SIR: Professor Ayo Bamgbose did not teach me in any formal classroom, but I have learnt a lot through my personal observations and interactions with him over the years. I have been overwhelmed with admiration by his pioneering academic robustness, in public discourse and his unwavering adherence to pristine university traditions.
In 1966, when I entered the University of Ibadan, I met students who were admitted to the degree programme in Yoruba Language. Although most students were aware of the epic work done on Yoruba Language by D. O. Fagunwa, J.F. Odunjo and I.O. Delano, few then thought that Yoruba Language could be taught to degree level like English Language and French Language which was the attractive language for study by many students at that time. However, the students admitted for the Yoruba programme pursued their course with courage and enthusiasm without any inferiority complex. Despite this, they were however objects of academic curiosity to many of us. In discussing their programme with other students, one name came up as their encourager and stabilizer and that name was that of Dr. (later) Professor Ayo Bamgbose.
Professor Bamgbose as a well-trained linguist pioneered the study of Yoruba and other Nigerian languages in Nigerian university system. As an erudite scholar and the first professor of linguistics in Nigeria and Africa, his pioneering work has now so blossomed that Yoruba language is now being studied in many Nigerian and overseas universities at par with languages such as English and French. Numerous first class scholars and books had been produced as a result of the mustard seed sown by Professor Bamgbose in the sixties in the study of Yoruba language. Professor Bamgbose’s enormous contributions in linguistics and study of Nigerian indigenous languages caught the attention of the Nigerian authority with the award in 1990, of Nigeria National Order of Merit (NNOM), the prestigious and ultimate academic honour in Nigeria
Despite Professor Bamgbose’s prodigious contribution in the academic field, it is gratifying to note that his voice is never muted when injustice is perpetrated in our country. A good example of this was shown during the controversial 1979 presidential election in the country with its infamous 12 2/3rd mathematical calculation. At this tense period in our country, Bamgbose was always on the television to tell Nigerians, that the use of 12 2/3rd formula to determine the winner of that election was not only fraudulent but immoral. He told the powers-that-be then, that the winner of the election should be determined by the electoral college and not by any dubious mathematical calculations. This was a courageous stand because it ran against the wishes of the biased military government of that time.
The University of Ibadan senate was and I hope that it is still a veritable theatre where up and coming academics can learn from senior academic colleagues, the nuances and pristine academic traditions of the university. Professor Bamgbose was a star in this respect and many of us learnt a lot through his contributions in the senate. In the eighties, the university was unfortunate to have an overbearing chairman of council who considered himself as an executive chairman. The man’s actions were not only toxic to the smooth running of the university but were capable of destroying the cherished traditions of our university. I remember that during this period, Professor Bamgbose stood up to be counted. He and other well-meaning professors countered the destabilizing actions of this chairman and they succeeded in halting the unwarranted erosion of the power of university senate and the emasculation of the cherished university tradition which were parts of the mission of this chairman of council. People of my generation in the university are eternally grateful to Professor Bamgbose for his heroic role during this period.
His contributions to academic development in Nigeria are very intimidating. He is certainly a man of many sterling parts. Apart from being the first professor of linguistics in Nigeria and Africa, he was the first African linguist to be conferred with honorary membership of Linguist Society of America in 1984. He has held many visiting appointments in many universities all over the world. Professor Bamgbose was also the founding president of Nigerian Academy of Letters. In addition to this, he was for many years president of St Andrews College Old Students Association.
Professor Bamgbose is no doubt an academic legend who is a pride to the black race. His Christian principles radiate in all his dealings with other people. I wish him a very happy 90th birthday celebration and I pray to God to give him more years in good health for more impactful services to God and humanity.
- Prof. Olabode Lucas,
Bodija, Ibadan.