Ajayi Crowther Varsity mourns Nigeria’s first linguistics professor

Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, has mourned the death of Professor Emeritus Ayo Bamgbose, Nigeria’s first Professor of Linguistics, describing him as a towering intellectual figure whose contributions shaped linguistic studies in Nigeria and Africa.

The university disclosed this in a statement made available to PUNCH Online on Tuesday, following the death of the renowned scholar on July 25, 2026, at the age of 94.

Prof. Bamgbose was celebrated for his groundbreaking research and lifelong commitment to the development of linguistics, indigenous languages and education.

In a condolence letter addressed to Bamgbose’s family and the National President of the St. Andrews College Old Boys Association, the Vice-Chancellor of Ajayi Crowther University, Prof. Ebunoluwa Oduwole, described him as “a titan whose influence spanned generations and continents.”

“As the first Professor of Linguistics in Nigeria, he did not merely occupy a chair – he built the discipline itself. His works remain timeless classics that continue to illuminate the structural beauty of our indigenous languages,” Oduwole said.

The Vice-Chancellor added that Bamgbose’s death represented a significant loss to the academic community.

“His passing marks not only the loss of a towering intellectual figure but also the departure of a foundational pillar of Ajayi Crowther University itself,” she said.

Beyond his global reputation as a linguist, Bamgbose played a major role in the establishment and growth of Ajayi Crowther University.

According to the university, his involvement with the institution began in 1999 when he represented SACOBA as a member of the Governing Council of St. Andrew’s College of Education, Oyo, serving between 1999 and 2003.

The institution said his early involvement contributed to the transformation of the college into a full-fledged university.

He later served on the Implementation Committee, particularly the Planning and Technical Committee, where he contributed to the preparation of the Academic Brief that led to the granting of a licence for ACU on January 7, 2005.

The university said he remained a member of the inaugural Governing Council of ACU from 2005 to 2014 under the chairmanship of Professor Emeritus Ayo Banjo.

“His contributions to the university’s academic foundation, governance structure, and institutional identity were immeasurable,” the statement said.

The university also highlighted Bamgbose’s role as President of SACOBA, noting that he led the association in donating the SACOBA House and National Secretariat to the St. Andrew’s Campus of ACU.

It described the gesture as a reflection of his lifelong dedication to educational development.

In recognition of his contributions and enduring relationship with the university, ACU named a street on its campus after him.

Prof. Bamgbose’s academic journey began at St. Andrews College, Oyo, where he gained admission in 1948 and qualified as a Grade Two teacher in 1951.

Throughout his career, he received several honours and became one of Africa’s most respected linguists, with his works influencing generations of scholars.

Reflecting on his legacy, Prof. Oduwole said Bamgbose’s impact went beyond his publications and awards.

“His legacy is not merely in the books he wrote or the honours he received, but in the scholars he inspired, the departments he built, the disciplines he institutionalised, and the students who now carry his torch,” she said.

She added that Bamgbose’s contributions would remain visible in the university’s academic programmes, governance structures and physical environment.

Prof. Bamgbose’s death marks the end of a career spanning more than six decades, leaving behind a legacy that helped shape the study of African languages and strengthen Nigeria’s academic landscape.