Late Professor Siyan Oyeweso, an internationally respected Professor of History and Pro-chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, his alma mater, detested concocted or inacurate data and misrepresentation of facts, hence the need to clarify and state, following findings from reliable sources, that Oyeweso passed away at the Oluyoro Catholic Hospital, Oke Ofa, Ibadan while recuperating from a brief illness that had slowed him down for some weeks.
His last public appearance, via social media, was on August 27 when he announced presentation of his book, “NASFAT: The First Twenty Five Years”, a work commissioned by the Nasrul Lahi L Fatih Society (NASFAT) and launched in Abuja on August 13, to the immediate past Governor of Osun State and Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola in his office.
Also significantly, Oyeweso had his last public lecture on August 5 in commemoration of the 10th Coronation Anniversary of the Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Kabir Adewale Shotobi (Adegorushen V).
He titled his lecture: “Contemporary Traditional Rulers and the Quest for Inclusive Governance and Development in Nigeria.”
TheTabloid.net gathered that the Ede-born cheerful personality had woken up early in the morning of December 2, 2025 and had his bath, looking forward to a brighter day in his assuring recovery rate. However, death sneaked in, made no noise, went for his heart seized his breath and Oyeweso gave up.
His remains were moved to his residence at Oyeweso Road off Seventh Day Adventist High School, Ede, Osun State where he was interred after the islamic obligatory Janazah prayers had been performed amidst a surging crowd of sobbing sympathisers.
Oyeweso took the war against ignorance to its fortified territory in a town peopled by peasant farmers and petty traders. He perservered even with a loan obtained by his grandmother who saw a sparkling future ahead of him among great scholars.
The willing Oyeweso weathered the storm from Oke Iragbiji High School, Iragbiji to the then University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, where he bagged first degree, master and doctorate. He capped it all when he was pronounced a substantive Professor of History in 2004.
He rose to become a strong pillar in the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojoo, and member of the Governing Council of the institution founded by late Second Republic Governor Alhaji Lateef Jakande in 1983. He later moved his service to the multi-campus Osun State University, established by the Osun State Government pilotted by Okuku Prince Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola in 2006. Oyeweso emerged the pioneer Provost, College of Humanities and Culture sited in Ikire Campus. He attempted to consolidate that position by putting his foot forward for the post of Vice-chancellor. However, luck, not qualification, betrayed him.
To the astonishment of his colleagues and disciples, he also threw his hat to the ring of politics and became candidate of the House of Representatives in Ede-North-Ede-South-Egbedore-Ejigbo Federal Constituency on the ticket of the Action Democratic Congress (ADC). He could not win due to obvious reasons.
He was also appointed Executive Director, the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding, Osogbo, the position he explored to raise the status of that institution founded by Governor Oyinlola in 2009 through his periodic Colloquium in honour of figures whose history are synonymous to promotion of Yoruba culture and tradition.
In President Bola Tinubu admnistration, he enjoyed an usual benefit of being first appointed Pro Chancellor and Chairman of Council of the Federal University of Lokoja, Kogi State and later that of his alma mater OAU in 2024.
His political ideology offers a new model of study in his balanced relationship among rival parties. During his trying time in sick bed, he was said to have received support from the Adelekes despite belonging to different political families.
Upon hearing Oyeweso’s demise, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke expressed sadness and described his death as a big loss, lamenting that Osun state and Nigeria have been denied the service of one of its best.
“On behalf of the good people of Osun State, I convey my heartfelt condolences to his immediate family, the Timi of Ede and the people of Ede, the OAU community, mentees and everyone touched by this devastating loss,” he said.
The governor prayed for the repose of his soul, “and grant his family, kin, associates and everyone touched by his passing the fortitude to bear the pain of the loss, adding that “it is my sincere hope that his good works in the time he spent here will not die with him.”
A US-based senior colleague to the deceased, Professor Toyin Falola, said to have since visited the bereaved family in Ede,
also described Oyeweso as “the historian whose voice nursed generations and whose scholarship irrigated fields abandoned long by forgetful minds.”
Falola further attested that, “Students did not just attend his classes; they sat at his feet. Policymakers did not just invite him; they listened. Colleagues did not just collaborate with him; they admired him.”
Oyeweso’s incredible combination of brilliance with intelligence and wisdom warmed him into the hearts of a good number of traditional rulers, prominent of whom were the duo of late Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi who passed away in 2022 and late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade Olubuse who had earlier joined his ancestors in 2015.
Regardless of the known cat-and-mouse relationship between the two Yoruba foremost and highly influential monarchs, both embraced Oyeweso and often opened the doors of their respective palaces to him without any real or artificial roadblock.
The reigning Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Eniitan Ogunwusi also spotted the invaluable treasure in Oyeweso and, thus, inherited his tie with their predecessors.
As part of the coronation events of Oba Owoade, Oyeweso, on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, served as the Keynote Speaker at the Colloquium witnessed by very important scholars including Prof. (Mrs.) Bolanle Awe (Chairman), Emeritus Prof. Anthony Ijadunola Asiwaju and Prof. Akin Alao and Archbishop, Ayo Ladigbolu (Retd).
On March 13, the Ooni took Oyeweso, a celebrated author of many academic literatures, journals and biographies, away from his comfort zone when the royal father inducted him as a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management and Leadership (FCIML), an American professional body. Oba Ogunwusi is said to be the Chancellor of the institute.
Oyeweso also lived a cosmopolitan and infectiously flexible life; he derived joy in mixing with different classes of people whose path crossed his.
Founder of the Leisure Spring Hotels, Osogbo and Ondo, Elder Johnson Akinniyi, who was speechless on the death of Oyeweso, recalled his first contact with and impression of him as an unassuming academic who wore no air of his academic strides at social gatherings.
“When he arrived Osun from LASU, he used to visit our facility and I got to know him as a different professor. He loved a long debate, but was friendly in his approach to issues being talked about. May his loving soul rest in peace in Jesus Mighty Name,” Akinniyi prayed.
Oyeweso is survived by a wife and a set of triplets who would clock two years one week and one day after their father’s departure.
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