BIO DATA – PROFESSOR MATTHEW OLUGBENGA ILORI

Professor Matthew Olugbenga Ilori was born on the 9th of September, 1952 in the city of Gbongan, Osun State, Nigeria, to the family of Chief and Mrs Adegboye Ilori. He attended E.D.C primary school Oke Ofa between 1959 and 1964. He then proceeded to E.D.C. Modern School, Gbaje, Gbongan from 1965-1967. Between 1967 and 1971, Ilori attended Baptist College, Iwo and thereafter taught briefly at Baptist Primary School Obajoda in Ile-Ife. In 1972, he gained admission to Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo and was awarded NCE (Mathematics/Chemistry) in 1975. In 1975 to 1976, he taught Mathematics and Chemistry at Egba High School, Abeoukta. He then proceeded to the then University of Ife, in 1976 where he was offered admission to study Chemistry. Matthew Ilori graduated with honors in 1979. After a brief stint as a teacher at Moremi High School, Ile-Ife, he obtained a spot in the Master of Food Science and Technology program of the University of Ife in 1980. With the Master’s degree obtained in 1983, Ilori proceeded to the PhD program in Food Technology at the University of Ibadan in 1985. In 1990, Matthew Ilori obtained a Doctorate in Food Technology.

In 1982, Matthew Ilori secured an appointment as a Research Assistant at the Technology Planning and Development Unit (TPDU), Faculty of Technology, University of Ife. He rose through the ranks and became Junior Research Fellow in 1983, Research Fellow II in 1986, Research Fellow I in 1989 and was promoted to the rank of Senior Research Fellow in 1991. In 1996, Matthew Ilori was promoted to professorial grade as Principal Research Fellow and in 1999 he became a Professor of Technology Management. At different times, he served as Associate Lecturer at the Department of Management Science, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso in 2004. Professor Ilori was a visiting Professor at Yaba College of Technology from 2007 to 2008 where he was one of the pioneering staff of the Applied Research and Technology Innovation Unit at the College. He was also visiting Professor at the Department of Project Technology Management, Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) in the 2008/2009 session and later the head of Department of Entrepreneurship in the 2013/2014 session at FUTA. He also served as a Principal Research Fellow at the National Center for Technology Management (NACETEM), Ile-Ife from 1997 to 1998 and visiting Professor, Centre for Studies in Science Policy, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India in 2012.

Professor Matthew Ilori belongs to different academic and professional organisations among which are the Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology, Nigerian Participatory Rural Appraisal Network, and the African Technology Policy Study Network. He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Strategic Management of Nigeria and Fellow of the Institute of Business Diplomacy and Financial Management. Ilori has over 150 publications to his credit with 53 entries in the SCOPUS data base. In collaboration with his colleagues in the Department of Food Science and Technology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, he obtained a patent certificate for the production of the Dika Kernel (Irvingia Wombola) flour of three months extended shelf life in 2021. He has graduated over 60 Masters and 43 Doctoral students. Matthew Ilori’s teaching interests are in Strategic Management of Technology, Production Technology Management, Quantitative Techniques in Decision Making, Managerial Accounting and Engineering Economy and Advanced Manufacturing Technology. His research interests are in Industrial Technology Management, R&D and Innovation Management and R&D and Innovation Policy.

Matthew Ilori served the Technology Planning and Development Unit (which later became the African Institute for Science Policy and Innovation in 2011) dutifully well. He served in all the committees of the Institute and was Acting Director from 1992 to 1996 and Director of the Institute from 2003 to 2006. Professor Ilori also served on almost all of the Faculty’s committees such as Chairman, Faculty of Technology Postgraduate Seminar Committee, 1991/1992 session and was Faculty Representative to the Postgraduate College Board 1995/1996 session and from 2001 to 2004 among many other committees. He was Vice-Dean, Faculty of Technology and Chairman, Faculty of Technology PG Committee from 2004 to 2006. Matthew Ilori also served the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife in many capacities. For example, he was Member, Board of Centre for Women and Development Studies 1995/1996 session and Member Deputy Vice-Chancellor’s Committee for the Preparation of UNESCO’s Visitation for the Selection of Regional Centre for Technology Management in Africa in 1990. Professor Ilori was also the Chairman, Committee for Developing Proposals on the Implementation of the Science and Technology Park and on the Committee for Commercial Collaborations with Industry and External Organizations, from 2002 to 2004. He was member, sub-committee on strategic planning, considering non-teaching units and departments in the 2002/2003 session and member Appointment and Promotion Committee of the University. Ilori also served as Senate Representative, Postgraduate College Board, 2005-2007 and was also Director Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Office (IPPTO) from 2018 to 2022

