Dr. Joshua Unuigboje “Oje” Aisiku Scholarship
Criteria: (One $1,000 Award) The Dr. Joshua Unuigboje “Oje” Aisiku Scholarship will be awarded to a minority student in his or her senior year in the Middle/Secondary Education program who has a minimum GPA of 3.0 and a strong interest in teaching in the Worcester public school system. When no undergraduate qualifies in any given year, this award may be opened to graduate students enrolled in Education programs.
Professor Emeritus Dr. Joshua Unuigboje “Oje” Aisiku’s constant scrutiny of the Education Department’s curriculum plans during his 24 years of service ensured their high level of integrity. Likewise, his students benefited from his expectation that they learn to develop child-centered curriculum and instruction techniques
Professor Aisiku, who was affectionately known as Dr. OJ, brought to the Worcester State University faculty a broad teaching background and extensive administrative experience at the university level. He pioneered the establishment of the College of Education (as founding Rector) at Bendel State University (now Ambrose Alli University) in Ekpoma, Nigeria. He is an accomplished researcher, writer, and speaker with strong devotion to the teaching profession and the training of teachers.
Dr. OJ attended the University of Ife in Ile-Ife, Nigeria, where he graduated top in his class with a B.A. in Education (Hons) degree in 1971 and earned the Fafunwa Award for having the best score in the B.A./B.S. education examinations. He received his master’s degree in Curriculum and Supervision in 1974 and doctorate in Education in 1975 from Cornell Universiy.
Dr. OJ earned fellowships for post-doctoral programs at the University of Manchester (1980) and the University of London (1981). He taught in universities in his home country of Nigeria from 1975 to 1984 and was an adjunct professor in Secondary Education at Hofstra University in New York from October 1984 to August 1985 before joining the WSU faculty in the Education Department in August 1985. He was appointed a faculty fellow in the Division of Graduate and Continuing Education (1995 – 1996), and for over ten years, he was the coordinator and advisor for the Graduate Middle/Secondary Education program.
Dr. OJ retired in May 2009 to take an appointment as the founding President of a new private university, Chrisland Millennium University in Abeokuta/Owode, Ogun State, Nigeria. Dean of Education Elaine (Sharistanian) Tateronis ’63, M.Ed. ’74, Ed.D., established this scholarship fund in honor of Dr. OJ’s retirement. She kept it a secret from him, and he was incredibly moved when she announced it at his retirement reception. Dr. OJ spoke warmly of Worcester State being his extended family and his hope that he can remain connected with the University.
He is married to Brenda and the couple has four children. He is a Christian and was ordained a Deacon in Emmanuel Baptist Church in Worcester.