Incalculable Loss

Foremost mathematician and Nigeria’s first PhD holder in Mathematics, Professor Chike Obi, died yesterday. Bukola Olatunji pays tribute to the icon who taught William Kumuyi and Edwin Madunagu at the University of Lagos.

Sometime in 1973, the Dean, School of Mathematics and Physical Sciences at the University of Lagos had organised a five-day seminar for staff and students to prove a theory in Differential Equations. It was to run from Monday to Friday. For two hours everyday, the lecturer made his presentation and on the fourth day, announced that he had finished stating the problem.

Everyone present was alarmed. If it took four out of five days to state the problem, how long would it take to solve it? But by the following day, the lecturer solved the problem.

That lecturer was the first Nigerian to earn a Ph.D in Mathematics, the renowned Emeritus Prof. Chike Obi, who died yesterday at 87.

One of his students, Dr. Edwin Madunagu, who attended that seminar told THISDAY yesterday that “the import of that anecdote is that, if you state a problem clearly and exhaustively, not only in Mathematics, but in all spheres of life, the solution will emerge.”

“Many of us (his students, including the leader of the Deeper Life Bible Church, William Kumuyi) remember what joy and pain it was to be in his class. He was a disciplinarian. As a Scientist, he believed in rigour. There were no assumptions. Everything must be explicitly stated,” he said. 

Born in Zaria on April 7, 1921, Obi died yesterday after an illness at a hospital on Enugu Road, Onitsha, Anambra State.
THISDAY learnt that the Anambra State government was planning to fly him abroad for further treatment but he was too weak to fly. 

He attended St Patrick’s Primary School, Zaria; Christ the King College, Onitsha; Yaba Higher College (now Yaba College of Technology), the University of London, as an external student, and the Pembroke College of the University of Cambridge, where he obtained his Ph.D in 1950.

Although he worked in all areas of pure and applied Mathematics, Obi’s area of concentration was Non Linear Differential Equation of the Second Order.

Obi was a man of many parts, a Mathematician, university lecturer, politician and author. Recalling his achievements yesterday, Madunagu said, “Every person of my own generation and older easily agree that he was a frontline Scientist and Mathematician. Within his own sphere, he was a radical politician. He was anti-establishment. Many did not know that he wrote a book, ‘Our Struggle’, published in the 50s, in which he outlined his political philosophy.”

He was the Leader and Secretary-General of the Defunct Dynamic Party, which, despite the influence of the Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe of the NCNC, simultaneously won seats in both the Federal Parliament and Eastern House of Assembly, representing Onitsha Urban Constituency. He had won the Federal Seat first in 1960.

When he later won the Eastern Seat the following year, the Speaker of the Federal House ruled that he would have to relinquish his seat for the latter. Obi rejected to the ruling and refused to leave the House. He had to be physically carried out of the House and went on the Eastern House, were he served until 1966.
Obi, along with the late first Professor of Mathematics in Nigeria, Adegoke Olubummo, and James Ezeilo, pioneered modern mathematics research in Nigeria. But many of his students became professors in the field ahead of him due to his foray into politics.

In 1998, and without the aid of any instrument, Obi solved the 361-year-old mathematical puzzle known as Fermat's Last Theorem, enunciated by the 17th century French Mathematician, Pierre de Fermat.

The father of four was a father to others too.  Madunagu recalled a personal level, that when he, then 28, was detained by the government for several months in 1975, it was to Obi, then his Head of Department, that he was handed over upon his release.

Obi had started his career as a Lecturer at the University College, Ibadan (now University of Ibadan) in 1959. He became an Associate Professor of Mathematics at the University of Lagos in 1970 and full Professor, the following year. He was Dean of the Faculty of Science in 1980 and Emeritus Professor of the University since 1985.

A Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science, Obi won the Ecklund Prize from the International Centre for Theoretical Physics for original work in Differential Equations, and pioneering works in Mathematics in Africa.

The late Chike Obi believed in the ideology of benevolent dictatorship. According to him, a leader should not oppress his people, but should be firm in giving direction. He did not believe in the 'one man, one vote', arguing that "people voted for what they did not know about." He found a hero in the Father of modern Turkey, Kamal Atartuk.

