Awobuluyi, pioneer Dean of Arts, passes on
….Egbewole mourns
By Tajudeen Babamale
The death has been announced of the pioneer Dean of the Faculty of Arts, University of Ilorin, Prof. Oladele Awobuluyi.
Prof. Awobuluyi, who died last Wednesday (August 5, 2026) at the age of 89, also delivered the first Inaugural Lecture of the University.
Meanwhile, the Vice Chancellor and his management team last Thursday (August 6, 2026) paid a condolence visit to the family and Church members of the deceased at his GRA, Ilorin residence.
Represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Management Services), Prof. Olalere Adeyemi, Prof. Egbewole described the late Prof. Awobuluyi as one of Africa’s finest linguists whose outstanding contributions to scholarship would continue to inspire generations of academics.
Prof. Egbewole who said Prof. Awobuluyi belonged to one of the pioneering academic traditions upon which the University was built, described the deceased as a distinguished scholar whose influence extended beyond the Department of Linguistics and Nigerian Languages and the University of Ilorin to the entire African continent.
He recalled that Prof. Awobuluyi, alongside the late Prof. Ayo Bamgbose, pioneered the development of Linguistics in Africa and mentored generations of scholars from Nigeria and several other countries, including the United States, Ghana, Cameroon and the Benin Republic.
According to the Vice Chancellor, the late Professor was widely respected for his integrity, scholarship and commitment to academic excellence, adding that many eminent academics across Africa owed their professional development to his mentorship. He also noted that the deceased’s contributions helped establish the University of Ilorin as one of Africa’s leading centres for Linguistics.
The Vice Chancellor prayed for the repose of the late scholar’s soul, comfort for his family and the grace to preserve the remarkable legacy he left behind.
Speaking on behalf of the Church and the family, Prof. Amos Idowu of the Department of Mathematics appreciated the University management for identifying with the family during the period of mourning.
He thanked the Vice Chancellor and members of the University community for their support and solidarity, praying for God’s continued protection over the institution, its staff and their families. He also prayed that the University would continue to grow from strength to strength while God preserves every member of the University community.
