Page 5 - Professorial Lecture - Prof Oyedele

When I joined the academic staff of this University many years ago, I thought
seriously about the research work that I should do. Should I be involved in
some advanced theoretical Physics research projects but which have no
direct relevance to the Country or should I carry out an experimental
research work that is relevant to the Country? I finally decided to carry out
relevant experimental projects. But then there was the problem of lack of
research equipment and the absence of suitable technicians in the Physics
Department. However, God soon answered our prayers (in the
Department) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna,
Austria, responded to our request (which was made through the
Government of Namibia) and provided us with suitable nuclear research
equipment. I should thank the Ministry of Health and Social Services
(MoHSS), Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources (MANR), and the
Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) as well as Mr Solomon Wanguru - an
expatriate from Kenya, Professor Ayodele Babalola - a reputable visiting
Professor from Nigeria, the former UNAM Vice-Chancellor (and who is now
the Speaker of the National Assembly) – Professor Peter Katjavivi, the Pro-
Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Research in the early 2000s (and
who is now the Vice Chancellor) - Professor Lazarus Hangula, the Dean of
the Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the time (and who is
now the Pro-Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Research) - Professor
Osmund Mwandemele, the Dean of the Faculty of Science in the early
2000s – Professor G. Kiangi, and the National Radiation Protection Authority
for strongly supporting our request to the IAEA. Of course, the Physics
Department was and is grateful to the IAEA for providing the research
equipment. It may be useful to mention that the current prize of the
equipment is about one and a half million Namibian dollars
(N$1,500,000.00). With these equipment, I was able to start a research group
in the Physics Department and the group was able to embark on a major
nuclear-related project to study “radioactivity” and, in particular, base-line
natural radiation levels in selected cities and towns in Namibia. Apart from
the scientific data that the project would provide, it would also make it
possible to answer the questions being asked by a number of citizens in
different towns - especially those close to Mines - as to whether or not they
are “safe” from “nuclear activities” or “nuclear radiation”.