Ayo Banjo, former vice chancellor of UI, dies at the age of 90

Prof Ayodeji Banjo, a former Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the University of Ibadan (UI), Oyo State, is dead.

Banjo, who was the VC of UI from 1984 to 1991, died on Friday at the age of 90. He had previously served as the university’s acting vice-chancellor in 1983.

In 1966, he started his career as a lecturer at the Department of English in UI and obtained a doctorate degree from UI in 1969.

In 1973 and 1975, he was appointed associate professor and full professor, respectively.

Between 2005 and 2007, he was named pro-chancellor of the University of Ilorin.

Banjo served as Ajayi Crowther University’s pro-chancellor until his death.

In a statement by Olutoyin Okeowo, Chairman of the Governing Council of Ajayi Crowther University, said the varsity received Banjo death as a saddened one, adding that he would always be remembered.

“Today, we honour and remember our pioneer Pro-Chancellor, Banjo, a visionary leader and pioneering Pro-Chancellor of our great university, whose legacy will forever be etched in the annals of our institution. He was not only a guiding light for our university but also a source of inspiration for countless students, faculty, and colleagues.

“He dedicated his life to the pursuit of academic excellence and the betterment of higher education. He believed in the transformative power of education and worked tirelessly to ensure that our university provided the highest quality of learning and development opportunities.

“Under his stewardship, our institution flourished, achieving milestones that many deemed impossible. His tenure as Pro-Chancellor was marked by groundbreaking initiatives and unwavering commitment to fostering a culture of innovation and integrity. Banjo championed the creation of state-of-the-art facilities, the development of cutting-edge research programs, and the expansion of our outreach,” he said.