. While in the Commission, he chaired the Standing Committee on Private Universities (SCOPU). It is to his credit that a large number of private universities established between 2002 and 2005 received the Federal Government’s approval during his tenure as Chairman, SCOPU.
Professor Okojie has held many administrative positions at national and international levels. These include
• Sub-Dean Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Ibadan, Ibadan;
• Dean, College of Environmental Resources Management , University of Agriculture, Abeokuta 1990-1994;
• Deputy Vice-chancellor University of Agriculture , University of Agriculture, Abeokuta 1994-1995;
• Vice-President, Association of African Universities, 2001;
• Vice-Chancellor, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta ;
• Member, Board of Association of Commonwealth Universities. 2001.
It is to the credit of this erudite unassuming scholar that during his tenure as Vice-Chancellor, the University of Agriculture Abeokuta was ranked No 1 Nigerian University from the NUC accreditation exercise.
Professor Okojie has at different times served as Chairman and member of various Standing and ad-hoc committees, special panels as well as serving as external examiner/ assessor to a number of Nigerian Universities. A good number of professors and higher degree holders owe their successes to the tutelage and diligence of Professor Okojie. His outstanding performance as Vice-Chancellor, amiable character and humility endeared him to his fellow Vice-Chancellors who chose to elect him to the exalted position of Chairman, Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Federal Universities in 2001.
A scholar of international repute, Professor Okojie has many chapters in books and scholarly articles in his field in national and international journals, in the sciences generally and on issues on higher education development.
His numerous Fellowship awards include the Royal Society (Nuffield Foundation) Fellowship; Senior Fulbright Fellowship; and the United Nations University Fellowship. He is a Fellow, African Academy of Science (FAAS); Fellow Science Association of Nigeria (FSAN) and Fellow Forestry Association of Nigeria (FFAN).
Following his excellent performance in previous administrative positions, the proprietors of Bells University of Technology, Ota, found Professor Julius Okojie worthy of appointment as pioneer Vice-Chancellor of the Institution in July, 2005.
Professor Julius A. Okojie is currently the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, a position he has held since August, 2006.
The Professor of Forestry Resources Management has remained an invaluable force in national development and an inspiration to both town and gown in and outside the shores of Nigeria. His consistent commitment to higher education has gained him national and international accolades. His unflinching concern for community development earned him the traditional titles of Aare agbe of Egbaland and Omotadese of Owu Kingdom which were conferred on him by the traditional rulers of both kingdoms.
A devout Catholic, Professor Okojie is married to Erelu (Mrs.) Oluremi Okojie, Principal, St Louis Grammar School, Ibadan. They are blessed with many children.