The homecalling of Adeniran: Celebrating a life well lived
(22 August 1943 – 25 July 2026)
THE family of Dr. Adewale Olufunmilayo Adeniran has unveiled the funeral rites of the academic, culture advocate-scholar and human rights activist, who transited to eternal glory on July 25, 2026 at the age of 82.
According to the release, the 2-day final rites of passage for the renowned bilingual scholar will begin with a Christian Wake on Wednesday, September 23 at 5pm at the Ojaja Resort, Ile Ife, Osun State. The Dress code is “Shade of Green”. The Funeral Service will hold on Thursday, September 24 at the St. John’s Anglican Church, Ilare, Ile Ife. Dress code is Aso Ebi Ankara with gold headtie/cap. Entertainment of guests will follow the service at Ojaja Resort, Ile Ife, Osun State.
The public statement released by the family traces the remarkable life story of Dr Adeniran, spotlighting his scholarly contribution to the field of humanities and to the cultural life of the nation. It reads in part, “Born in Ile-Ife, Dr. Adeniran was a descendant of the Ogboruu Adejokun Royal Compound, Ilare, Ile-Ife. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in French from the University of Ibadan in 1969, a postgraduate diploma in 1971, and a Master’s degree in Linguistics from the Sorbonne in 1973.
“A bilingual scholar and human rights activist, he pioneered Sociolinguistics as a discipline at the University of Ibadan, where he lectured in the Department of Linguistics. As Assistant Secretary of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, he was among the lecturers dismissed during the 1978 “Ali Must Go” protests for standing with students; he challenged the dismissal in court and was reinstated. He later served as a bilingual translator to Professor Adebayo Adedeji at the United Nations (UN) Economic Commission for Africa, Addis Ababa.
“He joined the Obafemi Awolowo University in the late 1990s, lecturing in the Department of Foreign Languages and serving as Acting Director of the Institute of Cultural Studies, where he championed a renaissance of Yoruba culture and heritage. He was later appointed Executive Director of the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding, Osogbo, alongside Professor Wole Soyinka as Chairman, and in 2023 led a delegation with Professor Soyinka that secured President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s endorsement of the “Heritage Voyage of Return” initiative. In December 2014, he was honoured with a national award by the Republic of Benin.
“In public service, he represented Ife North Constituency in the 1989–1990 Constituent Assembly and later served as Honourable Commissioner for Education, Osun State. A committed patriot, he was Deputy Leader of Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide and played a role in securing the release of Yoruba rights activist Sunday Adeyemo (Sunday Igboho) in 2022. About a year ago, he was invited to lead Apapo Egbe Omo Yoruba Oodua l’Agbaye, advancing Yoruba interests, restructuring, and a people-driven constitution. His own father, Hon. Joseph Larewaju Adeniran (JP), was honoured posthumously by the Osun State Government in 2025 as one of the state’s founding heroes, an award Dr. Adeniran received on his behalf.
“He is remembered for his seminal 1997 Nigerian Tribune article, “Ife-Modakeke Crisis: Some of the Untold Truths.”
He is survived by his wife, and children: Omo Adeniran Sabi, Omo Ojo Adegbite, Omo Otekade Memadelo, Omo Adejokun Afala, Omo Ajadi Adeyemokun, Omo Sooko Olufunmi, Omo Aromodomo Ogboruu Agbosoye Mariku, Omo Oba Olodan Arere.
