Nigeria's intellectual monarchs

Some monarchs stand out not only for their royal status but also for their impressive academic credentials and commitment to contributing to the educational landscape in their communities and beyond. OGHENOVO EGODO-MICHAEL takes a look at some of them and their quest for intellectual advancement

Adekunle Oyedeji

Adekunle Oyedeji serves as the Eburu of Iba Land in Osun State.  He is also the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Atiba University in Oyo State. He has also held dual positions as a professor of ICT, Education, and Community Development at ICT University in Yaounde, Cameroon; and as an associate professor of Business Analytics and Information Systems at Williams College of Business, Xavier University, Cincinnati, United States.

His academic journey was marked by numerous fellowships, including the Fulbright Scholar Fellowship and the Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship, among others. Oyedeji is also said to be the founding executive secretary of the African Society for Information and Communication Technology, and currently serves as the Executive Director for the Training and International Scholars Programme at the International Centre for Information Technology and Development.

He began his academic career with a NCE degree in Mathematics where he finished with a distinction. His other educational qualifications include a Bachelor’s in Computer Science from the University of Ibadan; a certificate in Epidemiology from the Liverpool School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, a Master’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Jyväskylä in Finland, an M.Ed. in Educational Administration from Xavier University, where he finished top of his class; and a Ph.D. in Computer Science/Information Systems from the University of Turku in Finland.

A prominent voice at regional, national and international conferences, Oba Oyedeji has made significant contributions to discussions on ICT. Notably, he spoke at a tribute event for the late Alaafin of Oyo, Lamidi Adeyemi, on May 24, 2022, addressing the intersection of Yoruba tradition and social media in a speech titled, ‘Yoruba Monarch and Tradition in the Age of Social Media’.

His research interests encompass ICT’s impact on climate change, knowledge management, new technologies, organisational IT implementation, and globalisation. With numerous academic publications to his name, his work on the effects of information and communication technology in developing nations has been featured in various journals and conference proceedings.

The monarch adeptly balances his responsibilities as a traditional ruler with his academic pursuits. Despite his extensive achievements in education, he remains deeply committed to his role within the Iba community and Nigeria at large. In an interview with The Guardian on August 25, 2019, he stated that upon ascending the throne in 2016, his primary focus was on creating a strategic development plan for Iba.

“Immediately I ascended the throne, the first move I made was to call for a development summit among my people. The summit, I must say, wasn’t quite as successful as I would have wanted. I took time to prepare a strategic plan, detailing where we are now and where we ought to be. I sent the document to all my people home and abroad, but surprisingly, there was no response,” he said.

Furthermore, he has been an advocate for peace within Nigeria. During the ‘hunger protests’ in August 2024, he stressed the importance of addressing grievances through peaceful and lawful means rather than resorting to violence, making reference to past events, such as the #EndSARS protests. While acknowledging citizens’ rights to protest, he encouraged engagement through democratic processes such as elections to express concerns effectively.

Lazarus Ekwueme

Professor Lazarus Ekwueme, popularly known as Prof Laz Ekwueme, is the Igwe of Oko kingdom in Anambra State. He is also a musicologist, composer, scholar and actor who taught for over three decades. He is regarded as one of the pioneer lecturers of music in Nigeria. He is also well known as the founder of the popular Laz Ekwueme Chorale.

Ekwueme’s educational journey began at Government College, Umuahia, Abia State; and continued at the Royal College of Music in London, United Kingdom, where he majored in composition. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Durham in London, UK. During his time in London, he also earned 10 diplomas in music, speech and drama. In 1962, he received the professional teaching diploma, Licentiate of the Guildhall School of Music. His experiences abroad also included acting in films produced by the BBC’s African Service.

After returning to Nigeria in 1964, Prof Ekwueme joined the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, as a lecturer for music composition, theory and history. He played an integral role in establishing Nigeria’s first music department that awarded degrees, and he founded the University of Nigeria Choral Society, which brought together foreign and local students for regular performances.

In 1966, Ekwueme pursued a postgraduate degree in Music Theory at Yale University, United States, where he also taught and founded the New Haven International Chorus. When he returned to Nigeria in 1974, he taught music at the then newly established Department of Music at the University of Lagos and served as a research fellow at the Centre for Cultural Studies. During this time, he formed the Laz Ekwueme National Chorale, a highly respected choral group known for its innovative blend of African choral works with Western musical forms.

Prof Ekwueme’s scholarly pursuits focused on exploring indigenous African rhythms and melodies within the context of New World and American music. He emphasised the significance of music in pivotal life events for Africans and their Diaspora, a theme prevalent in his work. Some of his books include, Teasers: Poems, Proverbs and Puns, Choir Training and Choral Conducting for Africans, and Essays on the Theory of African Music. He is also known for songs such as A Night in Bethlehem, Piano Concerts in Re, Rhapsody Nigeriana, and many others.

