On Saturday November 19, 2016, Prof. Olu Akeusola was honoured by the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetola as the Otunba Obagun of Ijebuland. He, along with other prominent Ijebu people, were confered with Chieftaincy titles.
He is a prominent member of his age grade group, Egbe Bobagunte Okunrin Akile Ijebu which got its royal blessing and traditional recognition from His Majesty Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona on March 28, 1998.
The Egbe is an age grade set up in line with traditional institution of Regberegbe (Age Grades) of Ijebuland under the Awujale who is the Chief custodian of Ijebu culture and tradition. Bobaguntes are those who were born between the years, 1959, 60 & 61.
The sad story is that Prof. Akeusola is dead! He died last week. For those who don’t know Prof. lets take you into his world.
He was born at Epe, Lagos State, Nigeria on the 21st of March, 1962. He attended Epe Grammar School, Epe between 1974 and 1980, the then Lagos State College of Education, (now Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education) Otto/Ijanikin between October 1983 and August 1986 and The University of Lagos between 1987 and 1990 (First degree); 1994 (Masters degree) and between 1999 and 2003 (Ph.D).
As a late starter and an instrument in the hand of fate, Prof. started his academic career on a sour note: he failed the first leaving certificate examination in 1973, repeated form three twice in 1976/1977 and 1977/1978 at Epe Grammar School, Epe, withdrawn from the Secondary School to enrol at a radio mechanic workshop where he started learning the art of repairing electronic equipment, miraculously recalled to the Secondary School in October 1978, failed the School Certificate Examination in June 1980, failed the GCE in 1980 and 1981. He did not pass until November 1982. Soon after this turbulent start, he turned out to be an erudite scholar of high repute with so many ‘firsts’ to his credit later in life. Prof. turned out to be an epitome of excellence, most especially in his chosen career – didactic and pedagogy. He was the University of Lagos Best Scholar of the year – 1988/89 session, the Dean Faculty of Arts Award Holder for the Best Performance in French – 1989/90 session, Vice Chancellor’s Award for the Best Performance at the Degree Level – 1989/90 session and the Best Masters Graduating Student, M.A French and Comparative Grammar, University of Lagos in 1995 and as a result of which he was exempted from M.Phil to proceed directly to Ph.D.
As an internationally acknowledged linguist, Prof. Olu Akeusola, who is a Professor of French and Comparative Grammar at the National Open University of Nigeria, Lagos and the current Provost of the Michael Otedola College of Primary Education, Noforija-Epe, was awarded the 1997 French Government Scholarship at The ‘Université de Toulouse, Le Mirail, in France: The year 2000 French Government Scholarship at the ‘Centre Audio-Visuel de Langues Modernes (CAVILAM), Vichy, in France; The year 2010 French Government Scholarship at the ‘BELC 2010, Université de Nantes, in France.
As a Comparative Grammarian of note, he excels in translation, lecturing and linguistic criticism of theories and syntactic structures. Little wonder then that these qualities stand him out for an award by the International Biographical Centre Cambridge, IBC, England as one of the World’s 2000 outstanding scholars of the 21st Century in 2001.
Aremo Olu Akeusola has published well over fourteen text books, over fifty articles in National and International Learned Journals, three completed research works, ten presented seminar papers and has edited several academic publications/textbooks. He is a member of over ten professional bodies and has served in various capacities such as Member, AOCOED Governing Council (2001 to 2006); Director of many Centres (CILA, CILAMAS and Centre for Evening NCE Studies, CENCES-AOCOED (between 1999 and 2006); National Chief Examiner (French Language) for NECO (2000 to 2003); AOCOED representative at the Lagos State W.A.E.C. committee (1999 to 2008); visiting Professor of French and Comparative Grammar to Europa University, Frankfurt-Oder, Germany and University of Stellenbosch, South Africa; External Moderator to Babcock University, Ilishan, Tai Solarin College of Education, Omu and Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijebu Ode; Ag. Dean, School of Arts and Social Sciences, National Open University of Nigeria, Lagost (April 2010 to March 2011) current National Secretary General, Committee of Provosts of Colleges of Education in Nigeria. He was appointed the Chairman, Governing Council of Art Kingdom Cultural Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa in 2012, among many others.
