Some monarchs are distinguished not only by their royal status but also by their outstanding academic backgrounds and commitment to contributing to the educational environment in their communities and beyond. OGHENOVO EGODO-MICHAEL looks at some of them and their exploration of intellectual progress.
Adekunle Oyedeji
Adekunle Oyedeji is the Ebru of Iba Land, Osun State. He is also the Chancellor and Chairman of the Board of Atiba University, Oyo State. He also holds a concurrent position as Professor of ICT, Education and Community Development at the ICT University in Yaoundé, Cameroon. He is also an Associate Professor of Business Analytics and Information Systems at Xavier University’s Williams College of Business in Cincinnati, USA.
His academic journey was marked by numerous fellowships, including the Fulbright Scholar Fellowship and the Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship. Mr. Oyedeji is also said to be the founding Executive Director of the African Information and Communication Technology Association and is currently the Executive Director of the Training and International Scholars Program at the International Center for Information Technology Development.
He began his studies with an NCE degree in Mathematics and finished with distinction. His other educational background includes a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Ibadan. Certificate in Epidemiology from the Liverpool School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Master’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Jyväskylä, Finland, and Doctor of Medicine. She earned a bachelor’s degree in educational administration from Xavier University, where she was top of her class. and Ph.D. in Computer Science/Information Systems from the University of Turku, Finland.
Oba Oyedeji has made significant contributions to the ICT debate as a prominent speaker at regional, national and international conferences. In particular, he spoke at a memorial event for the late Alaafin of Oyo, Lamidi Adeyemi, on May 24, 2022, where he spoke at the intersection of Yoruba traditions and social media in a speech titled “Yoruba Monarchy and Tradition in the Age of Social Media.” mentioned. .
His research interests include the impact of ICT on climate change, knowledge management, new technologies, organizational IT implementation, and globalization. He has numerous academic publications to his name, and his research on the impact of information and communication technologies in developing countries has been featured in various journals and conference proceedings.
Monarchs skillfully balance their responsibilities as traditional rulers with their academic pursuits. Despite his extensive achievements in education, he remains deeply committed to his role in the Iba community and Nigeria at large. In an interview with the Guardian newspaper on August 25, 2019, he said that when he assumed the throne in 2016, his main focus was on developing a strategic development plan for Iba.
“As soon as I took the throne, my first act was to call on the people to hold a development summit. I have to say that the summit was not as successful as I had hoped. took the time to create a strategic plan, detailing where we are and where we need to be. I sent this document to all of my subordinates, both domestically and internationally, and to my surprise, I received no response. There was no,” he said.
Moreover, he is also a champion of peace within Nigeria. During the “hunger protests” in August 2024, the importance of addressing grievances through peaceful and lawful means rather than resorting to violence, referring to past events such as the #EndSARS protests. emphasized. While he recognized citizens’ right to protest, he encouraged engagement through democratic processes such as elections to effectively express concerns.
Lazarus Ekwueme
Professor Lazarus Ekwueme, popularly known as Professor Lazu Ekwueme, is an Igwe of Oko Kingdom in Anambra State. He is also a musicologist, composer, scholar, and actor, and has been teaching for over 30 years. He is considered one of the pioneer music teachers 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. He then went on to study at the Royal College of Music in London, England, majoring in composition. He received his bachelor’s degree from Durham University, London, UK. During my time in London, I also completed 10 diplomas in music, speech and drama. In 1962 he qualified from the Guildhall School of Music and gained a qualification in professional education. His overseas experience also included appearances in films produced by the BBC’s Africa Bureau.
After returning to Nigeria in 1964, Professor Ekwueme joined the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, as a lecturer in composition, theory and history. He played a key role in establishing Nigeria’s first degree-granting music department and established the Nigerian University Choral Society, which brought together foreign and local students for regular performances.
In 1966, Ekwueme received a graduate degree in music theory from Yale University in the United States, where he taught and founded the New Haven International Choir. Upon returning to Nigeria in 1974, he taught music at the then newly established Faculty of Music at the University of Lagos and served as a researcher at the Cultural Research Center. During this time, he formed the Raz Ekwueme National Choir, a highly acclaimed choral group known for its innovative blend of African choral works and Western musical forms.
Professor Ekwueme’s academic pursuits focused on exploring indigenous African rhythms and melodies within the context of New World and American music. He emphasized the importance of music in pivotal life events for Africans and the diaspora, a prevalent theme in his work. His books include Teaser: Poems, Proverbs, and Puns, Choral Training and Choral Conducting for Africans, and Essays on African Music Theory. He is also known for songs such as “A Night in Bethlehem,” “Piano Concert in Re,” and “Rhapsody Nigeriana.”
