The University of Ibadan (UI) and the Nigerian academic community have been thrown into mourning following the death of Professor Abdulganiy Olayinka Raji, a renowned agricultural engineer and former Resident Electoral Commissioner with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Professor Raji passed away on Friday, 19 December 2025. He was a distinguished scholar in the Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, University of Ibadan, where he served the institution in several academic and administrative capacities.
A First Class graduate of Agricultural Engineering from the University of Ibadan, the late professor obtained both his BSc and MSc degrees from the institution before proceeding to the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne in the United Kingdom, where he earned his PhD as a Commonwealth Scholar.
An expert in Crop Processing and Storage Engineering, Professor Raji was widely recognised for his pioneering work in the Mathematical Modelling of Agricultural Systems. He was also highly sought after locally and internationally for his expertise in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics in Agriculture. Over the course of his career, he attracted numerous research grants and received several awards, reflecting his depth of knowledge and scholarly excellence.
Within the University of Ibadan, he served at various times as Head of Department, Director of Management Information Systems/ICT, and a member of the Central Appointments and Promotions Panel, among other roles. At the national level, he was a delegate representing Oyo State at the 2014 National Conference in Abuja.
Professor Raji also rendered national service as a Resident Electoral Commissioner with INEC between 2017 and 2023, during which he was deployed to Ogun, Ekiti and Osun states. His tenure was widely regarded as marked by professionalism, integrity and dedication to duty.
Professionally, he was a Fellow of the Nigerian Institution of Agricultural Engineers and a member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, among other professional bodies.
He is survived by his wife and children. Funeral prayers (janazah) will be held on Saturday, 20 December 2025, at Ọjaagbo Central Mosque, Ogbomoso, by 11:00 a.m., followed by burial according to Islamic rites.
With deep sorrow but total submission to the will of Allah, members of the University of Ibadan Muslim Community described Professor Raji as a strong pillar whose passing leaves an irreplaceable void in the university and the nation at large.
