An interview session with Professor Eyiwunmi Falaye, (Former Dean of Students Affairs University of Ibadan) by Ajado Joseph Babatunde
1.      Who is the man Professor Eyiwunmi Falaye? We bless the Lord for this wonderful occasion, praise the lord and I must commend your patience, postponement and delay but the lord has created this opportunity. Now to your question, my name Eyiwunmi Falaye. I was born over sixty years ago and now the second surviving child of over 25 children of my Father. My mother is the surviving first child and we give glory to God from Owo, Ondo State. I grew up in the Polygamous homes, Christian atmosphere and taught to fear God, love our fellow human being and work very hard and to be diligent. My father of blessed memory, taught us hardwork, honesty, decency while my gentle woman taught us obedience and to respect other people, be humble and not to harm anybody. So the combination of the tutelage of my parents gave me a good stead and head start in life.
I bless the lord for the humble beginning. And I could refer to as the solid foundation upon God.
I worked at the University of Ibadan, I have been a lecturer in the department since 1983. That’s 36 years ago.
I have been a Professor of aquaculture and fisheries about 23 years ago. About fourteen years ago when I was conferred the honour of professorship. I thank the lord for the life he has given me and my family.
2.      Where did you attend your primary school? Education? My Primary school education span across many towns and city. My father was working with post and telegraph and it became post and telecommunication and they were very mobile. I started my primary school education in Owo, Ondo state in 1958 without completing a year there we moved to okitipupa same year, I did a year there, we quickly moved to Minna. Again from Minna of Ado-ekiti. Back to owo in 1963 to complete for year 5. And in 1964 in Andrew school owo where I started initially. I completed the primary school education.
3.      Where did you attend your secondary education? I attends St Patrick school in Akoko. It was interesting because it were purely catholics. Boarding school where we had all reverend fathers. They were teachers
The book used were from inland. We had a chapel but taught in a civilized manner. We have American teachers, Irish teachers and English teachers from England. I spent five years there. Whole some training. Infact well training in sports like football, volley ball, basketball, tennis and dignity of labour.
Three days were for sports, two days were for labour. For the labour, we were taught to use cutlass and hoe. Then the practical training as well as the theoretical training we attended chapel two times in a day. In the morning and night. We were taught by the Reverend Father the fear of God.
4.      What is your like and dislike? Well, there can be no straight answers, but I will put it this way. You would recall I told you they taught us honesty. I grew up as a young boy.
I did not like fighting, my mother told me to be gentle. I did not like poganacious people or belucose i.e. Those who were violent.
I did not like that for my upbringing. I did not like dishonesty even though we played pranks but not the level of stealing or violen. I abhor such things completely. I love sports we were taught from tender ages to appreciates sports and look forward to sports.
5.      What is your hobbies? I love sports we were taught from tender ages to appreciate sports and look forward to sports of all the sport, I appreciated swimming the most. My wife and I go for swimming on Friday. Above all since I know the lord and personal savior I love praying To be my good friend, you have to be a praying person, I have acquitance which is different from friends. Friends share things about God and I love the children of God.
6.      What course did you study in the University? I did my first degree in Englanf. Ever since I have known Jesus Christ he has been so wonderful to me. He opens the door of scholarships opportunities and I had the government scholarship to go abroad for my fisrt degree. I spent four years in play month, play month Polytechnic, now University. Where I had my B.Sc in Fisheries Science and the good news is that my institution was the first to do pure degree in fishery sciences.
First in Europe so I can call myself the first Nigerian to have full fledge degree in fishery science not zoological sciences or hydrology.
Just fisheries science. I did my masters in Scotland through government scholarship and come back to  Nigeria as an assistant lecturer.
7.      How was your experience when you got your first job? I worked briefly before I went to do my first degree at CRIN. It started as an holiday job. And it became permanent for a while till I got admission to University. From there I rose through the rank to become a professor.
8.      Tell us your experience as a Christian father Again, It’s a thing of joy to become a Christian father. We had our first child in the year 1987, 3rd June exactly three years when I was ordained a presiding elder of the Apostolic church of Nigeria and all the children and rand children. It’s very interesting being a Christian father and likewise my wife too. A father and grandfather, my wife as a mother and grandmother. We taught them the way of God including our maids. Our children are doing well.
9.      Tell us the secret to success and recognition
The secret to success is Jesus Christ. The secret to good life is Jesus Christ. The secret to victory is Jesus Christ. The secret to abundance of life is Jesus Christ. The secret to awesome life is Jesus Christ of course having put Jesus first. Seek first the kingdom of God and every other good things shall be added to you.
But you must work very hard. As I often counsel, oral et labara means work and pray.
Work as if all the success depends on hardwork and pray as if all the success depends on fervent prayers and you will on top in Jesus Name.
10. Tel us the secret to grow as a believer
The secret to grow as a believer is Jesus Christ and simply no more and no less.
11. What is your greatest achievements as a lecturer? I have taught over 100 students, some are doing their masters and PHD now. Some are already a professor in the department or elsewhere. We give glory to God for that.
12. What is your advice to the younger ones on marital success?
Firstly, you have to be led by the holy spirit in choosing a life partner and you have to study the manuals of God and which is the bible that will guide you all through the journey of life. Again, Listen to each other on how things can be done better.
13. What’s your take on the Nigeria’s challenges and the way forward?
The Nigeria’s challenges is not as the same everywhere but makes us to understand that if you do the following from the bible if my people which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, pray and seek my fall and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will heal their land (2Chronicls 7:14).
What’s your greatest achievement in life
My greatest achievement is knowing you God as my personal savior. That is the spiritual aspect of life God has bless my education and career. I have been a professor for more than 23 years and still counting. The family front I have been blessed with wife and children and has given me the opportunity to serve him. That is what we called achievement and he continues by saying what does it profit a man to gain he whole world and suffers his Soul, Salvation makes his happy which makes it complete and done great things for me.
What year did you become the Dean of Students Affairs?

It was from the year of 2006 – 2012. I served two terms as the former Dean of Student Affairs.