Mebenin Awipi ’65

Meb came to us from Nigeria on a full scholarship sophomore year, played one year of soccer, and received a degree in electrical engineering. He went on to Columbia to earn a master’s degree and Ph.D. in that field along with computer science. 

Meb worked at Bell Labs in the 1970s, earned several patents, and did foundational work on modern fiber-optic phone communication. The next five years were spent as a lecturer at the University of Lagos and director of the Center for Special Projects at Rivers State University of Science and Technology. He then settled in Nashville and taught at Tennessee State University for 22 years, retiring as a professor in 2006. 

He is remembered fondly by his students as a person with high standards and a tireless advocate and driving force for his students. He was a founding member of the North American chapter of the Government College Ughelli Old Boys Association of Nigeria, serving as president and a lifelong member. He also served on the Metro Nashville school board for four years, continuing to support and advocate on behalf of his students. 

Meb died Feb. 4, 2022. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Dr. Georgina Maina Awipi; children Tolomo, Embele, and Tari; one grandson; and a brother.