Honoring Distinguished Alumni of Obafemi Awolowo University
The Chairman of the Council at Obafemi Awolowo University has extended heartfelt congratulations to three remarkable alumni who have been recognized as Fellows of the Nigerian Academy of Letters (NAL). This prestigious honor marks them as leading figures in the humanities, reflecting their significant contributions to scholarship and cultural discourse in Nigeria.
Recognized Scholars and Their Achievements
Among the honorees is Professor Gbemisola Aderemi Adeoti, who has been elected as a Regular Fellow. His academic journey began in Iseyin, Oyo State, where he attended St. Mary’s Catholic Primary School and Koso Community Grammar School. He pursued his undergraduate studies in Dramatic Arts at Obafemi Awolowo University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1989. He later obtained a Master’s in Literature in English from the same university in 1995 and a PhD in English from the University of Ibadan in 2003. His doctoral research focused on the aesthetics of democratization in modern Nigerian drama, highlighting his dedication to using literature as a medium for social and political commentary.
Professor Adeoti’s career includes roles at The News Magazine in Lagos before returning to OAU, where he became a Professor of English in 2010. He served as Director of the Institute of Cultural Studies from 2011 to 2015 and Dean of the Faculty of Arts from 2015 to 2019. His literary contributions include poetry collections such as Naked Soles and Stoning the Wind, which have received critical acclaim. Additionally, he has worked as an actor in Yoruba-language films like Afonja, Ofin Ga, and Lagbe. In 2015, he delivered the 275th Inaugural Lecture at OAU titled “Literature and the Art of Shaving a Man’s Head in His Absence,” further cementing his status as a prominent literary voice in Nigeria.
Another notable recipient is Professor Akinwumi Ogundiran, who has been honored as an Overseas Fellow. Born in Ibadan in 1966, he earned a First-Class degree in Archaeology from Obafemi Awolowo University in 1988. He continued his studies with an M.Sc. in Archaeology and Anthropology from the University of Ibadan and a Ph.D. in African Archaeology from Boston University in 2000. His work has significantly advanced the understanding of Yoruba civilization and Atlantic Africa.
Professor Ogundiran has taught at various institutions in Nigeria and the United States, including Florida International University and UNC Charlotte, where he served as Chair of Africana Studies. In 2023, he joined Northwestern University as the Cardiss Collins Professor of Arts and Sciences and Professor of History. He has authored or edited several influential books, including The Yoruba: A New History, which won multiple awards. His fieldwork, supported by organizations like National Geographic and the National Endowment for the Humanities, includes projects such as the Upper Osun Archaeological Project. He is also the President of the Society of Africanist Archaeologists and was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2025.
Dr. Lasisi Olagunju, honored as an Honorary Fellow, is a celebrated journalist, cultural thinker, and columnist. He graduated with a first-class degree in English from Obafemi Awolowo University and later earned a Master’s in Communication Arts and a Ph.D. in Political Communication from the University of Ibadan. His dissertation on political mobilization through social media during the 2014 elections in Ekiti and Osun states remains widely referenced. He also holds a Law degree, enhancing his commentary with ethical and legal insights.
As Editor of Saturday Tribune and author of the Monday Lines column, Dr. Olagunju has published over 500 essays known for their bold, elegant, and culturally rooted analysis. He has received numerous accolades, including the Nigeria Media Merit Award in 2016 and 2024, and multiple Diamond Awards for Media Excellence for Informed Commentary between 2019 and 2024. He has served as Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to a former Governor of Osun State and as Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding (CBCIU), a UNESCO-affiliated institute. His literary works, such as Forest Flowers, Cowries of Blood, and Every Inch a King, blend poetic artistry with civic engagement, embodying the ideals of humanistic scholarship.
These distinguished individuals represent the pinnacle of achievement in their respective fields, contributing to the global conversation through innovation, creativity, and intellectual rigor. Their recognition as Fellows of the Nigerian Academy of Letters underscores their lasting impact on the cultural and academic landscape of Nigeria and beyond.
