Babalola Borisade
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Prof. Abraham Babalola Borishade (7 March 1946 – 26 April 2017) was a
Nigerian Nigerians or the Nigerian people are citizens of Nigeria or people with ancestry from Nigeria. The name Nigeria was derived from the Niger River running through the country. This name was allegedly coined in the late 19th century by British jo ...
politician. He was a four time Federal Minister in
Nigeria Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean to the south. It covers an area of . With Demographics of Nigeria, ...
, between 1999-2011. He was known as an
electrical engineer Electrical engineering is an engineering discipline concerned with the study, design, and application of equipment, devices, and systems that use electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism. It emerged as an identifiable occupation in the l ...
, teacher and
political strategist Political consulting is a form of consulting that consists primarily of advising and assisting political campaigns. Although the most important role of political consultants is arguably the development and production of mass media (largely televisi ...
.


Early life

Borishade attended St. Andrews Primary School, Usi Ekiti, and Doherty Memorial Grammar School, Ijero Ekiti. In 1971, he graduated from the
University of Ife Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) is a federal university in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. The university was founded in 1961 and classes commenced in October 1962 as the University of Ife by the regional government of Western Nigeria, which w ...
, with First Class Honors in electrical engineering. After graduation, he was hired as a
graduate assistant A graduate assistant serves in a support role at a university, usually while completing post-graduate education. The assistant typically helps professors with instructional responsibilities as teaching assistants or with academic research resp ...
there. In 1972, he earned a
Commonwealth Scholarship The Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP) is an international programme under which Commonwealth governments offer scholarships and fellowships to citizens of other Commonwealth countries. History The plan was originally proposed ...
for a doctorate degree in high-voltage engineering at
Victoria University Victoria University may refer to: * Victoria University (Australia), a public research university in Melbourne, Australia * Victoria University, Toronto, a constituent college of the federal University of Toronto in Canada * Victoria University of ...
. He obtained his PhD in 1975, and returned to
Obafemi Awolowo University Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) is a federal university in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. The university was founded in 1961 and classes commenced in October 1962 as the University of Ife by the regional government of Western Nigeria, which w ...
(OAU), where he launched the Electrical Power Systems degree program and the University of Ife Consultancy Unit, both in the Faculty of Technology.


Career

In 1975, Borishade was selected to train at the Nuclear and Power Engineering Station at
Texas A&M University Texas A&M University (Texas A&M, A&M, TA&M, or TAMU) is a public university, public, Land-grant university, land-grant, research university in College Station, Texas, United States. It was founded in 1876 and became the flagship institution of ...
. He obtained a certificate in
Nuclear Power Nuclear power is the use of nuclear reactions to produce electricity. Nuclear power can be obtained from nuclear fission, nuclear decay and nuclear fusion reactions. Presently, the vast majority of electricity from nuclear power is produced by ...
Development. He underwent further training in the
International Atomic Energy Agency The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is an intergovernmental organization that seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear technology, nuclear energy and to inhibit its use for any military purpose, including nuclear weapons. It was ...
, Vienna in 1982. Borishade was a registered engineer and a member of the
Institute of Electrical Engineers The Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE) was a British professional organisation of electronics, electrical, manufacturing, and information technology professionals, especially electrical engineers. It began in 1871 as the Society of Tel ...
, United Kingdom. He was a member of the
Nigerian Society of Engineers The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) is an umbrella organization for engineers in Nigeria. It was founded on 16 February 1958 in the United Kingdom and inaugurated at the Nigerian House in London. NSE is registered with the Corporate Affair ...
,
American Nuclear Society The American Nuclear Society (ANS) is an international, not-for-profit organization of scientists, engineers, and industry professionals that promote the field of nuclear engineering and related disciplines. ANS is composed of three communities: ...
, and the Science Association of Nigeria. He became an
Associate Professor Associate professor is an academic title with two principal meanings: in the North American system and that of the ''Commonwealth system''. In the ''North American system'', used in the United States and many other countries, it is a position ...
of Electrical Engineering at OAU in 1985. He served as a member of the Technical Advisory Committee of the Regional Centre for Training in Aerospace Survey. He was a representative of the congregation at the University Senate, and also Chairman of Project Advisory Committee and University Works and Maintenance Service Monitoring Committee.


