Profile of the Head of Department
Prof Mary Grace Fajonyomi (Nee Decker) was born in 1961 in Zaria to late Mr. and Mrs. J. E. A Decker. She started her primary education at Baptist primary school in Gombe in 1967 and completed same at St. Patrick primary school in Maiduguri in 1974. She proceeded to G. S. S. Damboa from 1974 for her secondary education. She was the assistant Head Girl, the games captain and completed as the best student in WASCE in 1979.
Professor Fajonyomi attended Borno College of Basic Studies (BOCOBS) form 1979 – 1981 for advanced level studies. She won Borno State’s Scholarship/Federal Bursary to study at University of Maiduguri from 1981 – 1984 and graduated with a B.A (Hons) Education (English/Economics). Professor Fajonyomi was posted to Ibadan for her NYSC and served at the University of Ibadan Career office in 1985. With her experience during the service year and encouragement from her husband, she went back to the University of Ibadan, Department of Guidance and Counselling for a Master’s degree. Professor Fajonyomi graduated as the 2nd best student in 1987.
Prof. Fajonyomi went back to Brono State and was employed as a Teacher/Counsellor in 1988, she was later transferred to the state ministry of Education to head the Guidance and Counselling unit as Principal Education Officer. She sensitized and ensured that counselling offices were opened in all the 17 local government Areas. For this, functional counselling services were introduced in all secondary schools in the states.
Professor Fajonyomi’s dreams of actualizing her career made her to seek for a job with the University of Maiduguri in 1992. She was offered an appointment as Assistant Lecturer in 1992 and enrolled for her Ph. D. graduate in Guidance and Counselling in the Department of Education. Professor Mary Fajonyomi rose through the ranks form assistant lecturer in 1992 to be a professor in 2005.
Professor Fajonyomi contributed to the development of the University system by taking the roles of level adviser for diploma and degree programmes for many years. She was the post graduate coordinator, and a member of the departmental editorial board and one of the editors for the faculty journal for years.
In 2009, the University of Maiduguri management appointed her as a Deputy Dean Student Affairs and served till 2014. Also, in 2014, she was appointed as the first Director to head the Counselling and Human Development Centre a position she held until she transferred her services to the University of Ilorin in 2015.
Professor Fajonyomi joined the Department of Counsellor Education when Profesor AbdulGaniyu Ambali was the Vice-Chancellor, Professor A.A Adegoke the Dean of Education, and Professor, L. A Yahaya the Head of Department. She was the post graduate coordinator of our great and iconic Department form 2017- 2020. Her industry and ingenuity has facilitated the graduation of many Ph. D and Master’s students since 2017. She is currently the Head of Department Counsellor Education.
Professor Fajonyomi has written and published well over 40 publications in National and International Journals. She has visited countries in West Africa and the Uk. She also received many awards from students and organizations.
Lastly, Professor Mary Grace Fajonyomi has been married for the past 39 years now to a God fearing, Very loving, responsible, hardworking, and supportive husband, Professor A.A fajonyomi of the Department of Adult and primary Education, University of Ilorin. She is blessed with three biological and many surrogate children and is a grandmother of six beautiful angels.