He is a renowned linguist, teacher, analyst, consultant on Comparative Grammar (French, English and Yoruba) and an amalgamator of “Town and Gown” was on Saturday, 13th December, 2003 installed, by his Royal Majesty, Oba Olajuwon Oyelana, the Oloni of Oni Land, as his Royal Highness, The Otunba Akinrogun 1 of Oni Land. Also on the 1st October 2009, Otunba Olu AKEUSOLA was installed as the Alapinni of Epe Land by His Royal Majesty, Oba Kamorudeen Animashaun, the Elepe of Epe Land. He bagged the title of the Otunba Jagunmolu of Odo-Noforija Kingdom from His Royal Majesty, Oba Babatunde Ogunlaja (JP), the Aladeshonyin of Odo-Noforija Kingdom in August 2011 and the title of the Otunba Atunluto of OdoIragunshin Kingdom from His Royal Majesty, Oba Julius Olawale Olagoke Ogunsanya (JP), the Aladegunshenbi of Odo-Iragunshin Kingdom also in August 2011.
On April 21, 2012, he was installed as the Akogun of Epe Land by His Royal Majesty, Oba Kamorudeen Animashaun, The Elepe of Epe. In April 2012, he was installed as Otunba Bobagunwa of Ilodo Kingdom by His Royal Majesty, Oba Isiaka Ajede, The Ogirimadagbo of Ilodo Kingdom. On the 5th of May 2012, he bagged the title of Aremo of Igbooye Land by His Royal Majesty, Oba Michael Gbadebo Onakoya, The Orijeru of Igbooye Land. On 7th October 2012, he was installed as The Olu-Omo of Orimedu Land by His Royal Majesty, Oba Amzat Atiku, The Onimedu of Orimedu Land. In January, 2013, he was installed as The Obagun of Epe Kingdom by His Royal Majesty, Oba Shefiu Adewale, The Olu Epe of Epe Kingdom. Also in January 2013, he was installed as The Olorogun of Ibeju Land by His Royal Majesty, Oba Rafiu Olusegun Salami, The Onibeju of Ibeju Land. On 21st of March, 2013, he was installed as Aremo of Epe Division by His Royal Majesty, Oba Akeem Okunol Adesanya, JP, The Alara of Ilara. Also on 21st of March, 2013, he was installed as the Aare-Oodua of Odo-Iragunshin Land by His Royal Majesty, Oba Julius Olawale Olagoke Ogunsanya, JP, The Aladegunshenbi of Odo-Irangunshin Land. On 14th November 2013, he was installed as Aare Parakoyi of Oke-Sopin Lukale of Oke-Sopin, Ijebu-Igbo. On 21st of January 2014, he was installed as Akinrogun Bobagunteof Akile-Ijebu by Egbe Bobagunte of Akile-Ijebu on behalf of His Royal Highness, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, Ogbagba II, The Awujale of Ijebu Land. He was installed as The Ajagun Nla of Ketu Kingdom by His Royal Majesty, Oba Adegboyega Adefowora (JP), The Alaketu of Ketu Kingdom on 20th March, 2014. On Friday, 16th May, 2014, he was installed as Apesin Ebumawe of Ago-Iwoye by Alaiyeluwa Oba Abdul-Rasaq Adesina Adenugba, The Ebumawe of Ago-Iwoye. And on Saturday, 23rd May 2014, he was installed as the Aare Baamowe of Igunshin Land in Ondo State by His Royal Highness, Oba Lawrence Adelaisoye, The Alara of Igunshin Land. On 18th August, 2014 he was installed as Agba Akin Oodua of Ijebu-Ife by HRH Oba Adesesan Afolorunso Oguntayo, The Ajalorun of Ijebu-Ife. On 13th July, 2015, Prof. Olu AKEUSOLA was re-appointed for 4-Year Second Term as Provost of Michael Otedola College of Primary Education, Noforija-Epe, Lagos State, with effect from 2nd August, 2015, by His Excellency, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, the Executive Governor of Lagos State. On 3rd July, 2015, Prof. Olu AKEUSOLA was awarded the Lagos State Man of the Year Award (LASMAYA 2015) by Centre for Policy Development and Political Studies. On February 26, 2016, he was awarded Ijebu Man of the Year Award 2015 by Ijebu Flavours Magazine. On Monday, 11th April 2016, he was conferred with the Fellowship Award of the Institute of Diplomacy and Public Management. He is married with five children.
