Aiyedatiwa, ex-minister laud elder statesman’s intellectual depth
A former scribe of the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, Seinde Arogbofa, has been inducted into the Hall of Fame and invested as a Fellow of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), in recognition of his literary contributions and decades of service to public life.

The elder statesman was conferred with the two honours during his 87th birthday celebration and presentation of two books about Afenifere and his life, held at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), at the weekend.

The books were “Understanding Afenifere: A Journey through the Yoruba Leadership Organisation,” written by Arogbofa, and “Seinde Arogbofa: A Quintessential Role Model,” co-authored by Prof. W. Aderounmu and Jare Ajayi.

Meanwhile, Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has described Arogbofa as a towering figure whose life embodies intellectual depth, moral authority and enduring relevance in public service.

Aiyedatiwa stressed that the ANA fellowship investiture was a perfect recognition not only of Arogbofa’s literary contributions but also of his role in shaping enduring ideas and narratives.

“For decades, he has demonstrated that public life can be principled, that activism can be refined by intellect and that leadership can be firm without bitterness. Systems thrive when there are voices of conscience. Governments remain grounded when there are elders whose counsel is guided by principle and enriched by history,” the governor stated.

On his part, former Minister of Defence, Tokunbo Kayode, who was the chairman of the occasion, emphasised that Arogbofa’s lifestyle serves as a lesson to younger generations, particularly Gen Z, challenging them to cultivate the habit of reading and writing.

According to him, the octogenarian’s book on Afenifere provided much-needed clarity on the organisation’s identity and purpose, stressing that the book opens new vistas for Afenifere to expand its scope and become more dynamic.

He said: “Anyone who can understand Afenifere will appreciate that it is a huge compendium of history’s background and evolution. He has summarised it and given us a clearer idea. Afenifere’s role is to ensure that Yoruba culture and ethos do not fade away.

“It must not become fossilised or antiquated; rather, it should be rejuvenated by bringing in younger generations. That is what Baba has tried to do, and we are grateful to him for that.”

In a book review, Prof. Femi Mimiko, who was represented by the Vice Chancellor of Sam Maris University, Supare-Akoko, Prof. Francis Ayodeji Gbore, described the books as thought-provoking and well-researched works that address key issues in society.

According to him, the book on Afenifere stands out for its relevance in today’s world, offering practical insights for readers across different backgrounds.