By Ibrahim Awotunde
The Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) community has announced the passing of its Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Siyan Oyeweso, a professor of History and an administrator.
Mr Oyeweso passed away on 2 December at the age of 64.
A statement signed by the university’s spokesperson, Abiodun Olarewaju, described his demise as a profound loss to the institution and Nigeria’s education sector.
The late scholar was also described as a rare intellectual whose contributions to the institution and Nigeria’s academic landscape remain unmatched.
Earlier, Olawale Oyeweso had, on behalf of the family, confirmed that the professor died on Tuesday morning at the age of 64 after a brief illness.
The statement reads, “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved father and brother, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council of Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, Professor Abdulgafar Siyan Oyeweso, who departed this life on Tuesday, 2 December at the age of 64 after a brief illness.”
Mr Oyeweso, a renowned professor, educator, and mentor, according to his family, touched the lives of countless students, colleagues, and political associates, among others.
He was survived by wife, children, and family members. His remains were laid to rest in his country home, Ede, by 4 p.m. today, 2 December.
VC mourns
The university’s Vice-Chancellor, Adebayo Bamire, a professor, said the university had lost a “towering intellectual and a patriot whose wisdom and calm leadership provided stability for the Governing Council.”
He noted that the late scholar served OAU with total dedication and left an imprint that would endure for years.
The statement reads in part: “Professor Oyeweso was not only a scholar of continental reputation; he was a gentleman of uncommon grace, humility, and dignity. His dedication to Obafemi Awolowo University was total. He carried OAU in his heart, and he served with a passion that inspired all who worked with him. His passing is a colossal loss, one that will echo through our Senate chambers, our classrooms, our governing processes, and the collective soul of our University.
“His tenure as Pro-Chancellor was marked by exceptional commitment to peace-building, academic excellence, institutional renewal, and administrative harmony. His leadership style was calm, inclusive, principled, and richly humane. He brought a new sense of stability and purpose to the Governing Council. He was also a bridge-builder, a mentor to the young, a compass for his colleagues, and a steadying influence during challenging moments.”
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The vice chancellor recalled the deceased’s groundbreaking historical writings, invaluable contributions to national scholarship, and his lifelong devotion to advancing knowledge and developing future leaders.
DevReporting, others mourn
Tributes have also poured in from members of the academic community, civil society groups, and media professionals who worked closely with him.
The team lead of DevReporting, Mojeed Alabi, in a tribute, described him as “a rare public intellectual whose work strengthened knowledge, accountability, and professional ethics,” noting that his engagements with journalists, researchers, and civil society enriched public discourse.
“It is unfortunate that we lost Professor Oyeweso so soon. Together with my boss and the education editor at New Telegraph Newspaper, I visited him in Surulere about three weeks ago while recuperating from his health challenge. He was grateful to God for having a second chance and told us about his two new books still being processed for publication,” Mr Alabi said.
Also, the Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, has described the death of Mr Oyeweso as a big loss, saying that both the state and Nigeria have been deprived of the service of one of their finest.
He extended his heartfelt condolences to the immediate family of the deceased, the Timi of Ede, and the people of Ede, mourning the irreplaceable loss. He also expressed sympathy to the management and the entire community of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), which has lost a distinguished leader.
“I am deeply saddened by the unfortunate passing of Professor Abdulgafar Siyanbola Oyeweso, Pro-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University. He was an erudite scholar who dedicated most of his life to shaping futures in the classroom,” he said.
About Professor Oyeweso
Born on 1 February 1961, the deceased began his academic career as an assistant lecturer at Lagos State University in 1985. He rose through the ranks to become a professor of history in 2004, earning recognition as one of Nigeria’s foremost scholars in military and strategic studies, cultural history, Islamic culture, and Yoruba interstate relations. He authored dozens of books and more than 150 academic publications.
He was the pioneer Provost of the College of Humanities and Culture at Osun State University. In that capacity, he helped design the college’s curriculum, recruited faculty, and set academic standards that shaped the institution’s early growth.
He later served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academics, at Osun State University, where he oversaw academic planning and quality assurance across faculties. Colleagues said his leadership at Osun State University strengthened postgraduate programmes and deepened research collaboration within the region.
Before his appointment at OAU, the late Mr Oyeweso had served on several university governing councils, including those of Osun State University and the Federal Polytechnic, Ede. His governance roles reflected a commitment to building institutional capacity and raising academic standards.
Beyond academia, he made significant contributions to cultural development as Executive Director of the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding in Osogbo, a UNESCO Category II Institute.
He was a Fellow of the Historical Society of Nigeria and a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters. He served as Editor-in-Chief of the journal African Nebula and acted as external examiner or assessor for at least 20 universities across the country. His colleagues honoured him with a three-volume festschrift in recognition of his scholarship and service.
