Professor Abdulgafar Siyan Oyeweso, Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has died at the age of 64. He passed away on Tuesday morning after a brief illness, despite what family sources described as a successful surgical procedure.
The announcement was made in a statement issued by Olawale Oyeweso on behalf of the family.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved father and brother, Professor Abdulgafar Siyan Oyeweso, who departed this life on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at the age of 64 after a brief illness,” the statement read.
According to the family, he will be laid to rest today in Ede, Osun State, immediately after the Asr prayers.
Prof. Oyeweso, who served as Executive Director of the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding (CBCIU), was widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s leading historians. Born on 1 February 1961, he obtained his B.A. (Hons), M.A., and Ph.D. in History from the University of Ife (now OAU).
He began his academic career in 1985 at Lagos State University (LASU), rising quickly from Assistant Lecturer to Senior Lecturer by 1992, Associate Professor in 2001 and full Professor in 2004.
A distinguished scholar, Oyeweso authored numerous books and over 150 academic publications spanning military and strategic studies, cultural history, Islamic intellectual traditions, Yoruba warfare and Nigeria’s identity discourse.
His influence extended far beyond the classroom. He served on the governing councils of Osun State University, Osogbo, and the Federal Polytechnic, Ede, and provided strategic advisory support to universities on planning, quality assurance and fundraising.
Prof. Oyeweso was also an active member of several professional bodies, including the Historical Society of Nigeria, Lagos Studies Association, Africa Peace Research Association and the African Studies Association (USA). He served as Editor-in-Chief of African Nebula, a multidisciplinary journal, and worked as an external assessor for many academic institutions.
In recognition of his contributions, scholars honoured him with three Festschrift volumes in 2012, and in 2017, he was inducted as a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters (NAL), one of the highest distinctions for humanities scholars in the country.
The family described him as a mentor, educator and community leader whose work influenced academic, cultural and public spheres. He is survived by his wife, children and extended family.
Tributes from colleagues, institutions and former students are expected as the country reflects on the legacy of a historian widely regarded as a pillar of modern Nigerian scholarship.
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