Robert Ajayi Boroffice
Robert
Ajayi | |
---|---|
![]() Robert Ajayi Boroffice | |
Nigerian Senator for Ondo State | |
Assumed office June 2011 | |
Preceded by | Bode Olajumoke |
Constituency | Ondo North |
Personal details | |
Born | Oka-Akoko, Ondo State | April 23, 1949
Nationality | Nigerian |
Political party | All Progressives Congress (APC) |
Profession | Academic, public servant |
Professor Robert Ajayi Boroffice (born 23 April 1949) is a public servant who was elected Senator for Ondo North, in Ondo State, Nigeria on 9 April 2011.
Early career[]
Boroffice was born on 23 April 1949 in Oka-Akoko, Ondo State, South Western, Nigeria. He became a lecturer at the University of Ibadan in 1975, and Professor of Zoology at the Lagos State University in 1986. He once held administrative positions at the Lagos State University including Head of Department, Dean of Faculty, and Chairman of the Committee of Deans.[1]
Public servant[]
Boroffice was appointed Coordinating Director for Science in the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure in 1992. He worked on biotechnology, Information and Communication Technology and Space Science and Technology which led to establishing the National Biotechnology Development Agency, National Information Technology Development Agency and the National Space Research and Development Agency.[1] In 1999 Boroffice was made director general of the space agency, a post he held for 10 years. Under his leadership, the agency launched two satellites: a low orbit earth observation microsatellite (NigeriaSat-1) in 2003 and a communication satellite (NigcomSat-1) in 2007.[2] He also laid the groundwork for the building of NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-X, which were launched in August 2011, from Russia.[3]
In 2004, Boroffice was awarded the title of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.[1] In March 2011, Boroffice was given the 2011 Golden Merit Award in Space Science by the World Federation of Science Journalists.[4]
Political career[]
Boroffice faced little opposition in his bid to become Labour Party candidate for the Ondo North Senatorial District. He gained the support of traditional rulers in the Akoko area of Ondo State.[5] In an interview before the April elections, he criticized politicians who lacked integrity and honor, making promises they could not keep in order to get elected, and then focusing on making money once elected.[6] In the election, Boroffice gained 84,290 votes. Runners up were the incumbent Senator Bode Olajumoke of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) with 51,112 votes and Agunloye Olu of the Action Congress of Nigeria with 36,601 votes.[7]
On December 28, 2011, Boroffice decamped to the Action Congress of Nigeria so that he could pursue his ambition of becoming the next governor of Ondo state.[8] Later, he decamped to the All Progressives Congress, the ruling party. On 2 July, the president of the Nigeria’s Senate, Ahmed Lawal, announced Borrofice as one of the deputy majority leader of the 9th senate.
References[]
- ^ a b c "Professor Robert Ajayi Borrofice (OON)". Oka Akoko Kingdom. January 18, 2011. Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ^ Pius Utomi Ekpei (1 May 2007). "Orbiting over Nigeria: The Frontier of Space". Time. Archived from the original on January 5, 2007. Retrieved 2011-04-28.
- ^ Everest Amaefule (31 Aug 2008). "How satellite will propel the nation's economy, Vision 2020 –Boroffice". The Punch. Archived from the original on 2008-09-06. Retrieved 2011-09-02.
- ^ Bukola Adebayo (15 Mar 2011). "Boroffice gets WFSJ gold merit award". The Punch. Retrieved 2011-04-23.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Yemi Akintomide (13 January 2011). "Akoko Monarchs Back LP Senatorial Candidate, Boroffice". Daily Independent. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ^ Tayo Babarinde (25 March 2011). "Desperation, cause of violence in politics - Boroffice". Nigerian Tribune. Archived from the original on 25 July 2011. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ^ "Collated Senate results". Independent National Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 2011-04-19. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ^ "Photo News: Boroffice formally declares for ACN". Liberty Report. 28 December 2011. Archived from the original on 8 January 2012. Retrieved 2011-12-28.
- Living people
- Yoruba politicians
- 1949 births
- Members of the Senate (Nigeria)
- People from Ondo State
- University of Ibadan faculty
- Labour Party (Nigeria) politicians
- Officers of the Order of the Niger
- Nigerian academics
- Yoruba academics
- Lagos State University faculty
- All Progressives Congress politicians