Professor Sam Sunday Adefila was born on 15th August, 1949 in Ilofa, Kwara State, Nigeria. He had a merry-go-round primary school education, starting from Saint Peter’s Ilofa 1954, through Saint Paul Ishapa 1955, Saint Peter’s Ilofa 1956, Baptist Kano 1957, United Ilorin 1958, Saint John’s Bida/ Holy Trinity Kano 1959, Saint John’s Katsina 1960 and finishing in Saint Peter’s Ilofa 1961/62. He received secondary and higher school education at the Government Secondary School, Ilorin from 1963 to 1969. After bagging a BSc. Degree in Chemistry in 1973, he served in the 1973/1974 ‘Guinean pig’ National Youth Service Corp scheme. He joined the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, in 1974, as an Assistant Lecturer and rose to the rank of Professor in 1990.

Meanwhile, he utilized a collaboration program between (ABU) and the Twente University, The Netherlands, to earn MSc. in ABU, and PhD. in England, in Chemical Engineering, in 1977 and 1983, respectively.

Outside hundreds of undergraduates that have passed through him, he has directly successfully supervised over forty postgraduates. Many of these graduates have reached the zenith of their careers in the public and private sectors, including Professorial cadres in the University and Group Managing Directorate levels in Group of Companies. Besides, he has published over one hundred academic papers and consulted for more than thirty industries on Energy, Environment, Feasibility Studies on Process Industries (many of which have already been established) and Management. He has also served as Head of Departments and Dean of Faculty in (ABU) and Covenant Universities. He has served as Accreditor of examinations in many Universities and on behalf of the National Universities Commission. He has also served as Chair of many high powered committees in the University, Professional bodies like the Nigeria Society of Chemical Engineers, Nigerian Society of Engineers, Church and Community Development Associations. He is currently Deputy National President of the Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers and Baba Ijo of The Cathedral Church of Saint Peter, Ilofa.

One of his most thrilling services is that of the Inaugural Chair Professor of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) (ABU), which offered his team the opportunity to develop the fundamentals of producing zeolites, for petroleum refining, from local kaolin and low grade chemicals. He has advanced these since leaving the chair. For example, a product of these advances is presently undergoing tests for industrial application, apart from considering the extension of formation of zeolites, beyond linking the Columns Three and Four elements, to other contiguous elements, to produce novel advanced materials, for industrial and domestic uses.

Professor Adefila voluntarily retired from full University service, in February 2014, to serve as Chairman in Engineering and Environmental Management Services Limited (EEMS), Abuja. He is also developing a medium scale agricultural and mineral materials processing enterprise – ILF Infinite Affairs Limited – in his local government area, for the purposes of empowerment and inspiration.

Together with his deceased wife, Professor Adefila has four children, all of who have graduated and contributing to human development in public and private establishments.

SPECIALIZATIONS

• Irreversible Thermodynamics, Separation Processes, Energy and Technology Policy