THERE were torrents of encomiums and tributes on Monday at the Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Ogun State, in celebration of foremost historian, renowned author, socialist thinker and radical ideologist, Dr Segun Osoba.
It was at a conference with the theme ‘History and the Persistent Struggle: Social Change, Building and Constitution Making in Post-independence Africa,’ organized by the History Department of the university to celebrate the octogenarian historian many described as a living legend.
While declaring the conference open, the vice chancellor of TASUED, Professor Oluwole Banjo, congratulated Dr Osoba on the rare privilege of being celebrated while alive by the people he had made while in active service as a university teacher.
According to him, well over 60 abstracts had been collected, and about 80 presenters, among other guests, were expected at the conference.
The keynote speaker and distinguished historian, who himself was a student of Dr Osoba, Professor Siyan Oyeweso, in his paper entitled ‘Segun Osoba: Encountering a Historian, Public Intellectual, and a Radical Ideologist in Nigeria’ described the honoree as “the most efficient and trustworthy historian.”
Oyeweso said, “He is one of the moral compasses of our nation, Nigeria. Osoba is a strong pillar, bridge builder, focused, conscientious, and result-oriented person, a good teacher and a man of high-quality leadership, a problem solver and a builder of talents.”
He traced Osoba’s intellectual odyssey through world renowned institutions of learning, learning alongside History’s greatest minds, including Chief E.L. Osunkunle, a former Commissioner in the old Oyo State and the second Principal of Lagelu Grammar School, Ibadan; Chief Aimiuwu, the renowned historian of Benin, and Emeritus Professor Ebiegeri Joe Alagoa.
Oyeweso spoke glowingly of Dr Osoba’s work ethics, principles and untiring efforts at fighting for the defence of rights of both the high and the lowly.
He particularly spoke of how he (Osoba) declined an offer to be made a professor in his department at the Obafemi Awolowo University then because he did not believe the process was what it was supposed to be.
“Dr. Segun Osoba’s contribution as an African historian remains a landmark aspect of his academic career in the Department of History, University of Ife. Between 1975 and 1985, Segun Osoba contributed significantly to the review of the curriculum of the Department of History between 1975 and 1985.
“The outcome of the review led to the introduction of several courses such as the Comparative Studies of Industrialisation Process, the Military in Colonial and Post-Colonial Africa; History of International Relations; History of Revolutions, History of Science and Technology.”
“No doubt, the Department of History of Osoba Era (1967-1991) was a department very vigorous in the organization of National and International Conferences,” he said further.
According to the keynote speaker, Osoba took a distinctive path different from his contemporaries in his perception of historical figures generally regarded as ‘great’ men in African history.
“Osoba provides an alternative perspective to these historic figures. For instance, he considers Mansa Musa as a profligate leader who exposed his country and others to economic ruin. His famous travel to Mecca for pilgrimage was not only wasteful but mindless of the larger socio-economic implications on the Malian Empire.
“For Osoba, Mansa Musa remains one of the ancestors of modern African dictators such as Mobutu Sese Seko and others who went on not only to capture their respective countries but ruined their economies to no end.”
Oyeweso also regaled participants at the conference with comments and acknowledgements from great intellectuals who had at various times gone through tutelage under Dr Osoba, including world renowned historian, Professor Toyin Falola, Prof. Gabriel Ola Isola Olomola, Prof. Akanmu Gafari Adebayo, Prof. Emmanuel Olukemi Rotimi, Prof. Ademola Babalola, among others.
Though he was not physically present at the conference organized in his honour, Dr Osoba was represented by his children led by Dr Adeleke Osoba, a surgeon based in the United States of America.
At the end of the opening session of the conference, and in his remarks, Dr Adeleke Osoba announced that the family in appreciation of the honor done to their father had decided to institute an annual prize in History in Osoba’s honour, worth N200,000.
and then