By Wole Adedoyin
Professor Nike Osofisan is a prominent figure in Nigeria’s Information and Communication Technology sector. Not only is she the wife of the renowned writer and playwright, Professor Femi Osofisan, who serves as the Chairman of the Advisory Council of the Association of Nigerian Authors, but she is also a distinguished professor of Computer Science. Her expertise lies in the fields of data mining and knowledge management. Notably, she holds the distinction of being the first Nigerian woman to earn a Ph.D. in Computer Science, a remarkable achievement she accomplished in 1989. In 2006, she reached the milestone of becoming a full professor at the University of Ibadan, making history as the first African woman to attain the prestigious title of Computer Science professor.
She holds the esteemed position of being the inaugural president of “Nigeria Women in Information Technology,” a role she assumed in 2003. Furthermore, from 2005 to 2009, she made history as the first female president and chairman of the governing council of the “Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria.” In recognition of her outstanding contributions, she was honored with an induction into the Nigeria Women Hall of Fame on June 10, 2019, in Abuja.
I first encountered her name during my final year research project. Additionally, I crossed paths with her when I was appointed as a committee member of the Sectoral Working Group of the Nigeria Content Consultative Forum in Information Communication Technology by the Computer Professional Council of Nigeria. This initiative is a project of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board. The NCCF-ICT comprises key industry stakeholders, government and regulatory agencies, aiming to identify issues and responsibilities. Its objectives include proposing interventions to address challenges and leverage opportunities, recommending necessary policy changes to influence Nigerian Content growth and capacity development, as well as developing programs and projects for implementing identified interventions. Moreover, this Forum led to the establishment of the ICT Local Content Association, a venture I also contributed to establish.
Prof. Nike Osofisan commanded immense respect in the meetings, a sentiment that persisted even when she was not present. Her influence in various ICT professional bodies is widespread.
Whether it’s the Nigeria Internet Registration Association, Nigeria Computer Society, Computer Association of Nigeria, Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria, or Nigeria Women in Information Technology, her name resonates in all these domains. Prof. Nike Osofisan’s footprint is evident everywhere she has been. She has served diligently in all these organisations, leaving a lasting positive impact and earning the respect of her peers.
My friends and I were deeply moved by Prof. Nike Osofisan’s significant contributions to ICT, particularly her efforts in empowering girls. This admiration inspired us to establish the Prof. Nike Osofisan Girls In ICT Foundation, which, although currently inactive, was once a platform for executing projects aimed at promoting girls in ICT. One such project was carried out during the 2017 edition of the International Girls in ICT Day, an annual event organized by the International Telecommunication Union. For more information about our initiatives, you can visit the following links: https://www.itu.int/net4/ITU-D/GICT/2017-2019/display.asp?ID=191 and http://nikeosofisangirlsinictfoundation.blogspot.com/.
During a recent visit by Hajia Farida Mohammed’s campaign team to Prof. Femi Osofisan’s residence in Ibadan, as they observed the numerous awards and honours bestowed upon Prof. Nike Osofisan by various national and international organisations, Hajia Farida Mohammed, expressed admiration for Prof. Osofisan’s accomplishments. Impressed by Prof. Nike Osofisan’s achievements, she promptly declared her as her role model.
I believe that Hajia Farida Mohammed mirrors Prof. Nike Osofisan in carving her path, albeit in a different field—Creative Writing. This Saturday, the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) will be conducting elections for new national officials. Hajia Farida is vying for the top position within the association, drawing inspiration from Prof. Nike Osofisan, her role model. Throughout the history of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), no woman has ever presided over the organization. It’s not because female writers lack the competence or capability for such a role; rather, they have not previously attempted to secure this position. This marks the first instance where a female writer is daring to vie for this prestigious position.
Hajia Farida possesses not just competence, but also efficiency and capability. If she is elected to the top position in ANA, she will leverage her extensive leadership background, including her roles as former Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Niger State Chapter, as well as her experience as the National Treasurer and outgoing National Vice President of the Association. With these qualifications, she is well-equipped to elevate the association to new heights.
Wole Adedoyin holds the position of President at the Computer Guild of Nigeria (CGN) and is a member of both the Nigeria Content Consultative Forum in Information Communication Technology (NCCF-ICT) and the ICT Local Content Association (ICT LOCA).
