Here lies the body of Professor Akinlawon Ladipo Mabogunje, a distinguished retired staff of the Department of Geography, Faculty of the Social Sciences, University of Ibadan who passed on, on Thursday, 4th August 2022.
Late Professor Akin Mabogunje was born on 18 October 1931 in Kano in Northern Nigeria. He attended The Grammar School, Ibadan (Ibadan Grammar School) between 1943 and 1948 and obtained the Cambridge School Certificate. He gained admission into the University College, Ibadan in 1949 and graduated in June 1953 with a Bachelor of Arts (General) degree of the University of London. He proceeded to the University College London in 1954 where he obtained a B.A. (Hons) degree in Geography. In 1958 he was awarded an M.A. degree of the University of London. He obtained his Ph.D. (London) degree in Geography in 1961.
Late Professor Mabogunje joined the services of the University of Ibadan on 01 October 1958 as Assistant Lecturer and was promoted above the bar on the Lectureship scale with effect from 01 October 1962. He was promoted to Senior Lecturer with effect from 01 October 1964 and to grade of Professor with effect from 01 October 1965. Late Professor Mabogunje voluntarily retired from the services of the University of Ibadan on 30 September 1981 after a total of 23 years of active academic service, of which he was a full professor for 17 years. During his period of service, Late Professor Mabogunje was Dean, Faculty of the Social Sciences (1968-1970), Head, Department of Geography (1972-1975) and Director, Planning Studies Programme (1972-1981). He was pivotal to the establishment of the programme which despite encountering some setbacks in its earlier years was later resuscitated leading to the birth of the Urban and Regional Planning Programme in the Faculty of the Social Sciences.
Late Professor Akin Mabogunje served in different capacities within and outside the shores of Nigeria. At the professional level, he was President, Nigerian Geographical Association (1968-70); Vice President, Nigerian Economic Society (1972 – 1982); Vice-Chairman, PAI Associates International (Nig.) Ltd (1981-1989). He was Executive Chairman, Development Policy Centre, Ibadan (1996 – 2000); Chairman, Governing Board, Development Policy Centre, Ibadan (2000-2003); Chairman, Board of Trustees, Foundation for Development and Environmental Initiatives; (FDI), Ibadan, (2006) and Chairman, Governing Council, Centre for Human Security, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta (2012).
Nationally, Late Prof. Mabogunje offered distinguished services through numerous public and private sector appointments. He was the Specialist Planning Consultant to the Federal Capital Development Authority in which capacity the ecological and geographical survey of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was undertaken in the period 1976-1984. He was Chairman, Presidential Technical Committee on Housing and Urban Development (2002 – 2004); Chairman, Presidential Technical Board, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (2002 – 2007); Member, Technical Committee on the Reform of Local Government Councils in Nigeria (2003 – 2004); Member, Federal Capital Territory Honorary Ministerial Advisory Committee (2004 – 2005); Chairman, Presidential Committee for the Redevelopment of the Lagos Megacity Region (2005 – 2006).
Some other appointments include Member of the Board of Directors, Nigerian Agricultural Products Co. Ltd. (1975–76); Member, Board of Directors, Academy Press Plc. (1976 – 2006); Chairman, Board of Trustees, Ijebu Development Initiatives for Poverty Reduction (1999); Chairman, Board of Directors, Unity Bank Plc. (2006 – 2011) and Member, Board of Trustees, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (2008). Member, Board of Trustees Nigerian National Merit Award Endowment Fund (1983–1989) later Chairman of the Fund (1989–94). He also served as Member, Board of Directorate of DFRRI (1986–1993); Executive Chairman of the National Board for Community Banks (1991–94) and Chairman, Presidential Technical Committee on Land Reform (2009 – 2011). He was Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Ogun State University, Ago-Iwoye (1982–91) and Chancellor, Bells University of Technology, Ota, Ogun State (2005 – 2015);
At the international level, among several other appointments he served as Vice-President, Governing Council, Pan-African Institute for Development (1972-78); Member, Board of Trustees, Population Council, New York (1977 – 85); Chairman, UNDP/UNCHS/World Bank Advisory Committee on the Urban Management Program (1993 – 2000) and Member, Policy Advisory Board, World Bank, Cities Alliance (2001 – 2006).
Late Prof. Akin Mabogunje was a recipient of several local and international honours. He was awarded the Nigerian National Order of Merit the highest national award for distinguished contribution to the academic and intellectual life of the country (1980). He was also awarded Nigerian National Honor of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) in 2001 and Centenary Award, Federal Government of Nigeria, 100 Eminent Citizens (2014).
Internationally, Late Prof. Akin Mabogunje is acknowledged as the most distinguished African geographer to date. He served the International Geographical Union (IGU) for two terms as Vice-President (1972-1980) and was elected President of the IGU for the period 1980-1984, the first African scholar to be so honoured by such a distinguished organization since its inception in over 100 years.
Late Professor Mabogunje received several academic honours. These include the David Livingstone Centennial Gold Medal (1972); honorary Doctor of Science (Economics) of the Stockholm School of Economics, Sweden (1973); honorary Doctor of Humane Letters (Hon. D. Litt.), Michigan State University, U.S.A (1976); Honorary Fellow of the University College London. He was also the first African to be elected as a Foreign Associate of the United States National Academy of Sciences (1999). In 2017, he was elected International Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Prof. Akin Mabogunje was awarded the Vautrin-Lud Prize which is equivalent to the “Nobel Prize in Geography” in Paris in 2017. He was awarded D.Sc. Honoris Causa of the University of Ibadan in 2018.
He is survived by his loving wife of some 65 years, Hon. Justice Titilola Mabogunje (Nee Ogunmekan), children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
May his gentle soul rest in peace.