He was also a newspaper columnist in the 1980s and wrote on national issues under the title: “I Speak for the People”.
Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, said his passage was “not just a loss to the people of Anambra State and Nigeria, but also a painful personal loss to me because I have been very close to him in the last one year. We saw him as role model to the youths of Anambra as we try to rebuild the state.”

The Anambra governor had visited Obi last year and expressed surprise at the man’s state. He placed him on a maintenance allowance of N50,000 monthly and bought him a standby generator.

President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr. Dozie Ikedife, described the death of Obi as a “sad incident” and “a big loss to the country. He was an icon and a pride not just to Nigeria but also to Africa. It will be a big loss to all Nigerians. He was a leader in his own field and one who lived by example.”

Dr. Joe Nwogu, a member of Imeobi Ohanaeze, also described Obi’s death as a tragedy to all Nigerians. Nwogu who attended the same Pembroke University Cambridge with Obi said Ndigbo had lost an intellectual gain who was a pride to all.

DoubleWahala  Villager

# 1 Adieu, Prof. DW _______________________________________________________________________ Obituary; Prof. Chike Obi (1921 - 2008) Source Foremost mathematician and Nigeria’s first PhD holder in Mathematics, Professor Chike Obi, died yesterday. Bukola Olatunji pays tribute to the icon who taught William Kumuyi and Edwin Madunagu at the University of Lagos. Sometime in 1973, the Dean, School of Mathematics and Physical Sciences at the University of Lagos had organised a five-day seminar for staff and students to prove a theory in Differential Equations. It was to run from Monday to Friday. For two hours everyday, the lecturer made his presentation and on the fourth day, announced that he had finished stating the problem. Everyone present was alarmed. If it took four out of five days to state the problem, how long would it take to solve it? But by the following day, the lecturer solved the problem. That lecturer was the first Nigerian to earn a Ph.D in Mathematics, the renowned Emeritus Prof. Chike Obi, who died yesterday at 87. One of his students, Dr. Edwin Madunagu, who attended that seminar told THISDAY yesterday that “the import of that anecdote is that, if you state a problem clearly and exhaustively, not only in Mathematics, but in all spheres of life, the solution will emerge.” “Many of us (his students, including the leader of the Deeper Life Bible Church, William Kumuyi) remember what joy and pain it was to be in his class. He was a disciplinarian. As a Scientist, he believed in rigour. There were no assumptions. Everything must be explicitly stated,” he said. Born in Zaria on April 7, 1921, Obi died yesterday after an illness at a hospital on Enugu Road, Onitsha, Anambra State. THISDAY learnt that the Anambra State government was planning to fly him abroad for further treatment but he was too weak to fly. He attended St Patrick’s Primary School, Zaria; Christ the King College, Onitsha; Yaba Higher College (now Yaba College of Technology), the University of London, as an external student, and the Pembroke College of the University of Cambridge, where he obtained his Ph.D in 1950. Although he worked in all areas of pure and applied Mathematics, Obi’s area of concentration was Non Linear Differential Equation of the Second Order. Obi was a man of many parts, a Mathematician, university lecturer, politician and author. Recalling his achievements yesterday, Madunagu said, “Every person of my own generation and older easily agree that he was a frontline Scientist and Mathematician. Within his own sphere, he was a radical politician. He was anti-establishment. Many did not know that he wrote a book, ‘Our Struggle’, published in the 50s, in which he outlined his political philosophy.” He was the Leader and Secretary-General of the Defunct Dynamic Party, which, despite the influence of the Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe of the NCNC, simultaneously won seats in both the Federal Parliament and Eastern House of Assembly, representing Onitsha Urban Constituency. He had won the Federal Seat first in 1960. When he later won the Eastern Seat the following year, the Speaker of the Federal House ruled that he would have to relinquish his seat for the latter. Obi rejected to the ruling and refused to leave the House. He had to be physically carried out of the House and went on the Eastern House, were he served until 1966. Obi, along with the late first Professor of Mathematics in Nigeria, Adegoke Olubummo, and James Ezeilo, pioneered modern mathematics research in Nigeria. But many of his students became professors in the field ahead of him due to his foray into politics. In 1998, and without the aid of any instrument, Obi solved the 361-year-old mathematical puzzle known as Fermat's Last Theorem, enunciated by the 17th century French Mathematician, Pierre de Fermat. The father of four was a father to others too. Madunagu recalled a personal level, that when he, then 28, was detained by the government for several months in 1975, it was to Obi, then his Head of Department, that he was handed over upon his release. Obi had started his career as a Lecturer at the University College, Ibadan (now University of Ibadan) in 1959. He became an Associate Professor of Mathematics at the University of Lagos in 1970 and full Professor, the following year. He was Dean of the Faculty of Science in 1980 and Emeritus Professor of the University since 1985. A Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science, Obi won the Ecklund Prize from the International Centre for Theoretical Physics for original work in Differential Equations, and pioneering works in Mathematics in Africa. The late Chike Obi believed in the ideology of benevolent dictatorship. According to him, a leader should not oppress his people, but should be firm in giving direction. He did not believe in the 'one man, one vote', arguing that "people voted for what they did not know about." He found a hero in the Father of modern Turkey, Kamal Atartuk. (Our very own Nero Africanus would, no doubt, concur. - DW) He was also a newspaper columnist in the 1980s and wrote on national issues under the title: “I Speak for the People”. Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, said his passage was “not just a loss to the people of Anambra State and Nigeria, but also a painful personal loss to me because I have been very close to him in the last one year. We saw him as role model to the youths of Anambra as we try to rebuild the state.” The Anambra governor had visited Obi last year and expressed surprise at the man’s state. He placed him on a maintenance allowance of N50,000 monthly and bought him a standby generator. President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr. Dozie Ikedife, described the death of Obi as a “sad incident” and “a big loss to the country. He was an icon and a pride not just to Nigeria but also to Africa. It will be a big loss to all Nigerians. He was a leader in his own field and one who lived by example.” Dr. Joe Nwogu, a member of Imeobi Ohanaeze, also described Obi’s death as a tragedy to all Nigerians. Nwogu who attended the same Pembroke University Cambridge with Obi said Ndigbo had lost an intellectual gain who was a pride to all. Posted by DoubleWahala| 13.03.2008 23:40

