Tinubu Pays Tribute to Literary Icon, Biodun Jeyifo
President Bola Tinubu has expressed deep sorrow over the death of former Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) President and distinguished literary scholar, Professor Emeritus Biodun Jeyifo, who passed away on Wednesday.
In a condolence message to the late scholar’s family, friends, and colleagues, the President described Jeyifo as an exceptional intellectual whose impact on African literature, postcolonial studies, and cultural theory was profound.
He noted that the eminent critic was widely respected for his insightful interpretations of Professor Wole Soyinka’s works and his enduring contributions to literary scholarship.
President Tinubu also reflected on Jeyifo’s tenure as ASUU president, commending the prudence, foresight, and leadership he demonstrated in engaging government authorities to enhance academic standards, staff welfare, and the overall learning environment in Nigerian universities.
He stated that the late professor’s steadfast advocacy for academic freedom and social justice would continue to resonate, while his influence in political and cultural journalism would remain a guiding light for generations of scholars, writers, and activists he mentored.
The President extended condolences to ASUU, the Nigerian Academy of Letters, the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism, the University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University, as well as Oberlin University, Cornell University, and Harvard University in the United States, where Jeyifo made remarkable scholarly contributions.
Describing him as a towering figure in global academia, Tinubu said Nigeria and the international intellectual community had lost a rare mind devoted to knowledge and human dignity. He added that he shared a longstanding personal relationship with the late scholar and would deeply miss his contributions to literature, culture, and national discourse.
Professor Jeyifo, regarded as one of Africa’s foremost literary critics, received numerous honours during his lifetime, including the prestigious W.E.B. Du Bois Medal in 2019.
President Tinubu prayed for the peaceful repose of his soul.
