On August 4, 2022, Emeritus Professor Akinlawon Ladipo Mabogunje passed into the realm of the Divine. As his students, mentees, nay, disciples, who drank from his fountain of knowledge and benefitted immeasurably from both his personal generosity on the one hand, and immense global network of academic and professional contacts on the other, we consider it fit and proper to remember him in this extolling essay.
We write to honour a benefactor; but even more importantly, to keep alive the memory of a giant in his calling who was also a benefactor to his academic disciple in particular, and academia in general, his country, Africa, and the world.
‘Prof.’ was a giant in name, in his field of endeavor, and in achievements across disciplines than span Geography, Urban and Regional Development, as well as formulation and execution of public policy in these areas.
It is no wonder that, at his passing two years ago – like yesterday for some of us – his life was duly and deservedly celebrated at home and abroad. Indeed, a 154-page Book of Tributes from around the world document his achievements, and the lives he, in different ways touched in the academia and practice, the public and private sectors, across tribes, and cultures, countries and races. For the author of that seminal work Urbanisation in Nigeria, it could not have been otherwise.
2017 was a landmark year – one of many yet exceptional – in the already outstanding career of Prof. That October when by an interesting coincidence he marked his 86th anniversary, he won the prestigious Vautrin Lud Prize, often referred to as the “Nobel Prize of Geography.” He was the 27th awardee on the roll of honor.
The Vautrin Lud Prize is the highest award in the field of geography, established in 1991 and named after the 16th Century French scholar Vautrin Lud. It is awarded annually at the International Geography Festival in Saint-Dié-des-Vosges, France, and decided by a five-person international jury. To date, (2003) the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France, and Switzerland have dominated the awards, with the UK and USA having the most winners.
This is not surprising, given that these countries were pioneers in the development of modern geographical thought. The Vautrin Lud Prize recognises outstanding contributions to the field of geography, and its winners are considered giants in the discipline. The prize continues to inspire and promote excellence in geographical research and scholarship.
Since Peter Hagget, Professor Emeritus in Urban and Regional Geography in University of Bristol first won it in 1991, Prof. Mabogunje is the 27th on this ladder of giants. A commentator on the November 7, 2017 edition of the ‘Tuesday Column’ on Trust Radio enthused: “This October must have been a special one for Akin Mabogunje, the Professor of Geography who celebrated the ripe age of eighty-six in the month and also became a recipient of one of the most prestigious prizes in his field of endeavour.
He became the Laureate of the Vautrin-Lud Prize of 2017”. He added: “Anybody that has been acquainted with the field of geography and where it is applied, particularly in areas of regional and town planning, must have come across Mabogunje.
He has been the dominant national figure in the field. He is reputed to be the first black African to earn a PhD in the subject and also the first to become a Professor of Geography, thus earning the sobriquet, the Father of African Geography”.
As a pioneer in African geography, Mabogunje’s work has had a profound impact on policy and practice.
Prof. Akin Mabogunje and Geography in Nigeria
French poet of the 17th century, Jean de La Fontaine. is quoted to say that by the work one knows the workman; English novelist and critic Samuel Butler said that every man’s work is always a portrait of himself. The length, breath, and depth of Mabogunje’s work speak eloquently about his person. But first his work.
Professor Akin Mabogunje is a renowned geographer who has made significant contributions to the field of geography, particularly in Nigeria and Africa.
He was the first African to join the Department of Geography at the University of Ibadan and later became a full professor at the age of 34. Mabogunje’s work focused on urbanisation, regional development, and spatial analysis, and he was instrumental in introducing quantitative methods and computer programming to geography in Nigeria.
Mabogunje’s academic achievements are impressive, with over 23 books and 100 articles published in international journals. He was also an accomplished administrator, serving as Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Ibadan and founder of the Planning Studies Programme. He held various international positions, including president of the International Geographical Union and membership in the United Nations Secretary General’s Ad-hoc Committee on Regional Development.
Mabogunje’s legacy extends beyond his academic achievements. He was a mentor and inspiration to many students and colleagues, and his work has had a lasting impact on the field of geography in Nigeria and Africa. His commitment to excellence, integrity, and service has made him a role model for future generations.
