Prof. Theophilus O. ODEKUNLE
Position: Professor
Area of Expertise: Climatology and Climate Change
Physical address:
Email: odeyemitheophilus@yahoo.com
Professor Odekunle had his primary education at the Local Authority Primary School between 1974 and 1980 and attended Irepo Grammar School, between 1981 and 1986 in Igboho, Oyo State. He graduated with a B.Sc. degree in Geography in Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife in 1992 and bagged his M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in Geography in the same university in 1997 and 2003, respectively. He won Afolabi Ojo’s Prize for the best overall student in B.Sc. Geography in 1992 and Obafemi Awolowo University Postgraduate Fellowship Award in 1995 and 1996.
Professor Odekunle joined the service of the Obafemi Awolowo University in the Department of Geography on the 13th of June 1997. He rose through the ranks to become a Professor by 1st October, 2011.
Since joining the Department, Professor Odekunle has been teaching and researching in his field of Climatology. He has made substantial impact nationally and internationally in the area of tropical climatology with emphasis on rainfall behaviour over the West African sub-region as well as climate variability and change. His works have enhanced the understanding of both the theory and practical significance of rainfall patterns and behaviour as well as temperature regimes over West Africa.
Professor Odekunle has attended several workshops and conference on Climatology and Climate Change and is an external examiner to several universities including the Federal University of Technology Akure, and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He is a reviewer to many specialized journals in climate science and meteorology. He has served as a course adviser to students, coordinator of departmental post-graduate studies, member of departmental editorial committee, Acting Head of Department (2009 – 2011) and was for two years Nigeria’s Second Representative in the Governing Council of RECTAS, Ile-Ife (2009 – 2011), among others. Professor Odekunle has participated in major national studies including among others, the development of a Climate Change Policy for Nigeria, preparation of Second National Communication on Climate Change for the United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) process; Adoption of efficient wood stove for controlling deforestation in the Guinea Savanna; Development of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) for Nigeria and Adaptation Response to Climate Change/Climate Variability in Nigeria.