President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed profound sadness over the death of Professor Emeritus Biodun Jeyifo, one of Nigeria’s most distinguished literary scholars and a former President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). The acclaimed intellectual passed away on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at the age of 80, drawing tributes from across academia and beyond.
In a heartfelt condolence message released on Thursday by his spokesperson, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu described Prof. Jeyifo as a towering intellectual whose vast contributions to African literature, postcolonial studies, and critical cultural theory have left a lasting legacy.
“Nigeria and the global academic community have lost a towering figure and outstanding global citizen,” the President said in the statement, noting that Jeyifo’s incisive criticism and insightful interpretations of literary giants such as Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka enriched the global understanding of African thought and expression.
Tinubu also paid tribute to Jeyifo’s tenure as ASUU President, highlighting the temperance, wisdom, and foresight he brought to negotiations with successive governments. The President acknowledged Jeyifo’s longstanding advocacy for academic freedom, social justice, and improved conditions for university staff, affirming that his work helped shape frameworks that continue to influence educational discourse in Nigeria.
The late scholar’s impact, the President observed, extended beyond academia into cultural journalism, mentorship, and intellectual leadership, touching lives across generations. Tinubu extended his condolences to Jeyifo’s family, ASUU, the Nigerian Academy of Letters, the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism, and the numerous institutions where the scholar taught, studied, or contributed significantly.
Born on January 5, 1946, in Ibadan, Prof. Jeyifo built a stellar career in literary and cultural studies, holding academic appointments at prestigious institutions including Cornell University and Harvard University. Widely respected for his scholarship, he was celebrated internationally for his profound insights into African literature and postcolonial discourse.
Just weeks before his passing, Jeyifo’s 80th birthday was celebrated at an international symposium in Lagos, illustrating the deep respect he commanded among peers, students, and admirers around the world.
President Tinubu described Jeyifo’s legacy as one that will continue to inspire generations of scholars, writers, and thinkers. “His contributions to literary and cultural advancement and to society at large will be missed,” the sta tement read.
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