calist  Villager

# 2 Chike Obi, Mathematics icon dies at 87 By NWABUEZE OKONKWO, Onitsha Friday, March 14, 2008 Nigerian born globally acclaimed mathematician, Professor Chike Obi (CON) is dead. He passed on yesterday morning at the age of 87. Dependable family sources told Daily Sun in Onitsha that following a directive from his younger brother, Obi’s remains had been deposited at the Interlab Hospital mortuary, Onitsha, while the family would soon meet to finalise arrangements on the burial. Obi, who hailed from the popular Obieze Oba family of Ogboli Olosi quarters in the town, was a member of the prestigious Agabalanze Society of Onitsha and held the chieftaincy title of Nnabuenyi. Anambra State governor, Peter Obi expressed shock over the demise of the elder statesman. Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Mike Udah in a telephone chat with Daily Sun, the governor said he was sad at the loss of the late icon, more so when only recently a standby electricity generating set was donated to him while he equally placed him on monthly stipend. Born on April 7, 1921, Prof. Obi had his early education at Christ the King College, Onitsha and the Yaba Higher College, Lagos in the early 1940s. In 1946, he bagged a degree in Mathematics from the University of London as an external student. Prof. Obi had his postgraduate studies variously at the University of Cambridge UK and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA. He began his academic career as lecturer at the University of Ibadan in 1959, and later moved to the University of Lagos where he became a Professor of Mathematics in 1971. He rose to the position of Dean, School of Mathematics and Physical Sciences at the university. And on his retirement in 1985, Obi was appointed Emeritus Professor by the University of Lagos. Besides his academic excellence, Obi was also a colourful politician in his lifetime. Between 1951 and 1966, he was the founder and leader of the Dynamic Party. He also represented Onitsha urban in the Federal Parliament Forum 1960 to 1961. and was also a member of the Eastern Region House of Assembly from 1961 to 1966. He served the Federal Government in several capacities, especially the National Revenue Mobilization Commission during the military era. For his meritorious service to Nigeria, Obi was conferred with the national honour, Commander of the Order of Niger (CON) Posted by calist| 14.03.2008 04:33

denker  Villager

# 3 ...a rare breed of epitome of silent heroism of behemoth intellectual mind, soul and body, a great mentor, beautiful soul worth-emulating, a wonderful role-model, wherever you're take my best thoughts with you. ....for the bereaved family my heartfelt consolations, the gods are with you in dis tormenting hours! Posted by denker| 14.03.2008 05:48

