Dr. Reda Mohammed Said Obeid, who served as the president of King Abdulaziz University and a member of the Shura Council, passed away today (Thursday) at the age of 90 after a long struggle with illness. The deceased is considered one of the prominent figures in the academic and administrative fields in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The funeral prayer for the deceased will be held today at the Prophet's Mosque after the Maghrib prayer, where he will be laid to rest in Al-Baqi cemetery in Medina. Dr. Reda Obeid is the father of (Raed, Ramzi, Riad, Rana, Reem, and Rawiya).
Details of the Event
Condolences for men will be accepted at Al-Amoudi Mosque in Al-Khalidiya district in Jeddah starting tomorrow, Friday, for three days (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday). Women's condolences will be received in Jeddah on Saturday, 16 Shawwal, for one day only, from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
Dr. Reda Obeid was born in Medina in the year 1355 AH corresponding to 1936, where he obtained a bachelor's degree in science with a specialization in physical chemistry from Cairo University in Egypt in 1958. He then earned a PhD in physical chemistry (polymer chemistry) in 1962 from the University of Birmingham in England.
Background & Context
He began his academic career as a teaching assistant in the College of Science at King Saud University from 1958 to 1959, then rose to become a professor of physical chemistry and vice-dean of the College of Science in 1962. He then served as the dean of the College of Science at King Saud University from 1963 to 1971, becoming the first Saudi to hold this position.
Dr. Obeid also chaired the board of directors and led the National Center for Science and Technology at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology from 1977 to 1984. He was appointed president of King Abdulaziz University from 1404 AH corresponding to 1984 until 1414 AH corresponding to 1994, and after his tenure at the university, he was appointed a member of the Shura Council from 1994 to 1998.
Impact & Consequences
Dr. Reda Obeid also served as the chairman of the board of the Al-Yamamah Press Foundation and participated in the councils of several Saudi universities. He was appointed a member of the Supreme Council of King Saud University in Riyadh, a member of the Supreme Council of Umm Al-Qura University in Mecca, a member of the Supreme Council of King Faisal University in 1410 AH, and a member of the Supreme Council of King Fahd University in 1412 AH, in addition to being a member of the preparatory committee for the Supreme Committee for Education Policy in the Kingdom.
The passing of Dr. Obeid is a significant loss to the academic community in the Kingdom, as he played a prominent role in the development of higher education and scientific research in the country.
Regional Significance
The career of Dr. Reda Obeid serves as a model in the fields of education and administration, as his achievements contributed to enhancing the status of Saudi universities at both the regional and international levels. The loss of such figures impacts the educational journey in the Arab world, highlighting the need for more efforts to support education and scientific research in the region.
In conclusion, Dr. Reda Obeid is a symbol of higher education in the Kingdom, and his achievements will remain present in the memory of future generations.