When you speak with Dr. Babajide Gboyega Alalade, you hear a voice rooted in purpose, anchored in the quiet town of Owode Yewa in Ogun State, Nigeria, yet echoing far beyond. His journey began in Paul’s Anglican Primary School and Area Community High School, where early interests in science and technology blossomed into a lifelong mission.
“My background in science shaped how I see the world,” he reflects. That passion led him to Obafemi Awolowo University to study Science Laboratory Technology, and later to a Postgraduate Diploma in Physics with Electronics from the Federal University of Technology, Akure. His achievements were recognized with an honorary Doctor of Science from DFICU Universities in the UK. But titles, for him, are not the goal – impact is.
Today, as Zonal Coordinator for the Nigerian Institute of Science Laboratory Technology (NISLT) in the Southeast, he leads initiatives that strengthen laboratory systems and nurture future scientific leaders. But his most ambitious project is Science and Tech Connect, a national movement he founded to bridge the gap between scientists and underserved communities.
“Science belongs to all of us,” he says. “We just have to make it accessible.” Through workshops, training, mentorship, and outreach, Science and Tech Connect brings together engineers, scientists, and young people across Nigeria to co-create solutions and share knowledge.
His dream? To launch a science-focused radio station, build digital learning hubs, and expand the community of changemakers. “I want every child in a rural village to believe they can innovate – because they can.”
At home, he’s grounded by his wife, Temitope Olubunmi, and their daughter, Dideoluwa. “Their love is my compass,” he shares.
It was this same compass that led him to Osiri University. “Osiri’s Ubuntu philosophy aligns with everything I believe,” he says. “It’s not just about personal success, it’s about lifting others as we rise.” For him, Ubuntu lives in Science and Tech Connect: in every workshop, in every shared idea, in every life changed.
“My story is not mine alone,” he says. “I am because we are.”
To learn more about Dr. Babajide Gboyega Alalade and his work, visit: http://www.scienceandtechconnect.com.ng/forum
