Professor Ladipo Ayodele Banjo, a former Vice- Chancellor of the University of Ibadan is dead.
The professor of English language passed on to the great beyond on Friday, aged 90
He was born on 2nd May 1934 to the family of Reverend Ayo Banjo in Oyo State Nigeria.
The Emeritus Professor of English language was also an educational administrator and also a former pro-chancellor of Ajayi Crowther University.
Also, he was Pro-Chancellor of the Universities of Port Harcourt, Ilorin, and Ajayi Crowther.
The ace academic celebrated his 90th birthday on May 2nd.
Renowned for his contributions to the development of the English Language curriculum in Nigeria and the promotion of Nigerian varieties of English, Banjo is the former Chairman of the Board of the National Universities Commission.
Professor Ayodeji Banjo has to his credit, over 55 publications (books, chapters in books and articles in learned journals).
Professor Ayodeji Banjo spent ten (10) Years, consistently in the University of Ibadan, managing the affairs of the University; two (2) years as Deputy Vice-Chancellor, one (1) year as Acting Vice-Chancellor and seven (7) years as Vice-Chancellor respectively. Records have shown that Professor Ayodeji Banjo is the longest-serving Vice-Chancellor in the history of the University of Ibadan, to date
Furthermore he was
President, Nigeria Academy of Letters (2000-2004); Fellow Nigeria Academy of Letters (2000-2004); Chairman, Sigma Foundation (2005-2010) and Fellow of the Nigeria English Studies Association (2006)
His many awards included
Justice of Peace (JP), Oyo State (1984)
Commander of the Order of Niger, CON (2001)
Literature honori causa, Port Harcourt (2005)
Nigeria National Order of Merit, NNOM (2009)
