Nigeria, Anambra and Nnewi lost one of their most illustrious sons recently. Dr. Timothy Ifeanyichukwu Obiaga (OFR), a former Director-General of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) died at age 84 on November 29 and was buried on December 14 in Toronto, Canada.
Dr. Tim as he was widely known by family, friends and admirers, created a niche as a visionary change management and organization development specialist whose contributions have left an indelible mark on the world.
Throughout his illustrious career, Dr. Obiaga held numerous prestigious positions. He was the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of NASENI from 1998 to 2003. In the course of that appointment, he provided visionary and policy direction, achieving and implementing the overall objectives of NASENI. His tenure saw the initiation and completion of several development centers, the organization of the first NASENI-wide planning workshop, and the development of a five-year blueprint for the agency.
Dr. Obiaga’s contributions to the field of science and technology were unparalleled. He was instrumental in the formulation of Nigeria’s National Science and Technology Policy, the establishment of the National Science and Technology Fund, and the development of strategies for the transformation of industrial research institutes into engineering infrastructure development complexes. His work in the foundry industry, plant design engineering, and fabrication has left a lasting legacy.
In addition, Dr. Obiaga was a dedicated educator. He served as an Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Benin, where he taught courses in unit operations, petroleum refining, and engineering economics. His research interests included bitumen production from light crudes and new pulping processes.
Dr. Obiaga’s commitment to national development was evident in his numerous national assignments. He chaired panels and committees on science and technology policy, earthquake phenomena, outer space applications, and foundry development. His leadership and expertise were sought after by various national and international organizations, including UNESCO and the International Atomic Energy Agency.
In recognition of his outstanding contribution to nation building, Dr. Obiaga was awarded the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) in 1999.
Dr Obiaga’s sterling academic qualities were evident as he shone brightly in the schools where he studied right from the famous Government College, Umuahia then to the University of Ibadan where he studied Chemical Engineering and later fulfilling his dream of completing a doctorate in Chemical Engineering at the University of Toronto, Canada.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Dr. Obiaga was a devoted family man. He shared a happy marriage with his beautiful wife of 49 years, Christiana
Uduekwesi Obiaga nee Ofoma with whom he had four children: Iruoma, Nnanna, Anuli, and Ogonna.
Dr. Obiaga was also famed as a devout Christian and was a leader and mentor in several Christian organisations in Nigeria.
Eminent writer and former Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Ebele Ofoma Eko, an in-law of the deceased who attended his burial at Toronto, described him thus: “Dr. Tim was an excellent, excellent human being, an excellent leader, excellent Christian, an excellent family man, a man of integrity. He was just one in a million and will be deeply missed by all of us who knew him,” she said.
Anuli Marshall, his daughter, a Senior Manager at bp inc., had this to say on the passing of her iconic father: “My dear father was the most gentle and the most peaceful man. He lived a life of integrity and generosity spreading good cheer and sharing his resources far and wide. It is clear that he lived his life knowing that he was on a mission from God. My father understood his purpose to fill the world with God’s love and God’s light and this he did brilliantly. His greatest wish for humanity is to draw close and have a real relationship with God through Christ. We are assured that he is resting in the bosom of our God,” she said.
