Ralph Augustine, a United States of American expert in Aerospace Engineering, was born on July 27, 1935 whereas Prof Vincent Olunloyo, a Nigerian Aerospace Engineering Expert, was born on July 22, 1943.

Augustine was awarded the National Medal For Technology and Olunloyo was bestowed with the National Merit Award.

Professor Augustine was Chairman of Lockeed Martin with 20,000 engineers. He has five times received the Department of Defense’s highest civilian decoration, the Distinguished Civilian Service Award. He is co-author of The Defense Revolution and Shakespeare In Charge and author of Augustine’s Laws and Augustine’s Travels.

Professor Augustine holds 29 honourary degrees and was selected by Who’s Who in America and the Library of Congress as one of “Fifty Great Americans” on the occasion of Who’s Who’s fiftieth anniversary. He has traveled in over 111 countries and stood on both the North and South Poles of the Earth.

Professor Augustine is also Chairman of the Review of U.S. Human Space Flight Plans Committee.

On his part, Professor Olunloyo is an outstanding scientist and one of Nigeria’s greatest Engineers. He is Chairman of Invent Solutions and a member of Nigeria’s National Space Council.

Professor Olunloyo is a Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM) holder in sciences, a fellow of the New York Academy of Sciences; Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science and Foundation and a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering. A versatile scientist, he is probably the only engineer to be registered by COREN under three different specialties, namely: Mechanical Engineer, Software Engineer and Systems Engineer.

•COINCIDENCES appears fortnightly on Wednesdays. The columnist, Augustine Togonu-Bickersteth, is based in England, Britain, but can be reached via e-mail through atogonub@hotmail.co.uk or info@newsexpressngr.com

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