Abraxas  Villager

# 4 Renowned Mathematician, Chike Obi is Dead! Source: SaharaRep... Renowned Mathematician Prof. Chike Obi who has made enormous contributions to mathematics, died today in Nigeria at the age of 86. He is considered the foremost pioneer of modern mathematics in Nigeria. Obi's early research has dealt primarily with the question of whether or not periodic solutions exist for non-linear ordinary differential equations. Despite his enormous contributions to science, Prof. Chike Obi was abandoned by successive governments and left to fend for himself at a very old age, but for the assistance granted the foremost mathematician by Chris Okotie's GRACE programme, which includes the Karis Award he instituted in 1990, Professor Chike Obi was neglected and forgotten by the Nigerian government. Hi, folks! Let me confess: Professor Chike Obi, the erudite Nigerian mathematician and scholar, is my role model. Personally speaking, I am eternally grateful to Professor Emeritus Chike Obi for making me to love mathematics, even if it was from a very long distance, by his sheer charisma. It is indeed sad, and rather ironic that a world-class mathematician of Professor Chike Obi's calibre NEVER received a national award from his country, Nigeria. Born on 7 April 1921 and married with four children, he retired from academia to found the Nanna Institute for Scientific Studies, Onitsha. He was the head of the Dynamic Party of Nigeria, inaugurated in Ibadan on 7 April 1951. One singular characteristic of that party was that it had a defined ideological foundation: Kemalism. Professor Chike Obi's party was overtly cautious about the early and uncoordinated movement towards self-government in Nigeria. The Dynamic Party was one of the first pre-independence parties to publish a well-articulated manifesto, which sought to (1) challenge the mad rush towards independence, particularly by the Action Group, and NCNC (2) foster cooperation with industrialised countries, particularly the United States of America, and countries of today's European Union, (3) promote national loyalty and (4) improve co-existence, cooperation, and communication among ethnic groups in Nigeria, starting from the old Ishan, Egbado and Ekiti divisions. According to Professor Chike Obi,“Kemalism is 'totalitarianism of the left' as opposed to 'totalitarianism of the right', which differs from the former in that the latter believes in force as a permanent way of maintaining order, whereas the former, when resorting to force, is used only in order to quicken the pace of progress . . . Kemalism is a philosophy which, in recognising the vital urgency for a backward country, to introduce western technology into her borders, also recognises the necessity for the use of the weapon of total conscription, that is, the necessity for the backward country to introduce into her borders western administration, language, way of life as much of these as is inseparable from western technology, and the suppression of any local pretensions which might be an obstacle to the declared aim of westernisation.” Some of the party's salient points included the recommendation and setting up of three military training schools and an 'institute of guerilla warfare'. It also advocated the formation of a West African Republic made up of most of French, British, Spanish, and Portuguese West Africa, a West African 'Monroe Doctrine', and a defensive alliance with India against South Africa. Obi was Secretary General of the Dynamic Party of Nigeria (1951-56), member for Onitsha Urban in the Federal Parliament (1960-61), and member for Onitsha Urban East, Eastern House of Assembly (1961-66). He documented his political activities in "Our Struggle, Part I" (John Okwesa and Company 1953) and "Our Struggle Part II", (Pacific Printers International 1962). Historically, Kemalism found its expression in the reforms of the 1930s in Turkey, led by the Turkish national movement, and its leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. It sought to create a modern, democratic and secular nation-state, guided strictly by educational and scientific progress, based on the principles of positivist and rationalist enlightenment. Obi has beenan emeritus professor of mathematics at the University of Lagos since 1985. By sheer brain work, and without the use of computers, the world-acclaimed Nigerian mathematician, Professor Chike Obi, provided a scientific proof, published in 1998, to a 361-year old mathematical enigma known as Fermat's Last Theorem. He conducted his research at his Nanna Institute for Scientific Studies, based in Onitsha, Anambra State of Nigeria. A Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science, the world renowned mathematics scholar won the Ecklund Prize from the International Centre for Theoretical Physics for original work in differential equations, and pioneering works in mathematics in Africa. He earned his doctoral degree in 1950, specialising in non-linear differential equations at the University of Cambridge, England. Obi was lecturer, and later Senior Lecturer at the University of Ibadan (1959 ~ 1962); Associate Professor of Mathematics (1970), and Professor of Mathematics (1971 ~ 1985) at the University of Lagos. In the course of his career, he was Dean, School of Mathematics and Physical Sciences, University of Lagos (1971-73); Chairman, Department of Mathematics (1971-77); Acting dean, Faculty of Science (1981-82). He is also a 1987 Gold Medalist of the University of Lagos. Shortly after retirement, he founded his Onitsha-based scientific institute. Professor Chike Obi's genius in pure mathematics is matched only by a fanatical patriotism. He maintains that "a national leader, or servant must not be a religious fanatic, must not be a tribal fanatic, but must be a fanatic in only one thing: Fanatic Patriot." Such passion and devotion to fatherland and humanity led him on the war path with the government which accused him in 1961 of distributing a seditious pamphlet titled "The people: Facts that you must know". For this he was convicted. Perhaps in reference to this experience and belief in his innocence, one of Obi's favourite quotations is: "The belief that there is only one truth, and that oneself is in possession of it, seems to me the deepest root of all that is evil in the world." In the course of his political odyssey, the great Nigerian mathematician said one of his major goals is "to bring about a scientific technological revolution in Nigeria". He once added: "If I can do this only by becoming Head of State or Head of Government, I will do so. Being Head of State or of Government, if I must be one, is just a necessary tool to achieve my sole aim of bringing about a scientific technological revolution in the fatherland". May his soul rest in perfect peace. Muchas gracias. Don Juan-Carlos ABRAXAS (III) Posted by Abraxas| 14.03.2008 06:54

