Prof. Olugbenga Okunlola

Professor Olugbenga Okunlola holds a PhD degree in Economic Geology of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria where he is currently a full Professor of Geology. His 35 years’ experience straddles the Geological surveys where he rose through the ranks upon graduation, from 1982 to the position of Chief Mining geologist, before joining the academia in 2002. He has served as a Special Adviser (Mineral Assessment) to the Director General of the Nigerian Geological Surveys Agency (NGSA) from 2006 to 2013. He has handled numerous consultancy assignments involving the World Bank, UNESCO, and numerous local and foreign mineral exploration/Mining outfits. Thus, his experience straddles the public, private sectors and the academia. He has been credited with many mineral discoveries. He has delivered conference papers in all the continents of the world and currently has over 65 publications to his credit in many reputable Journals

He is currently the Chairman of Mining Implementation Strategy Team (MIST) saddled with the responsibility of implementing strategies for the approved Road Map for the Mining sector of Nigeria. And member of the board of Nigerian Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI) a subset of the global EITI.

He is a Fellow of the Geological Society of London, Fellow of the African Scientific Institute, Fellow of the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS), Fellow of The Nigerian Society of Mining Engineers, member of the Society of Economic Geologists ( SEG), Country councillor, International Association For Geoethics (IAGETH), Council member , International Geoscience Educators Organisation (IGEO) amongst others.

He is also currently the President of the Geological Society of Africa, Immediate Past President of The Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society, President of the Geoscience Information and Research in Africa Network (GIRAF) and Vice President for Africa, Association of Geoscientists for International Development (AGID).  He is a former member of the Boards of Nigerian Geological Survey Agency, and Council of Mining Engineers and Geoscientists.

He is happily married with children.