Professor Ayo Banjo, Former Vice-Chancellor of University of Ibadan, Dies at 90

Emeritus Professor Ayo Banjo, a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan (UI) and an English scholar, has passed away at the age of 90.

The news was confirmed by Idowu Olayinka, a professor of geology and the immediate past vice-chancellor of the university, who was also a mentee of the deceased.

Olayinka first saw the announcement on the group page of the Chapel of Resurrection, where Banjo worshipped. He later received confirmation from the Dean of the Faculty of Arts.

The spokesperson for the University of Ibadan, Joke Akinpelu, stated that she was yet to officially confirm the news but promised to revert as soon as she received confirmation.

However, she has not yet responded at the time of this writing, May 25, 2024.

The circumstances surrounding Banjo’s death are unclear, but multiple sources have confirmed that the aged scholar had been weak and unable to attend public events for several months.

Since his service to the University of Ibadan, first as acting vice-chancellor between November 1983 and November 1984, and then as substantive vice-chancellor from December 1984 to November 1991, his last public office was as the Chairman of the Governing Council of the National Universities Commission (NUC).

He also served as the governing council chairman of several universities, including the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo.

In his tribute to the deceased, UI’s immediate past Vice-Chancellor, Olayinka Idowu, described Banjo as “an icon and an eminent citizen of the world.”

Olayinka, who considered himself a mentee of Banjo, expressed his deep sadness at the loss and conveyed heartfelt condolences to Banjo’s family and all his mentees and academic children.

He praised Banjo’s wise counsel, approachability, and the valuable legacies he left behind through his selfless service.