The tributes from Prof. Isaac Megbolugbe and Prof. Toyin Falola highlight Mabogunje’s exceptional qualities as a scholar, leader, and individual. His life and career serve as a testament to the power of dedication, hard work, and vision. As Megbolugbe noted, Mabogunje’s life represents a “masterclass in surfing the turbulent sea of life,” and his legacy continues to inspire and motivate others to strive for excellence.
The Road to the Vautrin Lud Prize Award to Prof. Akin Mabogunje
Professor Akin Mabogunje’s works, particularly “Urbanisation in Nigeria” (1968) and “The Development Process: A Spatial Perspective” (1980), have had a profound impact on the field of geography and development studies. “Urbanisation in Nigeria” is considered a classic in urban geography, providing a comprehensive analysis of urbanisation in Nigeria and offering insights into the development process.
The book’s emphasis on the dual structure model of urban space and its use of sophisticated quantitative methods made it a groundbreaking work.
“The Development Process: A Spatial Perspective” offers an alternative perspective on development, emphasising the importance of spatial reorganisation and the mobilisation of internal resources. The book is divided into four parts, examining the concept of development, rural and urban structures, and national integration. Mabogunje’s work challenges traditional development paradigms, advocating for a more holistic and spatially aware approach to development.
Both books have been widely acclaimed for their originality, depth, and significance. “Urbanisation in Nigeria” was praised by Wheatley (1970) as a “scholarly contribution of first-rate importance” that has come to be regarded as a classic in the field. “The Development Process” has been recognised for its innovative approach to development studies, offering a fresh perspective on the complex issues surrounding development.
Mabogunje’s works have not only contributed significantly to the field of geography and development studies but also inspired generations of scholars and practitioners. His legacy continues to be celebrated, and his ideas remain relevant in contemporary development discourse.
Appreciating Prof. Akin Mabogunje’s legacy, Prof. Basirat Oyalowo (2022) wrote “Mabogunje’s legacy stretches far beyond his seminal book, Urbanisation of Nigeria. He served as a consultant to the Nigerian government and several states in urban and regional development, helping politicians and bureaucrats to understand how research institutions could influence and shape policy…. he was instrumental to the conceptualisation of Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city.
He was also the foremost professional in getting it built, canvassing rigorously for the appointment of Nigerian town planners and architects to build the city. It is up to urbanisation scholars, ordinary Nigerians, and politicians to do more than just offer tributes to the father of modern policy in the nation’s-built environment. We all owe him action: to bring his vision of cities that work for all to life.”
In an inspiration sense, Prof.’s achievement is a testament to his dedication and excellence in the field of geography. The first black African to earn a Ph.D. in geography and become a professor, his work spanned decades, shaping policy and practice in urban and regional development.
Mabogunje’s contributions to urbanization and geography are immense. His “Urbanisation of Nigeria,” (1968) is a landmark study that has influenced and continues to influence policy and research. He played a crucial role in the conceptualisation and development of Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city, advocating for Nigerian professionals to lead the project.
Indeed, former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo acknowledged this in his tribute. ’Akin was particularly useful as a geographer in our siting of the new capital of Abuja’, he wrote. His work has focused on creating cities that work for all, and his legacy challenges us to continue this vision.
Professor Akin Mabogunje’s body of works calls to action urbanisation scholars, policymakers, and citizens to bring his vision to life. We must strive to create cities that are equitable, sustainable, and prosperous for all. In honor of his legacy we are challenged to continue his work, inspiring future generations to excel in the field of geography.
The roots of urban geography in Nigeria
The three concepts of urbanisation in the social sciences which have constituted the bedrock of analytical work in Nigerian urban geography, are the behavioral, the structural, and the demographic. Urbanisation as a behavioral process is enshrined in Louis Wirth’s work on urbanism as a way of life (Wirth, 1938) and is concerned with the changes in experience which individuals go through over time, and the associated patterns of behavior.
Urbanisation as a structural process is related to activities of the whole population and the changes in the economic structure. It sees the movement of people out of agricultural communities into other and generally larger non-agricultural communities (Childe, 1955) as a product of increasing economic specialisation and advancing technology.
Urbanisation as a demographic process postulate that the process of population concentration is a way of ordering a population to attain a certain level of subsistence in a given environment and takes place in stages described by Eric Lampard (1964) as primordial, definitive, classic, and industrial.
