Dr. Gabriel M. M. Obi is described by many who know him, as a very God Fearing, principled, reliable, dependable, honest and resourceful Information Technology professional.
He holds a first class honours degree in Mathematics of the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria (1969), and higher degrees in the same subject as well as in Computer Science, including the doctorate (1974), in the former, from Cornell University Ithaca NY and Oregon State University, Corvallis OR, respectively. A recipient of several academic awards, including prizes, government and university scholarships, and teaching assistantships, he has over 45 years cognate professional experience, spanning virtually all aspects of Information Technology (teaching, research, and practice), nationally and internationally.
For 10 years Dr. Obi was a university lecturer of Mathematics and Computer science at the University of Benin, Benin-City, Nigeria, with areas of interest being functional analysis, systems analysis, software engineering, data communication, systems security (including cryptology), Information Technology project/resource management and information management. He rose to the rank of senior lecturer in 1978.
A good team player, he was a manager of the Information Technology function for 21 years, the last three of these as Deputy General Manager and Head (Information Technology) at First Bank Of Nigeria PLC. The first Nigerian to be so appointed, Dr. Obi had responsibility for the popular technological transformation of that bank, which took place between 1997 and 2000. He voluntarily retired from the service of the Bank on July 1, 2000. Before joining the Bank he was the Controller (Data Processing) at the IBRU Organisation (1985 – 1989), and is also the first Nigerian to be so appointed.
Dr. Obi is not only the author of several software applications and system security mechanisms, he is also a voracious researcher with over 122 works in reputable journals or presented at conferences, seminars, symposia and workshops. His research interest in the last twelve (12) years, is distributed cryptography with applications to e-Elections, Mobile ad hoc networks and cyber-security. One of his works is a design in 2003 of an e-voting system that is well suited to the Nigerian environment.
He is highly regarded by his professional colleagues.
In 1979 Dr. Obi produced a solution to a decade old open mathematical problem, a work that was accepted by, and published in, the Journal London Mathematical Society. He was invited in 1981 to be a reviewer by the prestigious American Mathematical Society Mathematical Reviews, a body that covers the world mathematical literature by means of critical reviews. According to them Dr. Obi was invited because his qualifications and research interests as shown by his publications were “precisely the kind” that they needed.
In 1992 he was included in the International “Who Is Who Of Intellectuals”. In the same year he was proclaimed International Man of the Year 1991/1992 by the International Biographical Centre, Cambridge, England, for his “services to Mathematics and Information Technology”. The Royal Edition of the International Who is Who of Intellectuals was later dedicated to him for his “outstanding contribution to knowledge”.
In 1996 he was invited to be an inductee of the “International Who is Who of Intellectuals Hall of Fame” at Cambridge, England.
In 2000 he received a letter of commendation from the President, Computer Professionals (Registration Council of Nigeria) for the quality of a research work he carried out that year and its impact on the Information Technology world. A copy of the letter was sent to the Minister for Education and also to the Minister for Science and Technology.
He was the winner of the Best Research award of the Nigeria Computer Society (formerly Computer Association of Nigeria) for the Year 2001. Dr. Obi was recently proclaimed “International Professional of the year- 2005”, by the International Biographical Centre in England, and is to be featured in the “2000 Outstanding Intellectuals of the 21st Century” published by IBC Cambridge, England. He also became a Peace Ambassador, conferred by the Universal Peace Federation, formerly International Federation For World Peace.
Dr. Obi is a fellow of the Nigeria Computer Society and a Past President of the Computer Professionals (Registration Council of Nigeria). He was the Registrar/Secretary to Council, Computer Professionals (Registration Council of Nigeria) from March 1995-Jan. 1996 (the founding Registrar) and again from 2001-2003.
An IT security and IT Governance expert, Dr. Obi is presently into Information Technology Research and Development, project management, software engineering, applications implementation and consulting. He is currently the Chairman, of the Research and Development Committee of the National Information Technology Development Agency Governing Board.
