Debo Onifade

Debo Onifade

Adebowale Olaiwola Onifade is a technology entrepreneur in Nigeria. He was one of the two Africans among the nine winners at the 2004 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers USA (IEEE) Worldwide History Paper Contest, organised by the History Committee. His paper - History of the Computer, was presented at the Conference of History of Electronics (2004) held at Bletchley Park, UK in June 2004. Bletchley park was the home of UK World War II Decryption establishment. Debo won the award while he was an Electrical Electronic Engineering student at Nigeria's premier university - University of Ibadan.[1][2]

Debo also won National first prize awards in the 2007 All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) National Essay competition - organized for secondary school students across Nigeria. He won a plaque of honour by the National Orientation Agency (Ogun State) and a certificate of merit by ANCOPSS for this feat. He has won several other essay awards, some of which have been published.

Debo took part as the University of Ibadan Student Team Lead in the 2004 UNESCO/DaimlerChrysler Mondialogo program contest, in collaboration with other students from University of Ibadan and Pennsylvania State University, USA. Their paper was titled ‘Solar Energy for Rural Nigeria’.

Debo has a Master's degree in Engineering Management from the Tufts University in Massachusetts. After working for a few years in both Nigeria and the USA, he started a technology and consulting business at the age of twenty-five. He is a certified corporate member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and holds other international IT certifications. He has consulted for big companies in Nigeria - offering business and technology solutions. He has also featured on several television programs in Nigeria and England. He is an ardent follower of political economy and sports, and has been guest speaker at many programs.[3]

Contents

Early life

He was born in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria, West Africa on November 11, 1981 to the family of Dr and Mrs Adewale Onifade. He attended the Ogun State Polytechnic Staff Primary School, Abeokuta from 1987 to 1993, Ijemo Titun High School, Abeokuta from 1993 to 1998, University of Ibadan, Nigeria from 1999 to 2005, and Tufts University, USA from 2007 to 2009. He has certifications from compTIA (2002), Microsoft (2003), Cisco (2004) and Diebold (2007).

At Ijemo Titun High School, Debo was Editor-in-chief of the Career Press Club, and the Social Prefect. He regularly featured at the Ogun State Television (now Gateway Television) on sport programs from the age of sixteen. He also published a small book, The Computer as a Word Processor, at sixteen. Eight years after leaving the school, the school's computer centre was named after him.[3]

At the University of Ibadan, Debo was IEEE Student Branch Chair at the institution for two years, and functioned as the branch mentor for about three years. He was an Editor at the Departmental Press. He won a co-winner at the IEEE 2004 Worldwide History Paper Contest.[4][5]

Career

Debo Onifade worked with DCC Satellite Services, Prodoction Point Ltd and ATM Consortium Ltd in Lagos, Nigeria, and briefly at the Tufts University USA. He started a technology and business solutions company (e-Peak Systems Limited) in Nigeria in February 2007, and a sister company (with the same name) at the USA in October 2009. He currently does business with several banks, oil companies, IT and telecommunication firms, etc. in Nigeria.[6]

Debo's core career interests and focus are on Energy (especially renewable and complementary energy) and Strategy.[7]

Activities

Debo has been guest speaker at several programs, especially those organised by his former secondary school and university. He has mentored several people and strongly believes in a society where every Nigerian child is given an opportunity to pursue whatever he wants to become without any fears of impossibilities. He believes everyone will experience serious challenges to their dreams and vision but God has provided way-out opportunities for everybody. These opportunities are unique to everyone but majority are never prepared for or sensitive to those opportunities when they become available. Debo continues to mentor hundreds of younger people to become clear about their vision in life, pursue them vigorously and look beyond their challenges. He also still enjoys analyzing global economies, politics, sports, and energy.[5]

Publications

Debo has several publications (books, academic papers, and articles).

  1. Onifade, Debo (2011). “Power Supply: We need the facts”[8][9][10][11]
  2. Onifade, Adebowale (2006). “The Challenges of the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) Industry in Developing Africa” Paper submitted to IEEE Region 8 and some Nigerian newspapers, for publication in 2006.
  3. Onifade, Adebowale (2004). “History of the Computer”[1]
  4. Onifade, Adebowale (2004). “The Future of Electrotechnology in Nigeria”. Abeokuta ITHS 2004 Journal. Paper also presented during an IEEE – University of Ibadan Student Branch program
  5. Onifade, Adebowale and Onochie, Olufayowa (2004). “Solar Energy for Rural Nigeria” Paper submitted for the IEEE Region 8 2004 Annual Paper Contest. (2004)
  6. Onifade, Adebowale (2002). “The Computer for Word Processing and Internet” Book published by KAPPCO, Abeokuta, Nigeria, and recommended by Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (Nigeria) for its Commerce Exam in 2004
  7. Onifade, Adebowale (1998). “The Responsibility of the individual citizen in a democratic Nigeria” Winning essay in the 1998 Prof Femi Osofisan essay competition
  8. Onifade, Adebowale (1998). “The Computer as a Word Processor” Book published by KAPPCO, Abeokuta, Nigeria

Family

Debo is married to Tobiloba. Tobiloba has a Master's degree in Pharmacy and has practised Pharmacy in the UK for a few years. They both currently live in Lagos, Nigeria. His father (Dr Adewale Onifade) is a lecturer and the mother (Mrs Bolaji Onifade) is a retired banker and businesswoman. He has two sisters, Adebola Popoola and Adesola Okanlawon.

References

  1. ^ a b Onifade, Adebowale. "History of the Computer". 2004. IEEE. http://www.ieeeghn.org/wiki/images/5/57/Onifade.pdf. Retrieved 1 February 2011. 
  2. ^ "IEEE History Center". November 2004. IEEE. http://140.98.193.141/documents/Issue_66_-_Nov2004.pdf. Retrieved 1 February 2011. 
  3. ^ a b "Debo Onifade". 23 November 2010. IEEE. http://www.ieeeui.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=62&Itemid=58. Retrieved 1 February 2011. 
  4. ^ "Warsaw University of Technolog". 3 November 2003. IEEE Region 8 News. http://www.ewh.ieee.org/reg/8/documents/reg8news1103.pdf. Retrieved 1 February 2011. 
  5. ^ a b "Symposium on Nigerian electronic payment". December 2010. IEEE Region 8 News. http://ewh.ieee.org/reg/8/news/issues/r8news_dec10.pdf. Retrieved 1 February 2011. 
  6. ^ "Why ICT sector thrives in Nigeria". October 22, 2008. The Guardian News Paper Nigeria. http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/compulife/article02//indexn2_html?pdate=221008&ptitle=Why%20ICT%20sector%20thrives%20in%20Nigeria,%20by%20expert. Retrieved 1 February 2011. 
  7. ^ "Adebowale Onifade". MIT Energy Club. http://www.mitenergyclub.org/about-us/member/adebowale-onifade. Retrieved 1 February 2011. 
  8. ^ Onifade, Debo "Power Supply: We Need The Facts", Sahara Reporters. 2011-02-08.
  9. ^ Onifade, Debo "Power Supply: We Need The Facts", The Guardian Newspaper. 2011-02-23.
  10. ^ Onifade, Debo "Power Supply: We Need The Facts", The Punch Newspaper. 2011-02-15.
  11. ^ Onifade, Debo "Power Supply: We Need The Facts", TribuneNigeriaWorld Online. 2011-02-15.

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