Olatunde O.A. Makanju is a Professor of Psychology at the prestigious University of Lagos, Nigeria and currently the Dean of the faculty of Social Sciences. He joined the staff of the University of Lagos on the 1st of march,1975 and has served the university community in various capacities, including Head of Department of Psychology (1984-86,1998-2002);member of he University’s Governing Council (1994-2002);chairman, Sports Council(2000-2005),among numerous other positions. A one time national track and field athlete in the sprints and long jump, he is a renowned sports administrator. “Mackay” as he is popularly called has served as the President of the Nigerian Psychological Association (i990-1992), Editor-in-Chief (1996-2002) and is one of its registered trustees.
As a sports administrator, he has served Nigeria in many capacities including at one time or the other, Membership, Vice-Presidency, and Presidency of many sports associations including Nigeria Table Tennis Association (NTTA), Nigeria Volleyball Association (NVA), Nigeria football association(NFA), Nigerian Association of Sports Medicine etc.
He was the Psychologist to the U-17, U-20, and the Super Eagles of Nigeria at different times between 1984 and 1990.
Author and co-author of several life changing publications including but not limited to:
(1979) : Implicit shape constancy: Some Critical Factors. The Journal of Self Development and Social Studies.
(1984) : Volume estimation as a means of measuring pictorial depth perception. Nigerian Journal of Psychology. Vol. IV, 5-2.
(1984) : Crystallization of Discipline among Nigerian Undergraduates: A validation of the Developmental Model of Vocational Choice. The Journal of Self Development and Social Studies. 6, (2), 21-27.
Co-Authors: Eyetsemitan, F
(1988) : Live versus Symbolic Modelling as tools of skill acquisition in sports Coaching. Lagos Education Review. Vol. 4, No.1, 144-150.
Co-Authors: Adebawo, P.O
(1996): The roles of self-perception and attribution in Impression Formation/Management. In O.O.A. Makanju (ed.) Psychology applied to human problems in Nigeria: A book of readings. 15-28. Lagos, Nigeria, Xcel Publishers
(1996b): Self Comportment and Conference Psychology. In O.O.A. Makanju (ed.) Psychology applied to human problems in Nigeria: A book of readings 29-40. Lagos, Nigeria: Xcel Publishers.
(2004): That man may not only survive but flourish and excel: the challenge for Psychology. University of Lagos, Inaugural Lecture series. Lagos, Nigeria: University of Lagos Press.
Professor Makanju will be throwing light on the topic OVERCOMMING YOUR REJECTION to the benefit of attendees at the conference while also fielding personal questions in relation to the theme of the conference.
