CHIKE OBI

ONE OF THE WORLD’S GREATEST MATHEMATICIANS

By Rolland Nwanua

He was born Chike Edozien Umezei Obi in April 17 1921 in Zaria, (Northern Nigeria). He was the son of Nathaniel Okafor Edozien, a direct descendant of Nnebisi (the founder of Asaba) and one of the most senior idigenous officials of the Nigerian coal Corporation in Enugu. His mother, Nwakuso Edozien (née Odogwu), was the daughter of a prominent Asaba chief, and a notable trader. He is married to Melinda, who is also a mathematician.

Obi is a mathematician, author and a poverick politician.

He had his education in different parts of Nigeria and proceeded to the University of London to study mathematics. After his first degree, he went for a research study at the Pembroke Collage, Cambidge, which he did on scholarship. In 1950, he obtained a PhD in mathematics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, USA. According to the African Mathematics Union, he was the first in Sub-Saharan Africa to hold a doctorate in mathematics.

He returned to his homecountry to become a lecturer at the University of Ibadan (1959-62) and later at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) (1970) where he became a professor. He was Dean of the School of Mathematics and Physical Sciences of UNILAG (1971-73), Chairman, Department of Mathematics, UNILAG (1971-77), acting Dean, Faculty of Science of UNILAG (1981-82). He was a visiting professor to the University of Rhode Island, USA. He returned to the Eastern part of Nigeria and there, he established his Nanna Institute of Scientific Studies.

He retired from lecturing work as an Emeritus Professor in 1985.

Relying just on his brain, Obi gave the proof to Famat’s Last Theorem, a mathematical puzzule of 361 years. For over three centuries, Western mathematicians strained at this theorem until 1994, when they solved it, with the aid of modern technological gadgets, such as the computer. This work was carried out at his Nanna Institute of Scientific Studies in Onitsha, Eastern Nigeria to encourage research work and “to bring about a scientific technological revolution in Nigeria”. He became world renowned for his mathematical exploit.

After Nigeria’s independence in 1960, He was elected a legislator in the Eastern House of Assembly the same year. He was arrested and charged with treason along with Obafemi Awolowo, but was released as no evidence was found.

Obi authored many books and jornals on mathematics and Nigerian politics. He died in match 13 2008 at the age of 87.

Awards: He won the Sigvard Ecklund Prize,
Recieved the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON),
A Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science,
University of Lagos Silver Jubilee Anniversary Gold Medal Award

Refferences: Wikipedia, The Nigerian Gardian - martch 27 2008

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