Olumbe Bassir was a Nigerian scientist, author and academic.
Education
He attended the Prince of Wales Secondary School where he passed the Senior Cambridge examination with exemption from London matriculation. He went to the United Kingdom, where he earned the Bachelor of Science degree in 1949 and Doctor of Philosophy in 1951 from Liverpool University.
Career
His primary contributions to research were in the areas of aflatoxins, nutrition, and peace research. In 1946 after a short teaching spell at the prestigious Bo Government Secondary School he went to Yaba College where he obtained the Higher National Diploma. He spent most of his professional career at the University of Ibadan, where he founded the Biochemistry and Microbiology departments.
He laid the foundation of what became the first medical school in West Africa.
By 1958, he was already a full professor His academic specialty was nutrition and biochemical toxicology.
He was at various times Head of those two departments, Dean of faculty and also served as acting Vice Chancellor. He had written at least 250 professional papers by 1972 when University of London conferred the coveted doctor of science degree (Doctor of Science) on him.
He had performed very successful lecture tours in the then Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America among others
Olumbe Bassir was the author of several books His 1957 book Anthology of West African Verse was seminal in introducing written African poetry to Western audiences. His other popular books include Handbook of Practical Biochemistry (1963) and Metabolism of Afflatoxins and other Mycotoxins (1989).
The programme"s research division helped developed the Drug Metabolism and Biochemical Toxicology research program at Ibadan and contributed in fostering interest and making interesting findings in animal nutritional habits.
After retiring from the University of Ibadan, he remained active for several years, continuing to act as editor of the West African Journal of Biology and Applied Chemistry. He also served as chairman of the Wellcome Nigeria Fund, which became the Bassir-Thomas Biomedical Foundation in the early 1990s.
He also regularly organised the annual Open House Colloquim. He also contributed to the Universities and the Quest for Peace.
He founded the Association of University Teachers in Nigeria which later became the Academic Staff Union of Universities.
Despite being non-partisan, he helped develop the manifesto of the Action Group.
Membership
Olumbe Bassir was a lifelong advocate for peace, and was an active member of the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs.
Personality
He was also sympathetic to the Fabian Society which he flirted with in his student days in England.