While these theories have constituted important notions for the study of urban geography, the geographer’s contribution has been in the emphasis on the spatial aspects of urbanisation. This emphasis has been manifested in studies of the spatial patterns of urban systems and the manifestations of the consequences over space. It has also been on the studies of the spatial structure or patterns within cities.
In general, therefore, geography has focused on the importance of location and distribution in addition to factors of the site and situation of cities. Furthermore, for most of this time, the studies remained purely descriptive.
Mabogunje (1968) observed that the descriptive nature of the earlier studies was a consequence of the limited familiarity of earlier research workers with sophisticated statistical techniques.
However, the availability of data was also an important issue, which even today remains critical to effective analysis of the urban situation in the country.
Nonetheless, the lack of concentration on the issues which urbanisation raised in terms of national development and the assimilation and integration of pre- colonial cities into the development process remained for so long as relevant disciplines of geography, urban and regional planning did not enter the research arena. Mabogunje’s contribution to the understanding of urbanisation in Nigeria therefore involves drawing the attention of researchers on urbanisation to the spatial dimension which it possesses, and which proves critical to the development process as well as the utilization of statistical techniques to unravel the nature of cities.
Professor Akin Mabogunje’s Urbanization in Nigeria (1968,) provided a theoretical focus and incisive treatment of Nigerian urbanisation and its problems. He argued that the forces of urbanisation are the same worldwide, but their intensity varies, leading to the emergence of urban systems and affecting individual urban centers’ growth and development. This insight has been validated by the field of urban science, which has made significant progress in understanding cities and urban centers.
His work has had a lasting impact on the field of urban science, and his ideas are reflected in at least 10 value propositions. These are: a) Understanding and addressing urban challenges b) Informing urban planning and policy c) Improving urban livability and quality of life d) Fostering innovation and economic growth e) Addressing global challenges f) Interdisciplinary approaches g) Data-driven decision-making h) Enhancing urban governance and leadership i) Understanding urban dynamics and complexity j) Improving urban resilience and sustainability.
Indeed, Prof.’s contributions have been profound and prescient, such that it is not an exaggeration to credit him with many of the value propositions of the urban science field today.
Other specific contributions of Mabogunje and his students include emphasizing the spatial aspects of urbanisation and the importance of location and distribution; applying central place theory to understand the hierarchy and structure of urban systems in Nigeria; conducting city-based studies on migration, intra-urban mobility, industrial location, and housing patterns; developing models of urban spatial structure and testing hypotheses about human spatial behavior; and investigating the impacts of urbanization on rural areas and the economy.
We posit that these significant and manifold contributions to the field of Urban Geography in Nigeria emphasise the need for continued research and investment in these areas.
The award of the prestigious Vautrin Lud Prize to late Emeritus Professor Akin Mabogunje was a fitting crown on his career. He was a pioneer, chronicler, and visionary thinker in the field of urban studies and city planning; he was a giant in field of Geography.
He domesticated the vocabulary in Urban Geography in Nigeria for the twentieth century. His influence on students, mentees, and colleagues testify to his leadership and mentorship qualities. He had an uncanny ability to be flawlessly interdisciplinary as demonstrated in his collaborative approach and ability to bring people together not only across disciplines, but also between ‘town and gown’.
We take the opportunity of this article to convey our deep sense of gratitude and pride to be among those fortunate enough to learn from him, work with him, and be mentored by him, in short, to drink from the Mabogunje ‘Pierian spring’. We are proud to be counted among the many that have found Professor Mabogunje to be a remarkable individual who has left a legacy in the fields of Geography, Urban and Regional Studies, and more.
The Holy Book says do you see a man diligent in his work? He will stand before kings. That was Mabogunje. Nigeria’s President Olusegun Obasanjo (1999-2007) said he ‘drew from his well of endowment’ and described him as ‘a man of uniquely analytical mind’ and ‘enlightened scholarship’, who deserves ‘a place of honor in the roll of outstanding scholars, administrators, and statesmen of our generation’. We cannot agree more. The general concluded: ‘I thank you for being my friend’. We should say, above all else, that Professor Akinlawon Ladipo Mabogunje was a good man, indeed a very good man.
They are retired professors from University of Ibadan and Johns Hopkins University respectively.
Ayeni and Megbolugbe were former students, mentees, and colleagues of Professor Akin Mabogunje.
