The Ademola Segun Educational Fund (ASEF) is an independent, non-profit educational foundation based in Nigeria. Professor Ademola Segun, who is a renowned Professor Emeritus of Zoology from the Obafemi Awolowo University, founded the educational foundation, based on his deep belief in getting a good education but more importantly, spurred on by his personal experience of having to struggle to complete his tertiary education. It was established on the 22^nd of November to commemorate his 70^th birthday and was incorporated and registered under the Companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990.

The main goal of ASEF is to award annual educational scholarships to indigent, hardworking and brilliant undergraduates of recognized and accredited Nigerian universities.  ASEF, according to the Trustees of the foundation, focuses on awarding scholarships that are “needs based”.  This means that the Trustees evaluate each application to determine requirements for financial assistance towards the completion of an undergraduate degree.

The Founder

Professor Ademola Segun is one of the foremost scholars of Zoology in Nigeria. He received his tertiary education in the United Kingdom and spent the bulk of his career at Obafemi Awolowo University. 

It was his experience as a young scholar having to work several part time jobs to make ends meet while studying for his Bachelor’s degree, riding 12 miles a day in chilly wintry weather on a bicycle from one job to another that was the impetus for the setting up of Educational Foundation. Professor Segun’s aim is that no student, capable of reaching his or her life’s ambition through a good education should be deprived that opportunity due to financial hardship. 

He retired in 2000 as a professor of Zoology from the  Obafemi Awolowo University after 32 years of service to the school. He is a graduate of the University of London and the University of Southampton, England. While at the University of Southampton, he was the first black man to serve as the captain of the University’s table tennis team between 1964 and 1965. The sport, which he picked up as a young man was one that he continued to play for many years. He later received his PhD from the University of London in 1968.

A grandfather, Professor Segun resides in Lagos and continues to be passionate about the youth and their ability to obtain a good education.