Eulogies, praises as literary giant Prof. Jeyifo begins final journey home
It was a mixture of expressions and feelings on Tuesday when friends, families, associates, students, partners, unionists, leaders, researchers gathered to celebrate and honor renowned literary scholar, Biodun Jeyifo, popularly
It was a mixture of expressions and feelings on Tuesday when friends, families, associates, students, partners, unionists, leaders, researchers gathered to celebrate and honor renowned literary scholar, Biodun Jeyifo, popularly called BJ.
The event tagged, "Evening of Tributes" held at the Omolayole Hall, International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan signals the commencement of the funeral rites of the scholar and literary icon.
Jeyifo, the pioneer President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), was born on January 5, 1946, and died on February 11 at the age of 80.
Speakers at the event spoke glowing about the attributes, humility, character, sincerity, passion, commitment to duty among other virtues that the late icon embodies.
While some remarks attracted laughter and smiles from people in attendance, comments from other speakers sparked sober reflections.
Professor Wole Soyinka, Professor Niyi Osundare, pass and serving President of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), scholars from.the field of creative, leadership of ASUU across the country were in attendance in their good numbers even as they sang solidarity songs in appreciation of the efforts of the late Unionist in laying the foundation for meaning engagement with government.
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In his remarks, Professor Soyinka recounted the days of Jeyifo at the University of Ibadan and how he emerged with a First Class honors.
He said "Any attempt at a linear seizure of the being that became simply known as "BJ" is bound to collapse under the weight , not of contradictions, but of new detailed revelations of his variegated engagements with the society within which he matured, and against whose deficits he honed both instinct and intellect."
Describing the deceased as a "Marxist jailer, practical mutineer", Professor Soyinka recounted various episodes and incidents where BJ showed exemplary leadership attitudes to reinforce and instill discipline and worthy characters.
Also speaking, Prof Niyi Osundare recalled the beautiful times of togetherness and how he would put all his chest out to stand against perceived injustice and ill treatment to others.
He commended his various scholarly efforts adding that despite works, he also took time out for his family.
An old schoolmate, John Ohiorhenuan recalled that BJ was by far, the most active in UI student politics and was already bearded, fearsome young man of the Students' Union.
"That young man was to become the gray, lo g-bearded, fearsome Professor at Ibadan, Ile Ife, Ithaca, Cambridge, Mass and places beyond. Irrepressible ke to the very last, BJ remains Ed true to form until his passing.
"BJ was the personification of the Marxist intellectual. This was demonstrated most clearly in his life of 'conspicuous underconsumption' to the very end. BJ looked the same in 1965 as he did in 2025: the same simplicity in clothing amd demeanour. He was very much at home in trade union meetings, in the major motor park of Ogunla, and o course, in the lecture theatre."
A childhood friend of Jeyifo, Yemi Ogunbiyi in his tribute recalled how BJ usually got into trouble at scholar, back in the days at Ibadan Boys High School.
"There were latent streaks of bohemians in him, an anti-establishment stance that oozed from every part of his body, even as a tijng teenager. It was not surprising that he was fingered, whether rightly or wrongly, as one of the I leaders in the strike action that led to the brief closure of the school in 1964.
"Yet, different as BJ was, he was generally an addictive of great admiration, bewilderment and puzzlement for many of us. Many of us, his juniors and classmates alike, were all in awe of him in a strange way."
Also in his tribute, Professor Femi Osofisan said He was my friend. My best friend. We will certainly meet again."
Also in his tribute, legal luminary, Femi Falana recounted how Jeyifo, upon his emergence at the National President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in 1980 helped to secure the recall of dismissed lecturers and students activist who were dismissed by the Olusegun Obasanjo military regime in 1978.
ASUU President, Prof Chris Piwuna in his remarks said ASUU would not have been where it is today but for the foundation laid by Prof Jeyifo and many other great leaders.
He noted that Prof although he was not fortunate to have been there when Prof Jeyifo was leading, he met on ground solid efforts laid and which they are building on
"I was not fortunate to have been there when he was leading the Union, or even for a while after he left. But what we found on ground were solid efforts that were made by him and those who served with him to ensure that our Union operates within certain principles, integrity, transparency, courage, trust, solidarity, you know, all those things.
"And it's also to his credit that it was at his leadership that our Union first entered into a collective bargaining principle agreement with government. And that has continued to this day, despite efforts both locally, domestically, and internationally to jettison that principle of collective bargaining. It's because BJ and his co-travellers at the time, our leaders at the time, fought to have collective bargaining as the basis for engaging your employer.
"That's why we have what we have today. So to a very large extent, even the recently signed agreement, it's to his credit."
Iyalode Folasade Ogunbiyi in her remarks recalled that she had k own BJ Asknce she was about 13years old. Noting that the deceased may not catch the fancy of typical religious people as they seem, she said "BJ was although tascally but never a bully. He was not the usual Christian but lived his life for humanity and others.
"BJ will be remembered for his good character, generosity, simplicity, hardwork, commitment, life of impact among other virtues that are worthy of emulation."
In his tribute to his "Formidable Dad", the eldest son of the deceased, Professor Okunola said "My father had a formidable presence and this is something I was keenly aware of even before I explicitly understood its meaning."
He recounted that his father's oratory volume was famously loud, as he gesticulate emphatically when making any point but never as a bully.
To the shock of the family and guests at the event, he reaclled that unknown to many driving was something that his father used to get clarity and peace as it usually serve as tool for focus and lively exchange for anyone fortunate to be with him while driving.
"Time on the road was an incubator and testing laboratory for his writing and speeches, allowing focused meditation, consideration and quite solitude.
"Throughout my childhood and especially beginning in my early adulthood, many of the most resonant and substantive conversations we had, about all manner of topics, unfolded on long drives, some with no particular destination", he said.
Highpoint of the event was the presentation of documentary packaged to showcase the life amd times of the deceased, from his childhood was up to his retirement and life thereafter.
The event was softly liven up with music by the Ibadan City Chorale who were on hand to provide special local rendition to entertain guests.
