A former vice-chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Ayo Banjo, has passed away.
Oyoaffairs learned that he died in the early hours of Friday, exactly 22 days after his 90th birthday.
Born Ladipo Ayodeji Banjo on May 2, the emeritus professor of English language was pro-chancellor of Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo. He served as VC of UI between 1984 and 1991.
He attended St. Andrews Anglican primary school and Christ Cathedral primary school in Lagos state, Nigeria. He went to 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 California, Los Angeles, United States. He later obtained a Doctorate degree (PhD) in 1969 from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
He started 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 vice-chancellor of the University of Ibadan. He was appointed vice-chancellor of the University of Ibadan in 1984, a position he held until 1991. During this period, he was the chairman committee of vice-chancellors 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.