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The President, Ede Elders’ Council (Igbimo Agbaagba Omo Ilu Ede), Alhaji Sulaimon Adebayo has described the death of the renowned historian, Prof Gafar Siyan Oyeweso as a colossal loss to the academic community, and Ede, in particular.
In his reaction, Alhaji Adebayo said the elders were deeply saddened that the community has lost a highly committed patriot and an academic of repute.
In a statement by Chief Ayodele Adeyemo, the Council’s director of publicity, Adebayo said: “Siyan was a philanthropist, humble, amiable and always willing to be a pathfinder to our youths, sponsoring and mentoring our willing and aspiring youths in Ede community. He was a man with large mind.”
Another elder, Chief Adebunmi Adeleke said Prof Oyeweso was always eager to assist in things that would shape the future of Ede youths, especially in their academic needs and job pursuits. “He was a great mentor to our youths. Ede would miss him sorely,” Pa Adeleke said in a regrettable mood.
Professor John Ayoade, a prominent Ede elder, who is also an emeritus Professor of Political Science, University of Ibadan, was shocked to hear of Siyan’s sudden death. He described Oyeweso as “an illustrious son of Ede. Definitely, his death would create a yawning gap in his natal community, Nigerian academia and the country, generally. He was a marvellous researcher and historian.”
Until his death, Professor Oyeweso was the Provost and Chairman of Council, Obafemi Awolowo University, his alma mater; Provost, College of Post Graduate Studies, Osun State University and a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters, (FNAL). As a renowned academic, reputable researcher and historian of reference, Prof Siyan authored many books and numerous articles in world class journals. He was equally versatile using the media for education on culture, and people of Yoruba race. His books on ‘History of Ede,’ a documentary on Oba John Adetoyese Laoye, Timi of Ede and many other prominent traditional monarchs remain legacies. The book titled, “Ede Icons and the Making of Modern Nigeria,” edited by Prof Oyeweso is a collective biographies that situates the Ede people in the larger context of Nigeria history. It is a collection of essays on iconic Ede traditional and modern elites, who have made significant contributions to the community, state and national development.
Indeed, Professor Oyeweso loved his people. His death is painful but it is in line with human divine destiny. The Ede Elders’ Council commiserates with Oba Munirudeen Adesola Lawal, Laminisa 1, Timi of Ede, the Ede community, the academic community, and in particular, his immediate family. We pray that his soul find repose in the Aljaena Fidrous.
