The Vice Chancellor [VC] of the University of Ibadan [UI], Prof. Kayode Adebowale, has urged young scholars to emulate the virtues of diligence, integrity and reliability of the immediate past Deputy Vice Chancellor [DVC] in charge of Administration of the institution, Prof. Ezekiel Olusola Ayoola.
Adebowale made the call while declaring open the 46th Annual Quantum Probability conference [QP46] 2025 in honour of Professor Ezekiel Olusola Ayoola on his 70th birthday and retirement from the service of the university.
The conference, which was hybrid started from September 7 and ended September 20, 2025. The event, which was held at the Digital Park of the university, attracted many scholars from far and wide. Three foreign professors physically came from India, Rome, and Russia to attend the conference . They are chairmen and two members of the Association of the Quantum Probability that co-sponsored the conference. They are B V Rajarama Bhat of Indian Statistical Institute,Bangalore, India; Professor Aleksander Teretenkov from Steklov Mathematical Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, and Professor Luigi Accardi from the University of Rome Tor Vergata Rome, Italy. Accardi was the chairman of the conference. Prof Accardi is a seasoned and popular Emeritus Professor of Mathematics and full of desire to popularise the subject of quantum probability and infinite dimensional analysis in Nigeria and the whole of Africa. He facilitated the funding of the conference by his association. He is a long-term associate and friend of the department of Mathematics of the University of Ibadan.
Also, family members, wife and children of professor Ayoola, including Dr. Olufunmilayo Ayoola [wife], Oladayo Ayoola, Dare Ayoola, Mrs Alaba Ehindero, and others graced the conference.
The VC, who was represented by the DVC , Administration, Prof. Peter Olapegba, described Ayoola as an icon, community leader, and towering intellectual.
The VC said: ‘’Prof. Ayoola served the university, the Council and this community diligently. Professor Ayoola is diligent, reliable and honest. One can go and sleep if you give him an assignment. I urge young scholars to emulate his virtues of honesty, reliability and diligence’’.
In his remarks, the Dean of Faculty of Science, Prof. Ibrahim Adebayo Oladosu, described Ayoola as a renowned scholar,mentor and teacher, saying his immense contributions to the global mathematical community in research and teaching must be celebrated. Also speaking, the Head of Department [HOD] of Mathematics, Dr Murphy Egwe, lauded the contributions of Ayoola to the development of young scholars, academic leadership, research and mathematical sciences.
‘’He has been my teacher from undergraduate to master levels. He has represented our department. He is diligent and active in research. He led with example’’, the HOD said.
Egwe , who is an Associate Professor of Functional Analysis, urged the government to fund mathematics in order to engender the much-needed change in the country.
Also speaking, the celebrant, Prof. Ayoola, thanked those present at the conference. The Professor of Mathematics said the conference was meant to showcase the latest developments in quantum probability and other related areas as well as encourage young scholars to focus on the major areas of interest. He lamented that in the thematic areas of TETFund, there is no specific funding for mathematical sciences. The professor emphasised that mathematical research and development needed funding to expand the frontier of knowledge.
‘’The government needs to fund and attract talented people into this area. This subject needs encouragement”, the professor added.
