Eminent historian and former vice-chancellor, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Emeritus Professor Jacob Festus Adeniyi-Ajayi, popularly known as Prof. J.F Ade-Ajayi, is dead. Ade-Ajayi, who marked his 85th birthday with pomp and ceremony on May 27, this year, died of age-related illness.
A source closed to the deceased’s family disclosed that the renowned scholar died at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, where he was on admission around 7.30p.m on Sunday. He was survived by his wife, Christy, and children.
A member of the Ibadan School of History, Ade-Ajayi was Dean, Faculty of Arts and a deputy
Among scholars of his age and beyond, Ajayi was particularly respected for the thoroughness of his researches and the fact that he gave character to the study of African history.
A profile of him read “As an early writer of Nigerian and African history, Ajayi brought considerable respect to the ‘Ibadan School’ and African research. He was known for the arduous research and rigorous effort he put into his work.
“By extensive use of oral sources in some of his works, such as pre-twentieth century Yoruba history, he was able to weigh, balance and reconcile each and all of his sources, uncovering a pathway towards facts in the period which was scarce in written and non prejudiced forms.”
Reacting to the passage of the renowned historian yesterday, the Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof. Isaac Folorunso Adewole, described Ade-Ajayi as an intellectual colossus and fountain of knowledge, who blazed the trail in establishing the validity of African history as an academic discipline. Also reacting to his death, former Head, Department of History, University of Ibadan, Prof Tayo Adesina, described the late historian as ‘a phenomenon,’ and lamented that Nigeria, indeed Africa, has lost ‘a profound historian.’
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