Eulogy: Professor Adeboye Babalola
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Toyin Falola
Dec 28, 2008, 5:14:37 PM12/28/08
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Sunday, December 28, 2008
Ijoye Solomon
Adeboye Babalola
Professor Solomon Adeboye Babalola, the quintessential academic,
linguistic purist and undoubtedly, one of the foremost educational
administrators and mentors this country has been privileged to
produce, died recently, two days short of his 82nd birthday. Prof
Babalola reached the pinnacle of achievement as a scholar and left an
indelible mark on the canvas of the nation's secondary and tertiary
education.
Born on December 17, 1926, in Ipetumodu, Osun State, Adeboye Babalola
was a child prodigy and polymath. After his primary education at
Christ Church School, Ipetumodu, he proceeded to Igbobi College,
Lagos, in January 1938 for his secondary education, where he
demonstrated his intellect by topping the class in the June 1938
examination. Young Babalola maintained his position on top of the
class for the next six years, culminating in the Cambridge School
Certificate Examination of December 1943 where he made nine alphas or A1 in nine subjects.
In recognition of his academic performance, Igbobi College awarded
him a scholarship to study for two years at Achimota College, Gold
coast (now Ghana), for the Intermediate Bachelor of Arts Degree of
the University of London. After successfully completing the
programme, Babalola returned to Lagos in August 1946 to join the
teaching staff of Igbobi College. In 1948, he won a Nigerian
Professor Solomon Adeboye Babalola, the quintessential academic,
linguistic purist and undoubtedly, one of the foremost educational
administrators and mentors this country has been privileged to
produce, died recently, two days short of his 82nd birthday. Prof
Babalola reached the pinnacle of achievement as a scholar and left an
indelible mark on the canvas of the nation's secondary and tertiary
education.
Born on December 17, 1926, in Ipetumodu, Osun State, Adeboye Babalola
was a child prodigy and polymath. After his primary education at
Christ Church School, Ipetumodu, he proceeded to Igbobi College,
Lagos, in January 1938 for his secondary education, where he
demonstrated his intellect by topping the class in the June 1938
examination. Young Babalola maintained his position on top of the
class for the next six years, culminating in the Cambridge School
Certificate Examination of December 1943 where he made nine alphas or A1 in nine subjects.
In recognition of his academic performance, Igbobi College awarded
him a scholarship to study for two years at Achimota College, Gold
coast (now Ghana), for the Intermediate Bachelor of Arts Degree of
the University of London. After successfully completing the
programme, Babalola returned to Lagos in August 1946 to join the
teaching staff of Igbobi College. In 1948, he won a Nigerian
Government Colonial
Welfare and Development Scholarship to study for is B.A. degree at
Queen's College, Cambridge University, England,
which he completed in 1951. He returned to Igbobi College in February 1952.
And it was at Igbobi College that Adeboye Babalola made his mark as
an administrator, teacher, mentor and inspirer of youths. He was
appointed the College Principal in January 1958, the youngest member of the teaching staff and the first African to hold the post.
Testimonies by some of his former students in the school describe him as a strict disciplinarian, an educationist par excellence and an
astute administrator whose tenure marked the height of achievement
and performance in academics and sports.
Still thirsting for knowledge and academic excellence, Adeboye
Babalola won a Commonwealth Scholarship to study for a doctorate
degree in Yoruba Literature, using Ijala chants (hunters' songs) as
his field of study. In October 1962, he was appointed a Lecturer in
Yoruba at the Institute of African Studies of the University of Ife
(now Obafemi Awolowo University) under a special arrangement that
allowed him to continue his doctoral programme at the University of
London. He was subsequently awarded the degree in December 1963. On
October 1, 1964 he assumed duty as Lecturer I at the University of
Lagos.
What Professor Babalola himself described as his "magnus opus," The
Content and Form of Yoruba Ijala, published by Oxford University
Press in 1966, set a standard for scholarship in Yoruba language and
literature. The book won the Amaury-Talbot prize for the best
contribution in the year to literature on the peoples of West Africa.
The prize, which is awarded by the Oxford University Press
Adjudicators Panel, fetched its author the then pricey sum of one
hundred British pounds.
More importantly, Professor Babalola's work and scholarship paved the
way for the universal recognition of African languages and literature
as valid fields of academic study. Under his leadership and guidance,
the University of Lagos became a major centre for the study of
Nigerian languages, particularly, Yoruba, Igbo, Edo and Hausa. In
1967, he was appointed Acting Dean of the School of African and Asian
Studies at the University of Lagos.
Adeboye Babalola was appointed Professor of African Languages and
Literatures in 1969 and was shortly thereafter appointed the
University of Lagos Public Orator, a function he performed for many
years. In January 1974, he became the pioneer Head of Department of
which he completed in 1951. He returned to Igbobi College in February 1952.
