Encomiums as Obasanjo, Fayemi, Osuntokun, others celebrate Toyin Falola at 70

It is the best time to celebrate excellence and relive old memories on Sunday when accomplished scholars, friends, colleagues and professionals gather to honor the famous historian, Toyin Falola.

The event was an evening tribute attended by academics, politicians, university administrators, technocrats, newspaper editors, colleagues, friends, family and mentees of Mr. Falola who turned 70 on Sunday.

The virtual event, showcased on various social media platforms including Zoom and YouTube, featured tributes from prominent Nigerians including former Nigerian presidents, Olusegun Obasanjo, Dosumu Awolowo, Richard Joseph, Kayode Fayemi, Bisi Fayemi, Michael Vickers, and others- apart.

Born in Ibadan in 1953, Mr. Falola is a globally recognized historian and professor of African Studies. He obtained his BA and PhD (1981) in history at the University of Ife, Ile-Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) in Nigeria. He is Professor of History at the University of Texas at Austin, where he has taught since 1991.

Among young researchers, Mr. Falola is regarded as an outstanding mentor who is committed to training young scholars by facilitating their sustainability and professional growth.

She has received numerous awards for her teaching commitment in Africana studies, including the 2010 Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award, the Jean Holloway Award for Teaching Excellence, and the Texas Exes Teaching Award.

‘Septuagenarian Induction’

Speaking at the event, Mr. Obasanjo, who was the special guest of honour, inducted Mr. Falola into the “circle of septuagenarians”.

The former president, famous for his letter-writing exploits, explained that he had a hard time choosing the best way to deliver a speech before deciding to write a letter.

“As someone who has preceded you in chronological time, I welcome you into the septuagenarian circle,” Mr. Obasanjo said.

“My gratitude goes to God who has given all of you blessings and blessings. Arriving in biblical times is not an easy journey. Our existential challenges as human beings, and more critically as Nigerians, are many, and more so, for people like you who shoulder many responsibilities as scholars, cultural custodians, elders in their own right, statesmen, and public intellectuals.

“I must say that I appreciate your unceasing intervention in Nigeria as a country. Nigeria needs intellectuals, professionals and patriots; people who can argue with them to push for progress that seems to have taken too long. And you have succeeded in the tradition of interrogation patriotism at its best.

Mr. Obasanjo, who described 70 as the age of reckoning, explained that Nigeria means a lot to him, at a level that most people still fail to understand. He added that it was clear to him, from the many interventions Mr. Falola had made, that the nation was also very important to the distinguished historians.

He said: “I know that it takes courage to enter the national discourse in this great country. It also takes a lot of wisdom to understand and be able to solve the thorny problems that we have been dealing with for years.

“I thank you for making the decision not to be silent and just enjoy the glory of the achievement you deserve as a global scholar and a famous intellectual. You stay in cold or hot water.”

Mr. Obasanjo noted that Mr. Falola has reached a phase where, in cultural and spiritual terms, the hoary head is an example of value. “We are both at a point where our socio-cultural value framework is almost a relic in the context of the value revaluation of the current generation,” he said.

The former president expressed his hope to Mr. Falola, adding that “… may we finish strong and finish well by witnessing the goodness of God to make Nigeria great in our lifetime.”

On her side, Bisola Falola, the daughter of a respected historian, told wonderful stories about how Mr. Falola, whom she called “grandfather”, helped choose names for her four grandchildren and presided over the naming ceremony, among others. bigger family.

“Actually as a baby, her grandchildren have been getting a history education as she walks around the house, up and down, telling them about the art, the origins, and the stories they tell,” she said.

“And when he grew up, he would walk contemplatively around the neighborhood, and he became convinced that he took his wisdom and his ideology.”

Speaking about Mr Falola’s incredible work ethic, he said his grandchildren often expressed concern about his busy schedule. He said, “Sometimes they ask, ‘Does grandpa sleep in his office?’ Because he knows he must be working there, and he’s asking, like all of us, ‘but when does he sleep? When?!'”

Encomiums

In his tribute, Mr. Fayemi, the governor of Ekiti State, said he considered himself an indirect disciple of the historian because he (Falola) taught his wife, Mrs. Fayemi. He described Mr. Falola as someone who always wants to mentor and help young scholars, adding that “…he never judges in the truest tradition as a Yoruba example” because he believes that everyone has something to offer.

For Ayo Banjo, a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Mr. Falola is a role model for young Nigerians, who like younger academics. “They only do parts and don’t broadcast anything,” he said.

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Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu, Nigeria’s former ambassador to the Netherlands, recalled how Mr. Falola supported his work when he was the country’s ambassador to The Hague. “I believe Falola is one of those individuals who will help fix this country one day,” he said.

Mrs. Fayemi, the immediate past first from Ekiti State, on her part described Mr. Falola as a mentor and teacher who has been a source of inspiration to her and many other mentees and students. “As you continue your role as an elder in our community and beyond, we will continue to look to you for guidance,” he said.

In his intervention, Akinjide Osuntokun, professor emeritus, described Mr. Falola as a humble man who cares for others. “I have never seen a historian as fecund, deep, profound and fertile as Toyin,” he said, adding that Mr. Falola made everyone look ordinary. “Toyin is truly unmatched in terms of scholarship,” he said. He added that his work deserves a Nobel prize because “…there is no reason why (Falola’s) writings on Africa do not qualify for a Nobel prize.”

More Tributes

Olu Obafemi—a poet, playwright, author and Professor of English and Dramatic Literature—was described by Mr. Falola as a “universal intellectual” who writes about literature in a more versatile way than most literary critics.

“He has the capacity to celebrate intelligence, the distribution of knowledge, the production of knowledge … Toyin is a very rare gift to humanity,” he said.

Other notable scholars and professionals who spoke about Mr. Falola include Olabode Popoola, Ajibola Ogunsola, Evelyn Hauwa Yusuf, Moses Ochonu, and others.

In his reaction, Mr. Falola said he had rejected birthday celebrations in the past because of the dangerous situation in Nigeria and parts of the African continent. He wondered what he had to celebrate if people across the country – and indeed the continent – were not moving forward.

“If our country is not successful, we shouldn’t capitalize on our own individual success,” he said.

But despite the situation, historians note that Nigeria can still use its human resources to foster inclusive growth and development. He urged patriots not to belittle or belittle the people as they remain the key to ensuring that the nation achieves its potential.

“We can be disappointed in the leadership; but we should not be disappointed in our community,” he said, adding that “there is nothing wrong with the people.”

Historians also used the opportunity to encourage young scholars to dream big and refrain from being ‘minimalist’ to achieve their goals.

In a note, Jibrin Ibrahim described Mr. Falola as a “Master of networking, and for many of us, a valued friend.” In these difficult times, he added, Mr. Falola is a loud voice that always elevates Africa on the global stage and finds ways to rebuild institutions.

In his vote of thanks, Abimbola Adelakun, who teaches in the Department of African and African Diaspora Studies at the University of Texas at Austin, thanked the invited guests for honoring the distinguished scholar. He also expressed his appreciation to the members of the committee, which he called the “coup plot”, including PREMIUM TIMES editor-in-chief, Musikilu Mojeed, for putting the event together.

The event also featured an Oriki session where Yoruba singer, Halimat, serenaded Falola and guests with deep and emotional panegyrics.