Public service

In 1988 Borishade was elected as a Member of the Constituent Assembly to review the 1979 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He advocated for the creation of the Nigeria Energy Commission and the Environmental Protection Commission that later created the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA), a precursor to the present Ministry of Environment. Borishade supported General Shehu Musa Yar’adua's efforts towards crafting bridges of understanding among the country's ethnic nationalities as a prerequisite for development. He joined the Yar'adua's movement called "the Peoples Front" together with other politicians such as
Atiku Abubakar Atiku Abubakar (; born 25 November 1946) is a Nigerian politician and businessman who served as the vice president of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007 during the presidency of Olusegun Obasanjo. He ran for the office of governor of Adamawa State i ...
,
Abdullahi Aliyu Sumaila Abdullahi Aliyu Sumaila (23 March 1946 – 11 January 2003) was a Nigerian politician and administrator. One of the first administrators to inherit the post first republican administrative structure instituted by the military, he served the Local ...
, Abubakar Koko,
Dapo Sarumi Dapo Sarumi is a Nigerian politician from Lagos State. He was the former minister for Information. In 1991, he contested the Social Democratic Party (Nigeria) gubernatorial primary under the People's Front faction of the SDP led by Shehu Musa Yar' ...
, Yomi Edu,
Bola Tinubu Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Adekunle Tinubu (born 29 March 1952) is a Nigerian politician serving as the 16th and current president of Nigeria since 2023. He previously served as the governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007, and senator for Lagos ...
, Professor Ango Abdullahi, Sabo Bakin Zuwo and
Rabiu Kwankwaso 200px, Nigeria.html" ;"title="Kano State in Nigeria">Kano State in Nigeria Mohammed Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso, (born 21 October 1956) is a Nigerian politician who served as governor of Kano state from 1999 to 2003 and from 2011 to 2015. After he ...
. This later birthed the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), a political association that has remained dominant in Nigerian politics. The PDM struggled to restore democracy to Nigeria and became a principal partner in the formation of the
Social Democratic Party The name Social Democratic Party or Social Democrats has been used by many political parties in various countries around the world. Such parties are most commonly aligned to social democracy as their political ideology. Active parties Form ...
(SDP) created by the Babangida Military Administration. Borishade served as director of research and planning for the defunct SDP; Coordinator (Administration) of M.K.O Abiola's campaign; director of administration, strategy, and planning for the
Obasanjo Chief Olusegun Matthew Okikiola Ogunboye Aremu Obasanjo (; ; born 5 March 1937) is a Nigerian former army general, politician and statesman who served as Nigeria's head of state from 1976 to 1979 and later as its president from 1999 to 2007 ...
Campaign Organization in 1999; and coordinator of the Election Administration and Management Unit of the Obasanjo/ Atiku Campaign Organization in 2003. Borishade was appointed senior special assistant to President Obasanjo in May 1999, initiating and convening the first Youth Forum in
Abuja Abuja (; , ) is the capital city of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, strategically situated at the geographic midpoint of the country within the Federal Capital Territory (Nigeria), Federal Capital Territory (FCT). As the seat of the Federal G ...
. He chaired the preparation of the National Youth Policy and the blueprint of the National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP). Between February 2001 and May 2003, he served as Minister of Education. In recognition of his contributions to education in Nigeria, Africa and the world at large, Borishade was elected the vice-chairman of the E9 Group of the United Nations, President of the
UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...
International Conference on Education, as well as Chairman Education for All (EFA) Forum of African Ministers of Education. In 2004, Prof. Borishade was appointed Honourable Minister of State, Power and Steel. He initiated the 'Gas to Power Project (G2P)' a
World Bank The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans and Grant (money), grants to the governments of Least developed countries, low- and Developing country, middle-income countries for the purposes of economic development ...
sponsored project designed to ensure sustained gas development and availability for power production to meet Nigerian electricity demands. Between July 2005 and November 2006, Prof. Borishade was Minister of Aviation, during which a Civil Aviation Bill was passed to replace the 1964 Act, and the direct flight between Nigeria and the United States of America was restored. His initiation of various reforms and development in the aviation sector resulted in Nigeria scoring 93% in the ICAO Universal Audit which made Nigeria a benchmark for the African aviation industry. In November 2006, he was assigned to the Federal Ministry of Culture and Tourism as a Minister, a position he held till May 2007 at the expiration of Obasanjo and Abubakar's tenure.


Recognition

*National Honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic, CFR *Baba Isale of St Andrew Anglican cathedral of Ekiti Oke Diocese of Anglican communion at Usi Ekiti


Personal life

He married Ireti Olubunmi Borishade and had children.


Death

Prof Babalola Borishade died on 26 April 2017 in London after a brief illness. He was 71 years old.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Borishade, Babalola 1946 births 2017 deaths Obafemi Awolowo University alumni Texas A&M University alumni Alumni of the Victoria University of Manchester Aviation ministers of Nigeria Federal ministers of Nigeria Education ministers of Nigeria Academic staff of Obafemi Awolowo University Nigerian electrical engineers People from Ekiti State Commanders of the Order of the Federal Republic