The family of the late social historian, socialist and scholar, Olusegun Osoba, has announced the burial arrangements for the departed academic, who died on 14 May at his residence in Ijebu-Ode at the age of 92.
In a statement issued by the Osoba family, the deceased was described as a brother, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, teacher, and friend.
Activities marking his passing will begin on Friday, 3 July, with a symposium and luncheon for members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Bala Usman Institute, and socialist comrades at Tunwase hall, Ijebu-Ode Club.
Later the same day, a Christian wake-keeping service will take place from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at St Luke’s church hall, Ogbogbo.
The funeral service is scheduled for Saturday, 4 July at St Luke’s Church, Ogbogbo while interment will follow immediately at Ogbogbo Cemetery. A reception and evening party will be held afterwards at the church.
About late Osoba
Born on 9 January 1935 in Ijebu-Ode, late Mr Osoba studied at the then University College Ibadan before proceeding to Moscow State University, where he obtained a doctorate in History between 1963 and 1967.
Upon his return to Nigeria in the late ‘60s, he joined the then University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), where he became a leading figure in radical intellectual movements. He helped establish the Ife Collective and the Ife Dialogue Committee in the early ‘70s, promoting socialist ideas and critical political engagement.
He served on the Constitution Drafting Committee and, alongside the late historian, Yusuf Usman, co-authored the ‘Minority Report’, which challenged several provisions in the proposed constitution and advocated accountable governance. Parts of the report were later reflected in Chapter Two of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution.
Among his most influential works was ‘The Deepening Crisis of the Nigerian National Bourgeoisie’, a critique of Nigeria’s ruling elite and the country’s stalled economic transformation. He retired from OAU in 1992 and continued writing and delivering lectures from his home in Ijebu-Ode until his death.
