ALHAJI MURITALA TUNDE BALOGUN
Alhaji Muritala Tunde Balogun was
born in Ghana on the 9" of May 1944 to the family of Late Alhaji Abdulkadri
Kelani Balogun and Alhaja Hassanat Balogun. The eldest child of his family
after losing older siblings, he was taken to Nigeria to begin his primary
education at the age of five. He attended the popular St. Marks primary school,
Offa, Kwara state after which he proceeded to the prestigious Provincial Secondary
School now known as Government Secondary School, Ilorin. Daddy exhibited his
leadership qualities right from his secondary school days as he was a well-behaved
senior and prefect.
On completion of his secondary
education, our father gained admission into the National School of Science, Onikan,
Lagos state. He was also elected director of socials during which he brought
several celebrities and artistes to the school for the students who clamoured
for them at that time after serious academic work.
Having completed his course in
flying colours at the National School of Science, our father worked at several
places including the Government Secondary School of Wudil as a teacher of science.
In 1969, daddy gained admission
into the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria for further studies. It was during
his studentship that he met his
sweetheart Alhaja Sherifat Balogun who also a student at the university.
Upon graduation from the
University, daddy was employed at the Ahmadu Bello University as an Administrative
Officer. In 1973, he got married to his wife in Offa.
After working for sometime at
Ahmadu Bello University, daddy secured an appointment at the newly established
university of Ilorin where he was one of the pioneer staff that shaped the
administrator of the university.
Daddy left the University of
Ilorin for the Kwara State College of Technology and also worked in the Polytechnic
administration. Later he attended the University of Manchester and obtained the
HEAP qualification.
In 1976, he was called back into
the establishment division of the University of Ilorin where he rose through
the ranks and became deputy registrar student affairs.
After serving for several years
in the University of Ilorin, daddy was appointed as the Pioneer registrar of
the federal polytechnic of Offa on secondment in the year 1992.
After serving at the Federal
Polytechnic Offa for six years, he was appointed as the registrar of the University
of Ilorin where he worked until his retirement.
Besides academic and university
administration, our dad participates in religious and community activities. He
is a member of the IMAN Muslim community, the Offa Descendants Union (DU) and a
founding member of Offa Club 80 where he has been the president and secretary
on several occasions.
Alhaji Muritala is blessed with
loving wife, children and lovely grandchildren. He has travelled severally to
the United States, United Kingdom
and several African countries.
Even though he is retired, daddy
is not t tired. He has been invited to series of programs related to
the development of tertiary
institutions in Nigeria, like the recent National University Commission (NUC)
accreditation of Nigerian
Universities. He also took part in the planning of the administrative structure
of
some newly established universities.
As an indigenous son of Offa,
daddy is very passionate about the development of the city and thus
he plays very active role in the
matters concerning the town. Daddy is a lover of history and geography and
he enjoys studying maps and
nature.
