UI Mourns Renowned Linguist, Emeritus Professor Ayo Bamgbose
Oru Leonard
The University of Ibadan (UI) has expressed deep sorrow over the death of one of Africa’s foremost linguists and Foundation President of the Nigerian Academy of Letters (NAL), Ayo Bamgbose.
Professor Bamgbose, who died at the age of 94, was a distinguished academic, an acclaimed scholar of African linguistics, and a recipient of the Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM). He was widely celebrated for his immense contributions to language development, education, and intellectual scholarship in Nigeria and across Africa.
During his illustrious career at the University of Ibadan, the late Emeritus Professor Bamgbose served with distinction, including as Dean of the Faculty of Arts between 1971 and 1973.
His work significantly advanced the study of African languages and earned him international recognition as one of the continent’s leading linguists.
In a condolence message, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Kayode O. Adebowale, on behalf of the university community, mourned the revered scholar and extended heartfelt sympathies to his family, friends, colleagues, and the wider intellectual community.
The Vice-Chancellor described Professor Bamgbose as a distinguished contributor to Nigeria’s academic and intellectual development, noting that his legacy of scholarship, mentorship, and service would continue to inspire generations of researchers and students.
His passing marks the end of an era in African linguistics, leaving behind a rich legacy that shaped language studies and higher education in Nigeria and beyond.
