Fountain University Elevates Alabi as Pioneer Professor of Organic Chemistry

Fountain University, Osogbo, has promoted long-serving academic, Dr Kazeem Adelani Alabi, to the rank of Professor, making him the institution’s first professor of organic chemistry.

The announcement, issued by the university’s governing council on Monday and signed by the Public Relations Officer, Taoheed Alimi, marks a significant milestone in the scholar’s 14-year career at the institution.

According to the statement, Dr Alabi’s elevation “takes effect immediately”, recognising years of teaching, research and service since he joined the university in 2011.

University Leadership Congratulates Alabi

Top officials of the university have extended their felicitations, led by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olayinka Karim, who commended the new professor for his dedication to scholarship and academic discipline.

She prayed for divine guidance as he assumes the expanded responsibilities associated with the professorial rank.

The Registrar, Sherrif Adenekan, who also serves as secretary to the governing council, described the promotion as a reflection of Dr Alabi’s “outstanding contributions” to organic chemistry and his unwavering commitment to the university’s development. Members of staff and students have similarly celebrated the achievement.

Family Celebrations

The promotion has also been warmly received by members of the Alabi family. The Awoleye Alabi Memorial Foundation (AWAMEF), chaired by Hassan Alabi, described the feat as both inspiring and a worthy continuation of the legacy of the family patriarch, the late Pa Jinadu Alabi.

Sharing the news with relatives on the family WhatsApp platform, gynaecologist Oluwole Alabi said he was delighted to circulate the achievement. “Congratulations to him as we all rejoice with him as he reaches the zenith of his academic ladder,” he wrote.

The platform soon filled with congratulatory messages praising the professor’s discipline, humility and service.

Responding to the outpouring of goodwill, Professor Alabi expressed deep gratitude to the family. “I am always happy and grateful to belong to this great family. Not for once have I ever regretted it,” he wrote.

He dedicated the achievement to their collective prayers and support, urging younger relatives to see the milestone as motivation. “The sky is not your limit; it is only the beginning of what you can achieve through hard work, dedication and prayer,” he added.

Profile of a Scholar

Born on 3 March 1972 in Ilobu, Osun State, Professor Alabi is a specialist in organic and industrial chemistry with a career rooted in teaching, research and academic leadership. He holds a PhD in Organic Chemistry (2016) from the Federal University of Technology, Akure, where he also earned an M.Tech in 2010 and a B.Tech in 2001 in Industrial Chemistry. His academic journey began with a National Diploma from Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, in 1995.

Since joining Fountain University, he has taught a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, from spectroscopy and petroleum geochemistry to separation techniques. He has supervised 17 undergraduate research projects and multiple postgraduate dissertations, including ongoing doctoral work in phytochemical studies.

Professor Alabi has an extensive research footprint with publications in both local and international journals, including Springer and De Gruyter. His scholarship spans natural product chemistry, bioactive compounds, reaction mechanisms, dye synthesis and computational chemistry. His studies on plant-derived dyes and bioactive agents have contributed to advancing green chemistry in Nigeria.

In addition to his academic duties, he has served in several administrative capacities, including Acting Head of Department, Acting Director of Sub-Degree Programmes, and chair of various committees.

He is also active within the university’s Muslim community and has participated in national academic engagements, including accreditation and external examining. He is a member of the American Chemical Society and the Chemical Society of Nigeria.

About Fountain University

Fountain University, Osogbo, established by the Nasrul-Lahi-Il-Fatih Society (NASFAT), received its licence to operate in 2007. The institution offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across management and social sciences, health sciences, and natural and applied sciences, guided by principles rooted in Islamic ethics and discipline.