…Tributes Pour in for Scholar Who Dedicated His Life to the Yoruba Language, Education and Community Service
https://www.digital.zenithbank.com/ZEQ/ZEQ-jan-2026/index.html#p=1Nigeria has lost one of its foremost scholars and custodians of indigenous languages following the passing of Professor Emeritus Oladele Awobuluyi, an internationally respected linguist, educationist and champion of the Yoruba language.
Professor Awobuluyi, who passed away on August 5, 2026, at the age of 90, leaves behind an extraordinary legacy of scholarship, mentorship, public service, and community development that has shaped generations of academics, students, and language enthusiasts within Nigeria and beyond.
In a statement announcing his passing, the family described him as a father, leader and pride of Ogotun-Afa, Okeagbe, whose life was defined by scholarship, integrity, compassion and an unwavering commitment to the development of his people.
“Professor Awobuluyi was more than an academic giant. He was a father and leader whose name became synonymous with wisdom, integrity and community development. His philanthropic heart was legendary. He believed that leadership is service, and he demonstrated it throughout his lifetime,” the statement said.
Widely regarded as one of Africa’s leading authorities on Yoruba linguistics, Professor Awobuluyi was among the pioneer academics of the University of Ilorin, where he served as the institution’s founding Dean of the Faculty of Arts when the university commenced academic activities in 1976. Over several decades, he built an enviable reputation for academic excellence, intellectual rigour, punctuality and professionalism while mentoring countless students who would later become distinguished scholars and leaders in various fields.
Beyond the classroom, he remained a passionate advocate for the preservation and development of Nigerian languages. Even in the final years of his life, he continued writing and researching. In a manuscript completed in August 2024 titled Linguistics in Aid of the Yoruba Language, he expressed concern about the inadequate institutional support for indigenous language development, while reaffirming his commitment to advancing Yoruba scholarship by publishing a second edition of his acclaimed Essentials of Yoruba Grammar.
His influence extended beyond academia into community development. In Ogotun-Afa, he was celebrated for initiating the annual Christmas gift programme for community members, a gesture that brought joy and relief to hundreds of families. He was also revered as a community leader who mediated disputes, encouraged young people to pursue education and consistently promoted the values of integrity, hard work and service.
Paying tribute to the late scholar, a former student and Vice-Chancellor of African School of Economics (The Pan-African University of Excellence), Abuja, Prof Mahfouz Adebola Adedimeji recounted a memorable encounter that captured Professor Awobuluyi’s remarkable humility.
Adedimeji recalled meeting the Professor at a hospital in Ilorin after more than two decades. Upon introducing himself as one of Professor Awobuluyi’s former students and informing him that he now served as a university Vice-Chancellor, the elderly scholar, despite his frailty, insisted on standing up to greet him.
“As soon as I said I was a Vice-Chancellor, I regretted it. Baba struggled to rise on his feet just to greet me. I pleaded with him to remain seated, but he insisted, saying, ‘Ah, my VC!’ I immediately went on my knees and refused to stand until he sat down. That moment spoke volumes about the humility, respect and character that defined his life.”
The former student also revealed that after quietly offering financial support to his former teacher without expecting recognition, Professor Awobuluyi, with the help of his wife, made determined efforts to identify and personally express his gratitude.
According to him, the experience reflected one of the Professor’s enduring beliefs—that “one of the things that would make a person succeed is to do little acts of kindness to earn the blessings of others, especially the elders.”
Tributes have continued to pour in from academics, former students, cultural organisations and community leaders, many describing Professor Awobuluyi as one of Nigeria’s greatest linguists and an unwavering advocate for indigenous language preservation.
His passing marks the end of an era in Nigerian scholarship, but his contributions to African linguistics, higher education and community service will continue to inspire future generations.
The family said burial arrangements would be announced in due course.
