THE late Professor Isaac Oludaisi Makinde was born at Idi Ose, Alafa Farm in Aiyetoro Village Settlement Farms of Igbajo to Emmanuel Omoniya Alabi Makinde and Grace Ayinke on Wednesday, March 3, 1933. He was not named until after four years as his mother had had eight stillbirths before he was born.

The young Makinde started his primary school education at Baptist Day School, Igbajo in 1944. In 1948, through the assistance of Professor Emmanuel Tugbiyele and Deacon (Councillor) Joseph Oladosu Omikunle, he was offered a pupil teaching job at Igbajo Baptist School from where he was able to proceed to Baptist College, Ede and Iwo between 1952 and 1957. With a Grade II Teachers’ Certificate and GCE (O&A, Levels), Makinde proceeded to the University College Ibadan (UCI) of London University, where he bagged a B.A in Economic History and Religion in 1964.

He worked as a teacher and Vice Principal at the Baptist Girls’ High School, Osogbo from 1964 to 1969. From there, he moved on to the University of Massachusetts, U.S. to earn M.A.T, M.Ed, and Ed.D all in Counseling Psychology.

He came back in 1973 to continue his teaching career as Senior Education Officer at King’s College Lagos. He later joined the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife) as Lecturer 1, rising to the position of Senior Lecturer and Professor of Counselling Psychology within seven years.

In 1975, he founded the Counseling Association of Nigeria (CASSON) and became its first president. The association started off with less than 50 members but has grown to well over 5000 members, with chapters spread across the 36 states of the federation. He also became the first Fellow of the association (FCASSON) in 1986.

Makinde worked in other capacities as Dean, Faculty of Education, Obafemi Awolowo University and Ondo State University, Ado-Ekiti (1985 -1991); Chairman, Secondary Schools’ Board of Governors, Oyo/Osun State Schools (1980 – 1990); Member of Council, Oyo/Osun Colleges of Education, Ilesa, Oyo and Ila-Orangun (1979 – 1989); Foundation Member of the Nigerian Academy of Education (1976); External Examiner in federal and state universities and Colleges of Education in Nigeria, Kenya, Sierra Leone and the U.S. for Ph.D Theses and Masters Dissertations; and Consulting Editor and Representative of University Publishing Boards.

He was also Director, University Counselling Centres at OAU (1976 – 1989) and at OSUA (1989 – 1992); Adjunct Professor of Educational Studies, Nigerian Baptist Seminary, Ogbomoso (1996–2013); Pioneer Coordinator, Bowen University Pre-degree Programme, Newton Memorial Campus, Osogbo (2005 – 2007); and Chairman and Managing Director, Mankind Educational and Counselling Consults.

He also published many books, monographs, theses and articles in reputable journals of associations, universities and colleges (national and international).

In the church of Christ, he was a Sunday School superintendent and teacher. As a youth leader in Zion 1 Baptist Association, he was sponsored to the first all Africa Baptist Youth Conference at Monrovia, Liberia (July/August, 1969). He was a member of the Baptist Men’s Missionary Union at Igbajo, Ile-Ife, Osogbo and other towns in which he worked.

He returned to Osogbo as a retired Professor to continue his religious service at the vineyard of First Baptist Church, Oke-okanla, Osogbo. There, he served as chairman or member of various committees such as Chairman, 1994 Constitution Review Committee; Chairman, Adult Education Committee; Policy and Staff
Committee; and Educational, Peace and Discipline Committee

Under his chairmanship of the church’s historical committee, the church published the book “Miracle of the Church on the Hill” in November 2002.

At convention and conference levels, he played the following roles creditably: He was the first Vice President, Nigerian Baptist Convention (1995 -1997);
Conference Education Chairman, Osun Baptist Conference; and Member, Planning Committee, Nigerian Baptist Annual Convention (2013).

In 1960, Makinde married his wife, Mrs. Esther Kehinde Makinde (nee Olaonipekun). They were blessed with children. He was a prayerful, devoted and disciplined father, who had a good heart and love for all his children. His children loved/loves him as well and fondly remembered him on Sunday, January 3, 2016 with a memorial thanksgiving at First Baptist Church Oke-Okanla, Osogbo.

May his soul continue to rest in peace.