A life of dedication and legacy: Celebrating Dr. Samuel Oke Ogunniyi at 60
pannigeriannews
4 min read
The calendar, today, turns to mark the 60th birthday of Dr. Samuel Oke Ogunniyi, the erudite pioneer Polytechnic Librarian of Federal Polytechnic Ayede, Ogbomoso, Oyo State.
Federal Polytechnic Ayede, alongside the larger academic and library communities in Nigeria, rises to honour a distinguished scholar, librarian, administrator, mentor, and pioneer whose career spans decades of selfless service and impactful leadership.
Born with a vision for excellence and service, Dr. Ogunniyi’s educational and professional journey exemplifies consistency, growth, and commitment. His foundational years began at Saint Finian’s Catholic Primary School, Ute (1972–1978), and continued at Ute High School, Ondo State (1978–1983), where he first exhibited a passion for knowledge and order, an early sign of his future calling in the library profession.
Dr. Ogunniyi began his civil service career as a Clerical Officer with the National Council for Arts and Culture in Lagos on June 19, 1984. His dedication and hard work earned him transfers across several national offices, including Abuja, Kaduna, and Osogbo, broadening his administrative experience and deepening his appreciation of Nigeria’s cultural heritage.
Eager to further his academics, Dr. Ogunniyi pursued a Diploma in Librarianship at the prestigious University of Ibadan between 1988 and 1990. His thirst for knowledge was insatiable. He went on to earn a Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate in Library, Archival, and Information Studies from the same university in 2004, 2006, and 2015, respectively. He also acquired a Postgraduate Diploma in Education from Obafemi Awolowo University in 2010, underscoring his passion for teaching and academic excellence.
In 2007, Dr. Ogunniyi joined Adeyemi College of Education (now Adeyemi Federal University of Education), Ondo, as Librarian I. Over the years, he left an indelible mark on the institution, contributing significantly to the development of its library system. His professional reach extended across critical sections such as Serials, Reference, Project, E-Library, Cataloguing, and Classification.
Beyond library operations, he actively participated in strategic institutional development. He served on the Demonstration Secondary School Board, COEASU Journal Committee, Students’ Disciplinary Committee, Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU), and the ICT Committee. He was also Secretary of the COEASU Review Committee on the Code of Ethics, demonstrating his balanced engagement with policy, ethics, and administration.
On April 8, 2021, history was made as Dr. Ogunniyi was appointed the pioneer Polytechnic Librarian at the newly established Federal Polytechnic, Ayede, Oyo State. With nothing on ground at inception, he began from scratch, helping to build the library system into a functional, resourceful academic facility. His efforts have contributed immensely to the foundation of one of Nigeria’s emerging centers of technical and technological excellence.
Dr. Ogunniyi’s contributions extend far beyond physical libraries. He is a prolific scholar and respected voice in library and information science. With over fifty published journal articles, spanning both local and international publications, including those indexed by Google Scholar and Scopus, his works have guided scholars, professionals, and students alike.
His scholarly portfolio also includes three co-authored books, an edited volume on librarianship, seven articles in conference proceedings, and more than fifteen conference presentations both in Nigeria and abroad. His research interests in Organization of Knowledge (Cataloguing and Classification), Public Libraries, School Libraries, Academic Libraries, and ICT applications continue to shape discourse in the LIS field.
In the course of his illustrious career, Dr. Ogunniyi has received notable awards, including: Best Documentation Staff at the National Council for Arts and Culture in 1991 and 1992; Gustav Hofmann Study Grant by the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), Netherlands in 1993; Prof. M. I. Ajibero Award for the Best Ph.D. Thesis in Nigerian Library Schools (2015), presented by the Nigerian Library Association.
He also served meritoriously as Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Library Association, Ondo State Chapter from March 2018 to June 2021, contributing to the advancement of library practice and professional development in the state.
As we celebrate Dr. Samuel Oke Ogunniyi at 60, we honour a man whose life has been one of unwavering dedication to education, documentation, librarianship, and the development of knowledge institutions in Nigeria. His legacy is not just in the libraries he helped build, or the committees he served, but in the countless lives he has inspired, mentored, and impacted.
On this milestone birthday, we celebrate a scholar, a pioneer, a father, a mentor, and a nation-builder. We salute his service, cherish his story, and wish him continued strength, health, and fulfillment in the years ahead.
Happy 60th Birthday, Dr. Samuel Oke Ogunniyi!
Dr. Ogunniyi, your story is one of vision, perseverance, as well as purpose and it continues to inspire generations.
By: Centre for Information, Communication and Public Relations (CICPR), Federal Polytechnic Ayede, Ogbomoso, Oyo State.
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