A consummate professional, the King does not draw a line between his royal duties and his role as a professor.
In past interviews, Ekwueme described himself as a man of many talents.
Born in Oko on January 28, 1936, Lazarus was crowned in 2008 as the fourth Igwe Ekwueme of Oko Kingdom. Despite his many accolades, he is a liberal person and encourages his children to follow their own path 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 (Supreme Traditional Ruler of the Tiv). He is the Chairman of the Tiv Area Traditional Council and Chairman of the Benue State Council of Chiefs. He is also a scholar and has made notable contributions to education throughout his distinguished career. He previously served as the Vice Chancellor of Makurdi University of Agriculture.
His academic journey 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 King’s career spans more than 30 years. He has imparted his knowledge at various institutions including the University of Uyo and Benue State University. His influence extends to numerous alumni who earned bachelor’s, master’s, and even doctoral degrees under his guidance. Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu is one of them, and he obtained his doctorate from the University of Calabar under his guidance. The governor described the professor as dedicated and inspiring, saying, “Professor Ayatse was one of the lecturers who inspired me when I came to the University of Calabar to pursue my PhD in Biochemical Pharmacology. He made me think that becoming a university lecturer was the right choice.
The revered monarch also plays a key role in educational governance, serving as an external evaluator and examiner for various universities and chairing a committee focused on performance indicators and accreditation of science programs across Nigeria. I am serving.
In 2001, Ayatse was appointed Vice Chancellor of Makurdi University of Agriculture. Ten years later, in 2011, he became the pioneer vice-chancellor of the Federal University of Datsinma, Katsina State, one of the nine new federal universities established under the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan. Under his leadership, the university achieved significant milestones, including its first convocation.
Before climbing the ladder, Professor Ayatse completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from the University of Ibadan. He furthered his studies with a Master of Science degree from the University of Calabar and pursued a PhD from 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 a Professor of Biochemistry.
Professor Ayatse was born in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State and was sworn in as Bega U Tiv in 2017 but was elected Kingmaker in 2016. He is a devoted family man, married to Felicia and they have five children. His approach to leadership, which balances academic excellence and community engagement, has made him a respected figure not only in academia but also within the Tiv community and beyond.
Muhammadu Sanusi
Muhammadu Sanusi, the respected Emir of Kano, has a rich academic background that reflects a commitment to both Islamic studies and modern economics.
His early religious education was rooted in his home, where he immersed himself in the study of the Koran. This foundational knowledge set the stage for his academic journey.
Mr. Sanusi’s formal education began at St. Anne’s Primary School, a Catholic boarding school in Kaduna, before proceeding to King’s College, Lagos, where he studied from 1973 to 1977. He earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Ahmadu Bello University in 1981. Zaria, Kaduna State. After graduation, he served for one year as a teacher at a girls’ boarding school in Yola during the National Youth Service.
Returning to ABU, Sanusi furthered his studies and received a master’s degree in economics in 1983. He then spent two years contributing to academia as a university undergraduate lecturer, sharing his insights and knowledge with students.
Seeking to deepen his understanding of Islamic studies, Sanusi moved to Khartoum, Sudan, where he attended Africa International University. There he not only became fluent in Arabic, but also deeply studied various subjects such as the Qur’an, Islamic law (fiqh), and philosophy (falsafa). His research was comprehensive and included the works of prominent Western thinkers and Islamic scholars, as well as a thorough study of the four Sunni madhhabs: Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi’i, and Hanbali.
In August 2024, the monarch received a doctorate in Islamic law from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, UK. The title of his paper was “Codification of Islamic Family Law as a Means of Social Reform: A Case Study of the Emirate of Kano and a Comparison with the Kingdom of Morocco.”
Born in 1961, Sanusi became Emir of Kano in 2014. However, he was deposed in 2020 by then Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje. He was reinstated in May 2024 by Ganduje’s successor and current governor, Abba Yusuf.
Haridu Abubakar
Professor Haridu Abubakar is the Emir of Ilesha Baruba, Kwara State. He was an avid scholar and lecturer until he ascended the throne in 2014.
He was a member of the Governing Council of Kwara State University and Professor Emeritus of Finance at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State.
Before his promotion to the rank of professor, the chief attended the Kaduna University of Technology, Kaduna. University of Ibadan, Oyo. Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. and Harvard University in the United States.
In a past interview with Stella Studios, the professor revealed that for most of his early years, he knew he was an excellent student because he was a self-taught student. He said: “There were very few opportunities to do that. I virtually taught myself math and everything.”
In his capacity as Emir of Ilesa, Abubakar often supports initiatives that help develop teaching and learning.
He said in various fora that he aims to reduce the level of ignorance in Nigeria.