Ilori has served as external examiner/assessor to the Food Science and Technology postgraduate programs of the University of Ibadan, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, and Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki. He was also examiner/assessor to the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Management Science PG program and Covenant University, Ota Business Management PG program. Professor Ilori has also served as an assessor for the Chief Lecturer position for the Osun State Polytechnic, Esa Oke, Osun State, and Professorial Cadre for the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research, Ibadan, Lagos State University, Lagos, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Federal University of Technology, Akure and Osun State University, Osogbo. Matthew Ilori also served as Member, Editorial advisory Board, Nigerian Journal of Industrial and Systems Studies in 2003 and Editor, Journal of Raw Materials Research of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Abuja, Nigeria. He was also a member of the Editorial Board of Ife Journal of Technology and is on the advisory board of the African Journal of Science Policy and Innovation Management

As a professional, Matthew Ilori has numerous accomplishments as a consultant to all levels of government and also to the Organised Private Sector in Nigeria. However, only a few can be mentioned here. He served as a core team member of the Worldwide Brewers and Malt Ltd; an organization that brewed several batches of beverages made entirely from Sorghum in 1988. He was also the coordinator, of an in-plant training Course on Brewing Science, Technology and Management for factory operatives at the International Breweries Limited, Ilesha, in 1993. Ilori served as Science and Technology (S&T) adviser at the Office of the Presidential Adviser, Abuja, on Human Resource Development, Science and Technology from November 2000 to February 2001. He participated in the review of the national policy on science and technology at NACETEM/ Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Abuja in 1995. Matthew Ilori also served as rapporteur for the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Abuja Consultative Forum on Budgeting for Scientific, Engineering and Technological activities from 20-24th September, 1999. Professor Ilori worked with the Presidential Adviser on Human Resource Development, Science and Technology on the extensive review of National Science and Technology Policy and the Development of a Databank of Nigerian S&T Professionals at Home and in Diaspora from November 2000 to February 2001. He was a Resource Person in the preparation of the First Draft of the National Policy on Engineering Materials in June 2001 and was appointed Member National Steering Committee on National Technology Needs Assessment in 2008.

Outside academics, Professor Ilori is a member of the Standing Committee of St Paul’s Anglican Cathedral Church, Gbongan. He is also a member of the Parochial Church Council of Oyejide Oloyede Memorial Anglican Church, Modakeke. Professor Ilori belongs to the Inner Circle of Oke Osun Anglican Diocese. He was the past Secretary of the Association of Gbongan Progressive Union; an umbrella body of Gbongan sons and daughters, home and abroad.

Professor Ilori is married to Mrs. Rachael Modupe Ilori and the marriage is blessed with six sons. Most of his children have obtained PhDs or are in the view of one. Bamidele holds a Masters in Information Technology and is currently a staff at the Ministry of Agriculture Abeoukta. Ogun State, Nigeria. Olatunji holds a PhD in Technology Management and works in the Oil Services Sector. Olutosin holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering and is the current Acting Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Adeleke University, Ede while Ayodeji holds a PhD in Project Technology Management and is a researcher at the Federal Institute for Industrial Research Oshodi, Lagos. Busayo currently holds a Master of Science in Urban and Regional Planning from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife while Oluwasegun is a doctoral student at the department of Local Government Studies, at the same university. Both Busayo and Oluwasegun are civil servants.

Edited by:
O. O. Adejuwon, PhD
A. A. Egbetokun, PhD