The Department of Political Science, Faculty of The Social Sciences, University of Ibadan (UI), has officially announced the death of its immediate past Head of Department (HOD), Professor Aituaje Irene Pogoson, the institution’s first female professor of Political Science specialising in International Relations. Her remains has been deposited at a morgue in Ibadan.
Professor Irene Pogoson, who delivered UI 545th Inaugural Lecture titled, “The World in Transition: Understanding Power in the International Political System”, on Thursday, March 14, 2024, left behind her husband, Prof. Ohioma Ifounu Pogoson, an astute professor of Arts in the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, and three children who are doing very well in their areas of discipline.
The Department’s current HOD, Professor Dhikru Adewale Yagboyaju, who succeeded Professor Pogoson, announced her demise, expressing deep sorrow over the passing of the renowned academic.
Information exclusively gathered that the deceased died in Banby Specialist Hospital, Akobo, Ibadan.
Professors Ohioma and Irene Pogoson
Announcing the death, Yagboyaju stated, “With deep pain but with total submission to the Almighty, this is to announce the passing to glory, in the early hours of Saturday, 25 October 2025, of our colleague and former Head of Department, Professor Aituaje I. Pogoson.”
Professor Yagboyaju described her death as a great loss to the department, the university community, and the academic world at large.
He added, “May her soul rest in peace, and may the Almighty comfort families and friends left behind.”
According to the statement, funeral arrangements will be announced later by the family of the deceased.
According to the online profile of Professor Aituaje Irene Pogoson, the deceased held a B. A degree in History (1981) from the University of Ibadan. She further obtained a Master’s and doctoral degrees in Political Science in 1984 and 1994, respectively.
She was the first female lecturer in the history of the Department of Political Science, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
Before joining the University of Ibadan in 2000, Professor Pogoson worked with the Presidential Panel on Nigeria Since Independence History Project as Research Fellow and Administrative Secretary between 1981 and 2000.
Between 2005 and 2007, she served as a Policy Analyst on Governance with the Independent Policy Group, Abuja, a UNDP/ Ford Foundation and Soros Foundation funded Policy Think-Tank for President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Professor Pogoson was a member of a number of learned societies and organisations and consults for several national and international agencies.
She had been guest lecturer and external examiner to several Institutions.
She was on the Advisory Council of the Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG) of the MO Ibrahim Foundation and a member of the Scientific Committee of the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA).
Professor Pogoson was a highly motivated researcher, teacher-trainer and policy analyst with over two decades of experience routing intellectually diverse environments.
Her research interests were in International Relations, with particular focus on Foreign Policy Analysis, Strategic Studies, Governance, and Gender Studies.
