He was born at Ibadan on 14th June, 1948. He attended Ibadan Christ Apostolic Grammar School AND Adeola Odutola College, Ijebu-ode for his higher Education, the University of Ibadan Where he obtained his B.Sc and PhD degrees in Geography.

Professor Olajire Olaniran started his brilliant teaching career as lecturer II at the University of Ilorin 1978, and was promoted Professor of Geography in October 1990. Professor Olaniran has published extensively in reputable national and international journals.

Professor Olaniran has held many administrative Position at the tertiary level of education including Head, Department of Geography, University of Ilorin (October 1989 – December 1992) and provost, St. Andrew’s College of education, Oyo (January 1993 – December 1999). He was Secretary and member of the Implementation Committee of the proposed Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo (September 2003 to date) and the Chairman, Educational Assistance Programme Committee of Samuel Adegbite Foundation, 2000 –to date.

Professor Olajire Olaniran has received many honours , and distinctions and special awards. Among these are the department of geography Prize, University of Ibadan (June, 1973), University of Ibadan Post Graduate Bursary Award (1973-1976), Association of Commonwealth Universities, Academic Staff Fellowship (1987) , Postdoctoral Research Felloeship, St David’s University College, University of Wales, Lmpeter, Wales, UK(1987/88), Royal Society  Fellowship Countries (1987/88) Deutsher Akademishcher Austauscheinst e.v (DAAD) of the Federal Republic of Germany (1987) and the Fellowship of the Royal Meterological Society (1983). Professor was granted international Membership of the American  Association for the Advancement  of Science (AAAS) in 1993 and is listed in ‘Leaders in Nigerian Geography’ (2001). On May 10th, 2003, he was conferred with the title of ‘Ekerin Balogun Baameto of Ibadanland’ by his Royal Highness, the Olubadan of Ibadanland.