Scholars, Pirates, ASUU leaders bid farewell to Prof. Biodun Jeyifo in Ibadan
It was a solemn yet colourful farewell at Jeyifous Street, Oke Bola, Ibadan, as family members, colleagues, and associates gathered to honour the late Emeritus Professor Biodun Jeyifo. From as
It was a solemn yet colourful farewell at Jeyifous Street, Oke Bola, Ibadan, as family members, colleagues, and associates gathered to honour the late Emeritus Professor Biodun Jeyifo.
From as early as 7:30 a.m., mourners converged at TOS Funeral Home, Oke Ado, Ibadan, for the lying-in-state of the respected scholar. Members of the National Association of Seadogs, also known as the Pirates Confraternity, attended in full regalia to honour one of their prominent members.
Founded in 1952 at the University of Ibadan, the association counts Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka among its founding members and is known for advocating for human rights and social justice.
Also present in large numbers were members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) from across the country. Jeyifo was the union's pioneer president. Born on January 5, 1946, he died on February 11 at the age of 80.
At about 10 a.m., members of the Seadogs led a convoy of about 35 vehicles conveying the casket from Oke Ado to his residence at Oke Bola. Residents and neighbours lined the streets as the procession made its way through the city, allowing community members to pay their final respects.
The remains were later taken to the St. James the Great Cathedral Burial Ground, Ijokodo, Ibadan, where Rev. Taiwo Falade of Fire Soul Christ Evangelical Prayer Ministry, Akufo, Ibadan, delivered a brief sermon. He reminded mourners of the inevitability of death and urged them to live lives of purpose and faith.
The atmosphere shifted momentarily with the arrival of Soyinka, who led members of the confraternity in a final procession to the graveside, offering dirges in honour of the late scholar.
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Efforts to obtain comments from the deceased’s eldest son, Okunola Jeyifous, were unsuccessful as he declined to speak, saying he was still coming to terms with the loss.
In separate tributes, ASUU National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, and literary scholars, including Professors Olu Obafemi, Femi Osofisan, and Remi Raji, reflected on Jeyifo’s enduring contributions to academia and national discourse.
Piwuna expressed gratitude to Jeyifo's family for allowing him to serve the union, noting that Jeyifo's sacrifice and selflessness will never be forgotten. He pointed out that Jeyifo's leadership was driven by a desire to serve, not personal ambition, adding that his legacy will continue to inspire ASUU members
Speaking, Professor Obafemi said the famous scholar would never be forgotten for his commitment to social change and transformation, saying, "We will never forget his commitment to social change, social transformation. We will never forget his contribution to the development of the Marxian theory of African literature and African philosophy.
"We will never forget his love for justice, his love for humanity. Even though a frontline Marxist, he used the epistemology of the African world and African texts to explain the relevance of literature to social change. In other words, literature became an intersection for politics, equality, and political economy.
"He was a human being, a genuine human being, a good friend, a generous spirit. He left a lot of impact on all of us."
He urged the family and loved ones not to grieve because his work is immortal, adding, "His love for humanity, which they themselves are a part of, should continue to guide them. They should live to uphold that legacy, they should live to uphold that commitment of the human spirit to social change and social transformation."
Also speaking, Professor Osofisan said there are too many things not to forget about Emeritus Professor Biodun Jeyifo, whom he described as his closest friend.
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He said, "I can't even enumerate. I mean, I still look at the picture today, and I couldn't believe it. Is he gone? I was in the hospital. It's really, really, really painful. I don't think he's gone. I feel that he just went back on his usual holiday and will be back.
"So, I'm sure it will take a few months before I really begin to feel it. I don't know whether his family members can match that level of communal love and responsibility, but they will try. I know the eldest son, the next one, and the daughter. They look as if they will be able to manage. They are just of the old stock. So, I just hope that for all of us, for the future of this country, this death will be a catalyst."
Speaking on the virtues the younger generation can learn from him, the renowned scholar challenged the youths to be committed to bettering the society and making something out of the country.
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"This generation will learn its own laws. We should remain committed to bettering society and making something out of our country. We came from post-colonial times. We were the ones immediately after colonialism. And now, we are coming after militarism in wasted years. I hope we will be able to recover our lost ground. We are going to bring our people to think of themselves as a people, not as discarded pieces here and there.
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"The world is changing. The world powers are just playing with us. People are talking of a new colonialism. It is up to you to fight that, to make sure that we do not disintegrate again," he added.
In his remarks, Professor Remi Raji said the new generation must learn to understand the story of Nigeria from the late scholar.
He reflected on the impact of Emeritus Professor Biodun Jeyifo, highlighting his significance in Nigerian intellectual and literary circles, describing Jeyifo as a de-tribalized individual who transcended ethnic boundaries, and noting that his work and legacy continue to inspire new generations.
He recalls meeting Jeyifo in the US and being influenced by his theoretical standpoint, despite not being his student in a traditional classroom setting. He said Jeyifo's contributions to African literature and his role in shaping the African Studies Unit (ASU) are notable achievements that will ensure his legacy lives on.
He assured that critics, theorists, and writers like Jeyifo never truly die, as their work continues to impact future generations.
As mourners departed the cemetery, tributes continued to underscore Jeyifo’s legacy as a scholar, unionist, and public intellectual whose work, colleagues said, would continue to resonate beyond his lifetime.
