President Bola Tinubu has expressed his condolences to the family, friends, and associates of Professor Emeritus Biodun Jeyifo, a former President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and a prominent literary scholar, who passed away on Wednesday at the age of 80.
Tinubu described Jeyifo as a “towering intellectual” whose contributions to African literature, postcolonial studies, and cultural theory have left a lasting impact.
The President recalled Jeyifo’s leadership of ASUU, praising his temperance, foresight, and wisdom, which played a key role in shaping negotiation frameworks with the government to improve working conditions for university staff.
Jeyifo was also recognised for his advocacy for academic freedom and social justice, inspiring generations of scholars and activists.
Jeyifo was a leading authority on Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka’s works and authored several notable books, including “Wole Soyinka: Politics, Poetics and Postcolonialism”. His legacy extends beyond academia, influencing political and cultural journalism.
