The academic community at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile-Ife has been thrown into mourning following the death of a renowned scholar and Emeritus Professor of History, Segun Osoba.
Although the details of his transition were still sketchy, he was said to have died on Wednesday at his Ijẹbu-Ode, Ogun State residence at 11.35 am at the age of 92.
His death was confirmed by one of his disciples, Prof Toye Olorode, who described him as “a foremost patriot, social historian, committed socialist, exemplary teacher, and humanist.”
Osoba who mentored many Marxists was the Leader of “Ife Collective”, an organisation that mobilized Nigerians with other social platforms to seek alternative paradigms for the development of Nigeria, having noticed that the economic and directive principles adopted at independence could not take the country far.
They also worked actively, throughout in the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Nigerian Labour Movement at large.
Among his disciples were Professors Toye Olorode, Idowu Awopetu, Kayode Adetugbo, Segun Adewoye, Bayo Ademodi, Kola Torimiro, Dipo Fashina and Dr Deinde Arigbede among numerous others.
He retired from the University in 1992.