A consummate professional, the king does not draw a line between his royal duties and his roles as a professor.

In past interviews, Ekwueme had described himself as a man of many talents.

Born on January 28, 1936 in Oko, Lazarus was crowned as Igwe Ekwueme, the fourth of Oko Kingdom, in 2008. Despite his many accolades, he is a liberal person who encourages his children to follow their own paths and do what makes them happy.

James Ayatse

When it comes to leadership roles, James Ayatse wears many hats. He is the Begha U Tiv (the supreme traditional ruler of the Tivs). He is also the president of Tiv Area Traditional Council and Chairman, Benue State Council of Chiefs. He is also an academic who has made remarkable contributions to education throughout his illustrious career. He previously served as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi.

His journey as an academic began in 1980 as a graduate assistant at the University of Calabar. Ayatse steadily rose through the ranks, and became a professor at the age of 37. The monarch’s career spanned over 30 years. He has imparted knowledge in various institutions, including at the University of Uyo and Benue State University. His influence extends to numerous graduates who have earned BSc, MSc, and even PhD degrees under his guidance. One such person is the Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, who earned his doctorate from the University of Calabar under the professor’s tutelage. The governor noted that the professor was dedicated and inspiring stating, “When I arrived at the University of Calabar for my PhD studies in Biochemical Pharmacology, Prof Ayatse was one of the lecturers that inspired me. He made me see my choice of becoming a university lecturer as the right one.”

The respected monarch has also played a significant role in educational governance, serving as an external Assessor and examiner for various universities, and chaired committees focused on performance indicators and accreditation for science programmes across Nigeria.

In 2001, Ayatse was appointed Vice Chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi.  Ten years later, in 2011, he became the pioneer Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State, one of nine new federal universities established during President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. Under his leadership, the university achieved significant milestones, including its first convocation.

Before climbing up the ladder, Prof Ayatse received his Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from the University of Ibadan. He furthered his studies with a Master of Science at the University of Calabar, and pursued a doctorate at the University of Surrey in the United Kingdom as a Commonwealth scholar. His commitment to education did not stop there, as he returned to the University of Calabar where he became professor of Biochemistry.

Born in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State, Professor Ayatse became the Begha U Tiv in 2017 but he was chosen by the kingmakers in 2016. He is a devoted family man, married to Felicia, with whom he has five children. His approach to leadership—balancing academic excellence with community engagement—has made him a respected figure not only in academia but also within the Tiv community and beyond.

Muhammadu Sanusi

The esteemed Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi, has a rich educational background that reflects his commitment to both Islamic scholarship and modern economics.

His early religious education was rooted in his home, where he immersed himself in the study of the Qur’an. This foundational knowledge set the stage for his academic journey.

Sanusi’s formal education began at St. Anne’s Primary School, a Catholic boarding institution in Kaduna, before he advanced to King’s College, Lagos, where he studied from 1973 to 1977. In 1981, he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State. Following his graduation, he dedicated a year to serving as a teacher at a girls’ boarding school in Yola during his National Youth Service.

Returning to ABU, Sanusi pursued further studies and obtained a Master’s degree in Economics in 1983. He then contributed to academia as a lecturer in the university’s faculty for two years, sharing his insights and knowledge with students.

Seeking to deepen his understanding of Islamic Studies, Sanusi moved to Khartoum, Sudan, where he attended the International University of Africa. There, he not only became fluent in Arabic but also delved into various disciplines, including the Qur’an, Islamic law (fiqh), and philosophy (falsafa). His studies were comprehensive, encompassing the works of renowned Western thinkers and Islamic scholars, along with a thorough exploration of the four Sunni madhhabs— Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi’i, and Hanbali.

In August 2024, the monarch completed his PhD in Islamic law at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London, United Kingdom. His dissertation was titled, ‘Codification of Islamic Family Law as an Instrument of Social Reform: A Case Study of the Emirate of Kano and a Comparison with the Kingdom of Morocco’.

Born in 1961, Sanusi became the Emir of Kano in 2014. However, in 2020, he was dethroned by the then Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje. He was reinstated in May 2024 by Ganduje’s successor and the current governor, Abba Yusuf.

Halidu Abubakar

Professor Halidu Abubakar is the Emir of Ilesha-Baruba in Kwara State. He was a dedicated academic and lecturer prior to his ascension to the throne in 2014.

He was a member of the governing council of Kwara State University and also an emeritus professor of Public Finance at the Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, Kaduna State.

Before rising to the position of a professor, the emir attended Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna; University of Ibadan, Oyo;  Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; and Harvard University, USA.

In a past interview with Stella Studios, the professor revealed that for most of his early years, he knew he was brilliant because he was a self taught student. He said, “I didn’t have most of those opportunities. I virtually taught myself Mathematics and everything.”

In his position as the Emir of Ilesa, Abubakar often supports initiatives that help the development of teaching and learning.

At different fora, he has said that he aims to reduce the ignorance level in Nigeria.