Gentle Angel  Villager

# 5 I have always heard of this foremost Nigerian mathematician since my primary school days. His name was what we called our mates who excelled in maths ---- Chike Obi! May his soul rest in peace. Posted by Gentle Angel| 14.03.2008 08:07

elgaxton  Villager

# 6 Too bad, How come the good guys get to die first ha? May God grant his family the fortitude to bear this great loss. Posted by elgaxton| 14.03.2008 08:21

Robot  Villager

# 7 Incalculable Loss ...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 14.03.2008 09:03

denker  Villager

# 8 http://www.thetimesofnigeria.com/TON/resources/images/Chike%20Obi.jpgAnambra State Governor, Peter Obi, has expressed shock at the news of renowned Mathematician, Professor Chike Obi, who died yesterday in his hometown, Onitsha, after a protracted illness. He was aged 87. In a telephone interview, Obi’s Chief Press Secretary, Mike Udah, said the governor was devastated by the loss of the elder statesman. He said, “Nigeria and Anambra State in particular, has lost a great statesman, a renowned mathematician and a role model. The vacuum his death has created would be difficult to fill in the academic circle. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace.” Obi, who hailed from Obiezeoba family of Ogboli Olosi quarters, is a member of the prestigious “Agbalanze Society” of Onitsha, with a chieftaincy title of “Nnabuenyi”. A funeral arrangement was yet to be announced as his bereaved family members declined comments on his death, saying they have to meet before issuing press statement to that effect. His body was said to have been deposited at the Interlab Hospital Onitsha. The late mathematical icon is married with children. Both Chike Obi and Governor Obi were products of the prestigious Christ the King College (CKC), Onitsha. Late Obi was beneficiary of Governor Obi's programme of “Rehabilitation Elder Statesman”. The governor donated an electric generator to the late academic, when he visited him and met his house in darkness, just as he placed him on a monthly stipend to assist him. Don Abraxas, again in his absolute best and complete Greatness!....Wonderful EULOGY! Posted by denker| 14.03.2008 09:19

oh baby  Villager

# 9 Back then in sec schl, if you know maths very well ,your peers refer to you as Chike Obi, and you strive to want to be labelled as such,Thank you Prof and rest in peace. Ps DW,change the April 13 2008 date, we are in march 2008. Posted by oh baby| 14.03.2008 09:36

SILOJE  Villager

# 10 What a great loss! May his soul rest in peace. Posted by SILOJE| 14.03.2008 09:42

---

The conversation continues in our forum. Click here to read all comments

---