And it was at Igbobi College that Adeboye Babalola made his mark as
an administrator, teacher, mentor and inspirer of youths. He was
appointed the College Principal in January 1958, the youngest member of the teaching staff and the first African to hold the post.
Testimonies by some of his former students in the school describe him as a strict disciplinarian, an educationist par excellence and an
astute administrator whose tenure marked the height of achievement
and performance in academics and sports.
Still thirsting for knowledge and academic excellence, Adeboye
Babalola won a Commonwealth Scholarship to study for a doctorate
degree in Yoruba Literature, using Ijala chants (hunters' songs) as
his field of study. In October 1962, he was appointed a Lecturer in
Yoruba at the Institute of African Studies of the University of Ife
(now Obafemi Awolowo University) under a special arrangement that
allowed him to continue his doctoral programme at the University of
London. He was subsequently awarded the degree in December 1963. On
October 1, 1964 he assumed duty as Lecturer I at the University of
Lagos.
What Professor Babalola himself described as his "magnus opus," The
Content and Form of Yoruba Ijala, published by Oxford University
Press in 1966, set a standard for scholarship in Yoruba language and
literature. The book won the Amaury-Talbot prize for the best
contribution in the year to literature on the peoples of West Africa.
The prize, which is awarded by the Oxford University Press
Adjudicators Panel, fetched its author the then pricey sum of one
hundred British pounds.
More importantly, Professor Babalola's work and scholarship paved the
way for the universal recognition of African languages and literature
as valid fields of academic study. Under his leadership and guidance,
the University of Lagos became a major centre for the study of
Nigerian languages, particularly, Yoruba, Igbo, Edo and Hausa. In
1967, he was appointed Acting Dean of the School of African and Asian
Studies at the University of Lagos.
Adeboye Babalola was appointed Professor of African Languages and
Literatures in 1969 and was shortly thereafter appointed the
University of Lagos Public Orator, a function he performed for many
years. In January 1974, he became the pioneer Head of Department of
the new African
Languages and Literatures Department. He also served
as Dean of the Faculty of Arts from 1977 to 1979. Outside the
University he served as President of the Yoruba Studies Association
of Nigeria for eleven years, 1970 to 1981.
In recognition of his contribution to scholarship and the nation, he
was selected as a recipient of the Nigerian National Merit Award in
1982. He was also invested as a Foundation Fellow of the Nigerian
Academy of Letters. After his final retirement from the service of
the University of Lagos in 1987, Professor Babalol was granted the
highest honour by the Senate of the University, which appointed him
Emeritus Professor of Yoruba Literature. In 1992, the Council of the
University of Lagos also honoured him with the Doctor of Letters
degree honoris causa.
As an administrator and scholar there is little doubt that Professor
Babalol has helped to shape the life and career of many eminent
Nigerians. His personal achievements and that of his numerous
students stand in vivid and eternal testimony to his commitment to
education, industry and excellence. Professor Babalola contributed
his quota to national development and it is our hope that his life's
work will encourage others to dedicate themselves to promoting the
development of our dear country.
as Dean of the Faculty of Arts from 1977 to 1979. Outside the
University he served as President of the Yoruba Studies Association
of Nigeria for eleven years, 1970 to 1981.
In recognition of his contribution to scholarship and the nation, he
was selected as a recipient of the Nigerian National Merit Award in
1982. He was also invested as a Foundation Fellow of the Nigerian
Academy of Letters. After his final retirement from the service of
the University of Lagos in 1987, Professor Babalol was granted the
highest honour by the Senate of the University, which appointed him
Emeritus Professor of Yoruba Literature. In 1992, the Council of the
University of Lagos also honoured him with the Doctor of Letters
degree honoris causa.
As an administrator and scholar there is little doubt that Professor
Babalol has helped to shape the life and career of many eminent
Nigerians. His personal achievements and that of his numerous
students stand in vivid and eternal testimony to his commitment to
education, industry and excellence. Professor Babalola contributed
his quota to national development and it is our hope that his life's
work will encourage others to dedicate themselves to promoting the
development of our dear country.
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Toyin Falola
Department of History
The University of Texas at Austin
1 University Station
Austin, TX 78712-0220
USA
512 475 7224
512 475 7222 (fax)
http://www.toyinfalola.com/
www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa
http://groups.google.com/group/yorubaaffairs
http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
Toyin Falola
Department of History
The University of Texas at Austin
1 University Station
Austin, TX 78712-0220
USA
512 475 7224
512 475 7222 (fax)
http://www.toyinfalola.com/
www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa
http://groups.google.com/group/yorubaaffairs
http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
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