He is married with children.
He holds a first class honours degree in Mathematics of the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria (1969), and higher degrees in the same subject as well as in Computer Science, including the doctorate (1974), in the former, from Cornell University Ithaca NY and Oregon State University, Corvallis OR, respectively. A recipient of several academic awards, including prizes, government and university scholarships, and teaching assistantships, he has over 45 years cognate professional experience, spanning virtually all aspects of Information Technology (teaching, research, and practice), nationally and internationally.
For 10 years Dr. Obi was a university lecturer of Mathematics and Computer science at the University of Benin, Benin-City, Nigeria, with areas of interest being functional analysis, systems analysis, software engineering, data communication, systems security (including cryptology), Information Technology project/resource management and information management. He rose to the rank of senior lecturer in 1978.
A good team player, he was a manager of the Information Technology function for 21 years, the last three of these as Deputy General Manager and Head (Information Technology) at First Bank Of Nigeria PLC. The first Nigerian to be so appointed, Dr. Obi had responsibility for the popular technological transformation of that bank, which took place between 1997 and 2000. He voluntarily retired from the service of the Bank on July 1, 2000. Before joining the Bank he was the Controller (Data Processing) at the IBRU Organisation (1985 – 1989), and is also the first Nigerian to be so appointed.
Dr. Obi is not only the author of several software applications and system security mechanisms, he is also a voracious researcher with over 122 works in reputable journals or presented at conferences, seminars, symposia and workshops. His research interest in the last twelve (12) years, is distributed cryptography with applications to e-Elections, Mobile ad hoc networks and cyber-security. One of his works is a design in 2003 of an e-voting system that is well suited to the Nigerian environment.
He is highly regarded by his professional colleagues.
In 1979 Dr. Obi produced a solution to a decade old open mathematical problem, a work that was accepted by, and published in, the Journal London Mathematical Society. He was invited in 1981 to be a reviewer by the prestigious American Mathematical Society Mathematical Reviews, a body that covers the world mathematical literature by means of critical reviews. According to them Dr. Obi was invited because his qualifications and research interests as shown by his publications were “precisely the kind” that they needed.
In 1992 he was included in the International “Who Is Who Of Intellectuals”. In the same year he was proclaimed International Man of the Year 1991/1992 by the International Biographical Centre, Cambridge, England, for his “services to Mathematics and Information Technology”. The Royal Edition of the International Who is Who of Intellectuals was later dedicated to him for his “outstanding contribution to knowledge”.
In 1996 he was invited to be an inductee of the “International Who is Who of Intellectuals Hall of Fame” at Cambridge, England.
In 2000 he received a letter of commendation from the President, Computer Professionals (Registration Council of Nigeria) for the quality of a research work he carried out that year and its impact on the Information Technology world. A copy of the letter was sent to the Minister for Education and also to the Minister for Science and Technology.
He was the winner of the Best Research award of the Nigeria Computer Society (formerly Computer Association of Nigeria) for the Year 2001. Dr. Obi was recently proclaimed “International Professional of the year- 2005”, by the International Biographical Centre in England, and is to be featured in the “2000 Outstanding Intellectuals of the 21st Century” published by IBC Cambridge, England. He also became a Peace Ambassador, conferred by the Universal Peace Federation, formerly International Federation For World Peace.
Dr. Obi is a fellow of the Nigeria Computer Society and a Past President of the Computer Professionals (Registration Council of Nigeria). He was the Registrar/Secretary to Council, Computer Professionals (Registration Council of Nigeria) from March 1995-Jan. 1996 (the founding Registrar) and again from 2001-2003.
An IT security and IT Governance expert, Dr. Obi is presently into Information Technology Research and Development, project management, software engineering, applications implementation and consulting. He is currently the Chairman, of the Research and Development Committee of the National Information Technology Development Agency Governing Board.
He is married with children.
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