I saw Professor Ayo Bamgbose for the last time at the 80th birthday reception of Sister Marie Ekpere, which he graciously chaired.
By then, he was already advanced in age to answer the call of his Creator – but my heart was not ready to let him go, as though any of us had control over such matters.
Each time I met him at the Chapel of Resurrection, I would gently urge him to take things easy, especially during services that required standing up and sitting down intermittently. With his characteristic calm smile, he would respond, “I know when my energy can no longer sustain the routine.” That quiet dignity and self-awareness marked him till the end.
May his soul rest in perfect peace.
The Beginning: 1986
I first encountered Professor Bamgbose in 1986, during my final year at the University of Ibadan. It was the period of the ASUU strike.
While passing through the Faculty of Arts, I made a detour to see Dr. Biyi Akinlabi, who was then my in-law. In the corridor, I saw Professor Bamgbose moving purposefully, giving instructions and issuing directives with his usual air of quiet authority.
It was clear that Dr. Akinlabi had concluded plans to relocate permanently to the USA, while Baba himself had only a few years left before retirement. As we parted, Professor Bamgbose murmured, almost to himself, words to the effect that Biyi would leave him behind.
That was precisely what happened.
Family Ties
Baba’s son, whom we all fondly called “Bamgbo,” was my senior in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine by two semesters. He later left Veterinary Medicine for another course. Bamgbo bore an uncanny resemblance to his father. The moment I saw him, I knew whose son he was. That resemblance told the whole story.
Later Years and an “Adopted” Relationship
In his latter years, even after retirement, I became one of his “adopted children.” The doors of his home and heart were open, and I related with him freely, without formality.
He and his ‘twin’ brother, our former Vice Chancellor, Professor Ayo Banjo, were a formidable pair. Though I was never their student, the three of us struck up a warm and familiar relationship. I watched, with admiration, how they carried themselves—two giants of scholarship, yet so humble and accessible.
At some point, out of curiosity, I asked Baba Bamgbose why it always seemed to be Professor Banjo receiving the high-profile national appointments—Pro-Chancellor twice, Chairman of NUC, Chairman of the ASUU Negotiation Team, and more.
Baba’s reply was classic Bamgbose: calm, measured, and full of contentment : “Once Ayo is there, I am equally there!!!”
That answer told me everything about his character. He did not chase titles. He was secure in who he was.
Service and Commitment
I found him increasingly genial and socially engaging in those years. I contributed an essay to one of the festschrifts published in his honour on his 80th birthday.
His 90th birthday celebration was eventually held in 2022 despite the ASUU strike, and Professor Bamgbose remained actively engaged throughout the planning, demonstrating his continued interest in the academic community.
He initially wanted the event postponed. But the Vice Chancellor had already graciously approved the use of the International Conference Centre free of charge, and I felt it was important to honor him while he was still with us.
Throughout the planning, Professor Bamgbose was in constant touch with me. He also kept in close contact with his son, Professor Kayode Bamgbose of FUNAAB, and with ASUU leaders. Many of them later remarked on how I was able to guide the process and ensure that the celebration went ahead “adroitly,” as they put it.
A Reciprocal Bond
Baba did not take kindness lightly. He reciprocated. He was present at my daughter’s wedding in 2019. He wrote a moving tribute for my retirement book, and he personally attended my retirement ceremony in 2022.
On that day, with his quiet grace, he handed me a small envelope. It was not the size of the gift that mattered, but the love and thought behind it.
Final Words
I enjoyed a most excellent and deeply personal relationship with Professor Ayo Bamgbose. He was a scholar, a gentleman, a father figure, and a man of great equanimity.
May his formidable, illustrious soul rest in perfect peace. When the time comes to lay him to rest, I will honor his memory the Ijebu way—with ikokore and ebiripo, delicacies I know he would have appreciated.
Rest well, Baba. We will miss you.
Dr. Adeniran is retired Staff, Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Ibadan
