It was both royal blessing and celebration of scholarship in Ile-Ife, a fortnight ago, when His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, hosted a royal reception for the academic, Professor Siyan Oyeweso, who was recently appointed the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

His royal majesty not only expressed happiness on the appointment of Oyeweso as pro-chancellor, he equally showed gladness in the academic’s scholarly works and humanity.

During his remarks, the monarch commended Oyeweso for his passion and efforts in preserving Yoruba history and cultural heritage. He asked that Oyeweso be given plaudit for his service to humanity.

At the event, where four books were launched, friends, associates, colleagues, and family members took turn to pay tributes to Oyeweso. In his welcome address, Chairman, Organising Committee, Prof Adeola Ayodeji Shobola, for these books authored by no other person than one of the country’s most distinguished historians and public intellectuals, Professor Siyan Oyeweso, the pro-chancellor and chairman of council of the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, the official launch marks a remarkable contribution to the Nigerian and, of course, African scholarship.

“Again, today is not just a book launch; it is a celebration of the son of the soil who had worked closely as a historian with the late Ooni Okunade Sijuwade. Indeed, Oyeweso is a man of great ideas with a lifelong commitment to the pursuit of knowledge.”

Shobola noted that Oyeweso has taught in several institutions both in Nigeria and abroad, and is widely respected for his works on Nigeria’s political history, Yoruba studies, and historical methodology.

“No wonder, Kabiesi, the Ooni of Ife find him worthy of today’s honour. Evidently, his contributions to cultural knowledge production extend beyond the classroom at both state and national levels.

“On behalf of Kabiesi, Olofin Adimula, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, I express happiness that his latest publication is being unveiled. We are, therefore, reminded of the power of the written word. How books can provoke thought, preserve memory, and inspire change. This new work adds yet another gem to the rich body of knowledge that Professor Oyeweso has gifted generations of scholars, students, and policymakers.”

Reviewing the four books, Dr Saheed Balogun Amusa of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, noted that whatever topical, spatial, personality or bibliographic infelicities that may be noticeable in the four books, they remain invaluable additions to existing works on pre-colonial, colonial and post-colonial Yoruba history in particular and Nigerian history in general.

“In fact, what the author has provided in these books are invaluable raw and processed data, which can take field researchers several years to collect and assemble. I salute the courage of the author Prof. Oyeweso and his collaborators for putting together these treasures in four important books and I congratulate him on the success of the project. I commend the books to anyone interested in the history of Yoruba states and societies, heroes and heroines, politics and economy, education and intellectualism, women and women exploits and travails, etc. The books are handy for students and scholars of history, political science, sociology, music, anthropology, cultural studies, linguistics, and related disciplines.”

While the reviewer commended Oyeweso for his diverse and spatial historical works especially on central and Western Yorubaland of Osun, Oyo, Lagos and Ogun states, he said it is time for the author to beam his search light on Yoruba kingdoms in Ondo, Ekiti, Kwara and Kogi states.

“We should not leave the studies alone for Olukoju, Akinyele, Akinwumi, Ogen, Afolayan and other historians from those areas. The pioneering efforts of Ade Obayemi and other classical scholars of the areas have not been adequately sustained in contemporary historical scholarship in Yorubaland.
Amusa is optimistic that the books will stimulate rich historical discourse and numerous academic rejoinders, which consequently is expected to become a highly significant study premised on the position of Maurice Mandelbaum that “the significance of any historical inquiry, like the research of any scientist, depends directly upon what others have already done or will be enabled to do because of his work.”

While maintaining that the books are a must for all public and private libraries and repositories in Nigeria and beyond, he urged all lovers of scholarly works to get their copies.

“Closely related to the above is that when the author provides his justification and motivation for writing Eminent Yoruba Muslims, he argues that he was alarmed by the copious works that existed on their Christian counterparts from scholars like Ade Ajayi, E.A. Ayandele, Philip Curtin, Baba Alayande, and others. Therefore, he decided to build on the earlier efforts of TGO Gbadamosi, Saka Balogun, Hakeem Danmole and others to fill the gap for the eminent Yoruba Muslims of the era.

“Now my question for the author is: Who will now fill the gap for the eminent Yoruba traditionalists of the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries? Or have they not made significant contributions to our history like their Christian and Muslim counterparts?”

Amusa noted that contemporary Nigerian historians are running away from researching into the history of Yoruba traditional religions and traditionalists.

Speaking on why he wrote the books, Oyeweso said they were written as a labour of love to scholarship and service to his people. He said: “I am a university lecturer by choice, not by accident. I had opportunities in immigration and the postal service, but chose academia because I believe in practical teaching and lifelong learning.”

The historian also stressed the importance of cultural and institutional preservation, noting the efforts of key figures who have personally invested in educational and community development.

He expressed concerns over the state of education in Nigeria, urging the government to implement sustainable reforms that prioritise funding, teacher welfare, and infrastructure.

Oyeweso also underscored the need to adequately compensate teachers at all levels, noting that many are demoralised by low wages and poor working conditions.

He reaffirmed his commitment to education within and beyond the classroom, encouraging a national reawakening to the importance of learning and historical documentation.

Prominent dignitaries at the royal reception were former deputy governor of Osun State, Titi-Laoye Ponle and her husband, former Ekiti First Lady, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, Aragbiji of Iragbiji, His Royal Majesty, Oba Rasheed Ayotunde Olabomi; Dare Babarinsa, Chief Bisi Akande was represented by Prof Babatope Alor; Emeritus Prof Olu Aina; Biola Layonu SAN represented Wale Babalakin; Yusuf Ali SAN was represented by Prof Y, K Yusuf; Nike Okundaye, CEO NIke Arts Gallery; Prof. Dhikrullah Yagboyaju, Vice-Chancellor, Fountain University, Osogbo; Prof. Olayinka Karim, Funsho Akande; Head of Political Science, University of Ibadan, Alhaji Bola Oyebamiji, MD. National Inland Waterways Authority(NIWA)staff and senior officials of OAU, among others.