NaijaPositive.com

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 5404

Chike Obi (1921-2008) - Reknowned Mathematician

Sun News
25th March '08

Nigeria, indeed Africa’s foremost Mathematician, Professor Chukwunwike Obi popularly called Chike Obi passed on recently. The renowned mathematician of international repute died at the age of 87 in a private hospital in Onitsha, Anambra State, after a protracted illness. His death has robbed Nigeria and Africa of one of its brightest scholars and thinkers.

Born on April 7, 1921 in Zaria, Kaduna State, Obi had his early education at St Patrick’s School, Zaria and Christ the King College, Onitsha from 1933 to 1939.

He studied Mathematics and Physics at the Yaba Higher College, Lagos from 1940-1942 and later became external student, University of London, England, from 1942-1946 where he studied Mathematics, Zoology and Botany. He had his Bachelor of Science degree with specialization in Mathematics. By 1946, Obi had obtained his Master’s degree in Mathematics with a dissertation on “Differential Equations and Analytical Dynamics.” He was also at Pembroke College, University of Cambridge, England from 1947-1950 where he obtained his doctorate degree in Mathematics with a thesis on “Non-linear Differential Equations.”

In 1951, the mathematical genius started his academic career as a lecturer at the University of Ibadan and later rose to the rank of a senior lecturer. He became an associate professor of mathematics at the University of Lagos in 1970, and later professor of mathematics in 1971. He became professor emeritus of the University of Lagos following his retirement from the institution in 1985.

Some of his students include renowned novelist, Elechi Amadi, Professor Alexander Animalu, Drs. W.F. Kumuyi and Enoch Adeboye. The deceased who traversed the mathematical world like a colossus proved wrong the 17th century assertion by Europeans that Africans cannot solve mathematical problems. He capped his mathematical career by untying the 361-year old puzzle, the Fermat’s Last Theorem, in the late 1990s.

Besides mathematics, Obi was very active in the soapbox, the letters and journalism. Between 1951 and 1966, he was the founder and Secretary General of Dynamic Party of Nigeria (DPN). He was elected a member of the Federal Parliament 1960-61 and member of Eastern House of Assembly from 1961-1966. He later founded a pressure group called Committee for the Propagation of Patriotism to rid the country of corruption.

Aside his numerous scientific publications on non-linear differential equations in national and international journals, Obi authored two books, Our Struggle Part I (1953), Our Struggle Part II (1962). He later ran an incisive column in the Punch newspaper titled “I Speak for my People.”
Obi became a Fellow of Cambridge Philosophical Society in 1950 and member of Royal Overseas League, London in 1972. He won several academic prizes and belonged to the Agbalanze society of his Onitsha ancestry.

We mourn his death and commiserate with members of his family, the government and people of Anambra State and the nation on this irreparable loss. The deceased has demonstrated with his exemplary life that with hard work and diligence to one’s aspiration, one can achieve greatness. We extol his ideological principles, which made him remain focused even in the face of adversity and trials. He was incarcerated both in the defunct Republic of Biafra and immediately after the Civil War by Nigerian authorities for his political views.

It is indeed regrettable that since Obi’s retirement, not much has been done for him by the country and institution he served diligently. Only Rev. Chris Okotie’s Household of God Church remembered him with a Karis Award worth N500, 000 in 1990; and lately, Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State donated a generator set and approved a monthly stipend for him.

We enjoin the Federal Government to immortalize this academic and patriot who contributed much to the upliftment of his society. We also urge the University of Lagos where the late professor emeritus made his mark to honour him. Nigeria and her institutions should learn how to honour their living legends while they are alive and not necessarily when they are no more. We wish Obi’s gentle soul eternal repose.

_________________
May we be strengthened with the ability, willingness and capabilities to be good ambassadors of Nigeria contributing to its uplifting, rather than its detriment. - Cxsm