- Safiu Kehinde
Renowned Nigerian literary scholar, Prof. Biodun Jeyifo, has died at the age of 80.
This was confirmed in a statement issued by the President of the Nigerian Academy of Letters, Professor Andrew Haruna.
Jeyifo reportedly passed away on Wednesday following complications related to renal failure.
The Marxist scholar’s death is coming barely two months after his 80th birthday celebration.
NPO Reported that the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) had in January organised a birthday symposium for the late academian whose works largely shaped Africa’s literature.
The event held at the Muson Centre was graced by Nigerian Nobel Laurette, Prof. Wole Soyinka, and other renowned scholars and professionals from various fields.
Alongside his works, the late Jeyifo, popularly called Professor BJ, gained wide recognition for his role as the pioneer President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
His tenure birthed several revolutionary changes for the union with his impact still largely enjoyed by the union.
Born on 5 January 1946, Jeyifo was a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters and a prominent public intellectual whose career spanned several decades of teaching, research and mentorship across Nigeria and the United States.