Michael Omolewa has had a distinguished career in education as a teacher, historian and advocate for those who lack access to education. He was recently appointed emeritus Professor of Education by the University of Ibadan, in Nigeria where he has held many other academic roles.
Professor Omolewa was one of a team of five scholars who drafted the Working Paper for the United Nations Literacy Decade, he has actively promoted cooperation between villagers and the university community to enhance literacy and while Director of the External Studies programme at the University of Ibadan he opened up opportunities for a degree programme for over 1000 adult learners.
He has served as Member of the Nigerian National Commission for UNESCO and was later appointed Ambassador/Permanent Delegate of the country to UNESCO where he served as Chairman of the Non-Government Organisation’s committee of the organisation’s executive board, President of its Education Commission at the General Conference and finally as the President of the 32nd session of the General Conference of UNESCO, the first West African and fifth African to serve in that capacity.
He has been inducted into the International Adult and Continuing Education Hall of Fame in the United States and is currently on the Commonwealth Advisory Council on Teacher Migration, Recruitment and Mobility and member of the Council of the International Africa Institute in the UK.