Professor James Olugbenga Aribisala is a Doctor of Philosophy, Professor of Civil Engineering (Water Resources and Environmental Engineering).

Professor James Olugbenga Aribisala was born in Ikoyi Ekiti, Ikole local government, Ekiti State. He attended the University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara State from 1980 to 1985 and graduated with Second Class Upper Division and from 1987 to 1989 for M.Eng. Degree programme. He was at Aalborg University Denmark and University of Benin for Ph.D. programme from 1991 to 1992 and 1994 to 2000, respectively. He was registered by the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) in 1995, Nigerian Society of Engineers as member in 1994 and became a Fellow in 2004, Fellow of Nigerian Institution of Water Engineers in 2012, Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration in Nigeria in 2013 and Fellow of Nigerian Academy of Engineering, 2023. He started his career as an Engineer at Ondo State Ministry of Works, Akure in March, 1987 and later joined the services of Ondo State University now Ekiti State University as a Graduate Assistant in October 1987. He rose through the ranks and became a Professor of Civil Engineering with specialization in Water and Environmental Engineering in 2007. He was a consultant on DFID sponsored rural road projects in 2004, African Development Bank sponsored road projects in 2010, Coordinating Consultant to Ekiti State Government on 42 Road projects between 2007 and 2010, and also Federal Government of Nigeria Projects and some Universities (both Federal and States). Also, he served as consultant to Lower Niger River Basin Authority, Ilorin, Kwara State on Irrigation Projects and Ondo State Government on Road Project.

He had held many positions in the University system, which include among others: Sub-Dean, Faculty of Engineering, 1995 to 1996; Head, Department of Civil Engineering, 1998 to 2000 and 2010 to 2011; Dean, Faculty of Engineering 1999 to 2001 and 2007 to 2009; Dean, School of Postgraduate Studies, 2009 to 2012; Chairman Committee of Deans and Provost, 2010 to 2012; Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), 2012 to 2014 and Member, Ekiti State University Governing Council, 2009 to 2014. He was the Chairman of the Technical Committee on Private Public Partnership (PPP) at Ekiti State University. He was a member of the PPP Committee also at Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere Ekiti.

He has won many laurels and awards for his outstanding performances and contributions to University Community and Professional Associations. These include among others: Icons Award, University of Kent, United Kingdom (Awarded by all Nigerian Students at University of Kent) in 2010. Presidential merit award of the Nigerian Society of Engineers in 2018, Presidential Award, Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers in 2010; Best Consultant of the Year (Awarded by Nigerian Institute of Builders) in 2011; Distinguished Leadership Award by Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools, Ekiti State Chapter, Ado-Ekiti in 2013 and Award for Selfless Service by Rotary Club of Ado-Ekiti in 2014. He was awarded the Most Outstanding Lecturer, University of Benin in 2006/2007 and Most Outstanding Lecturer at Faculty of Engineering, Ekiti State University (2024).

He had served the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) as Chief Examiner (2001-2009), Foundation Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Water Engineers, 2011 and Chairman of NSE Ado Ekiti Branch, 1999 to 2001. He is a member of the Technical Committee of the NSE and the Chairman of the Journal Sub Committee. He had served as a member of the Presidential Visitation Panel to Federal University, Lokoja in 2021, won Mashav Research grant on irrigation utilized at CINADCO, Israel, 2003; ETF grant in 2009; European Union grant utilized in Aalborg University, Denmark, 1991-1992 and Highland Fellowship on leadership at Abingdon, Virginia, USA, 2008.

He had served as External Examiner for Ph.D. at University of Witwatersrand, South Africa 2010, Pan African University, 2022 and several Nigerian Universities. He served as an Assessor for the Times Higher Education Global Academic Reputation Survey (2025). He was an Assessor for National Research Foundation, Pretoria, South Africa (2025). He has supervised Ph.D. and M.Eng. theses. He served as the President of Ifaki Grammar School Old Students Association from 2018 to 2022.

His pioneering work of one dimensional flow in unsaturated zones of the soil using Green Element Method became a global breakthrough that has now been extended to 2 and 3 dimensions by other researchers. He is happily married to Pastor Evelyn Aribisala and the marriage is blessed with children.