The longest-serving and one of the best Vice Chancellors of the University of Ibadan (UI), Emeritus Prof Ayo Banjo, died in the early hours of today at the age of 90.
Banjo, who clocked 90 on Thursday, May 2, 2024, was absent at his birthday concert, titled, “Ma Gbagbe Ile” organised in his honour by The Ibadan Philharmonic Society (TIP), in conjunction with The University of Ibadan (UI) and held at the historic Trenchard Hall.
Professor Ayo Banjo was born on May 2, 1934, in Oyo State, Nigeria, to the family of Reverend Ayodeji Banjo. He attended St. Andrews Anglican Primary School and Christ Cathedral Primary School in Lagos State, Nigeria. He attended Igbobi College in Lagos State, Nigeria, between 1947 and 1952. In 1966, he won the American State Department scholarship award for a Master of Art (M.A) degree in linguistics at the University of Califonia, Los Angeles, United States. He later obtained a Doctorate degree (PhD) in 1969 from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
He began his career as a lecturer at the Department of English Language, University of Ibadan in 1966. He was appointed associate professor in 1973 and became a full professor in 1975 at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. In 1981, he became the acting vice-chancellor of the University of Ibadan. He was appointed vice-chancellor of the University of Ibadan in 1984, a position he held till 1991. During this period, he was the chairman committee of vice chancellor of Nigerian universities. He served as a visiting professor for one year at the University of West Indies at Cave Hill as well as a visiting fellow at the University of Cambridge, England between 1993 and 1994. He was appointed as the pro-chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt between 2000 and 2004. After his tenure, he was appointed as pro-chancellor of the University of Ilorin for two years (2005-2007). He also served as the incumbent pro-chancellor of Ajayi Crowther University.
