Abiola Odejide

Abiola Odejide (born 17 April 1946) is an Emeritus Professor of Communication and Language Arts at University of Ibadan. She was previously the Deputy Vice Chancellor at the university and was the first woman to attain such position at the 58 years old university.

Quotes

• As DVC academic, I chaired over 25 committees and I didn’t have any major issue. So, I think it’s a question of one’s personality, one’s management style and as I said, I have been in university for quite some time. So, I have paid my dues.
  • [1] Prof Abiola speak on her tenure as a DVC in 2004.

• I never wavered for one minute about whether I was in the right position or not, because right from when I was young, I knew that I wanted to be a teacher, but I didn’t know that I would be a university teacher. The people that inspired me at that time were the young ladies that came from the UCI, University College, Ibadan then on vacation job in my school in Yejide Girls Grammar School. You know, they came to teach us during the long vacation, this was in the 60s. And, I was so impressed with the way they carried themselves, the way they taught us. Some of our teachers were early graduates of UCI, so I just knew that was what I wanted to do and I knew I was going to teach English.
  • [2] Casting her mind back to the start of her career in an interview where she recalls her odyssey in the academic community. 2011

• I found it so absorbing, I love reading, it came easy to me.
  • [3] Responding to why she opted for English Language in an interview where she recalls her odyssey in the academic community. 2011

• I started in 1965 as astudent and that was nice, it was enjoyable, the facilities were okay and we enjoyed the attention of our lecturers, you know, we had very small classes and we interacted with them, they kept note of us, they knew what we were doing. I mean there was no lecturer who didn’t know who and who were in the groups. And I graduated in 1968 with a BA in English at that time, 2nd Class Upper Division, the only one in the class that year.
  • [4] Reflecting on life as a young academic in the university environment then in an interview where she recalls her odyssey in the academic community. 2011

• Well, becoming a professor, yes. Because if you joined the academic staff in the university, you’ll be looking forward to becoming a professor but the Deputy Vice-Chancellor thing, it wasn’t on my mind at all.
  • [5] Reflecting on her remarkable journey in the academic community, where her dream of becoming a professor remained a steadfast ambition. 2011

• I was dealing with the entire community with a wider forum; I think people liked the way I went about things.
  • [6] Her experience on being the first female DVC. 2011

• I think it’s also important to show that it doesn’t have to be a male terrain completely, if there are competent women, we should give them positions on merit. But don’t look down on somebody and say, she is a woman, she can’t do it or he’s a man, he can’t do it. That would be a wrong attitude.
  • [7] Her response on taking UI over 48 years to get the first female VC. 2011

• For many years we have agitated for adequate representation at all tiers of government. The figures are depressing. In 2011, only 9 women senators were representing 54 million women in Nigeria; the immediate past President, Goodluck Jonathan appointed women to 33 per cent of cabinet positions, up from 10 per cent in President Obasanjo’s government. Now, under the current government, women’s representation has gone down further and both verbal pronouncements and the body language of our leaders indicate a lessening of the importance of the critical roles of women to the growth and health of our country.
  • [8] Speech at a conference marking the 30th anniversary of the Women Research and Documentation Centre (WORDOC) of the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan. 2017

• We should aim to become strategic and effective within those roles and thus raise the profiles of women as did Nigeria’s first crop of western female educated activists like Margaret Ekpo, Olufunmilayo Ransome Kuti, Wuraola Esan, and grassroots mobiliser , Sambo Sawaba.
  • [9] Called on women to raise their profile educationally, economically and in community mobilization to enable them compete favourably with men in all spheres. 2017

• There is the notion that women are not supposed to be in the public sphere. Basically, they are supposed to be in the private space, looking after their children, being in the kitchen and so on. So, the whole idea is that women are not supposed to be in the limelight; they are to be seen and not to be heard.
  • [10] Prof Abiola speak on gender discrimination in 2020.
• Discipline was a major thing in our home, especially from my mum; she just didn’t take any nonsense. She was a loving person but liked people to be punctual, do whatever was assigned to them on time and without excuses. I think that must have rubbed off on my siblings and me.
  • [11] Prof Abiola in 2020 speak on discipline in her family.
• I was ready for retirement. I loved the job, the students and liked interacting with them, though they may have said other things. I loved challenging them to be their best. Before retirement came, I was mentally prepared for it. I had also managed my resources carefully so that it would not be a major shock financially.
  • [12] Prof Abiola speak on preparation for her retirement in 2020.
• I am happy that some of my former students are also professors now.
  • [13] Prof Abiola expresses joy over progress of former students in 2022.
• Of course, I faced opposition. The first time I ran (for the office), I lost by a few votes because I ran against a man. During the campaign, because I had to go round the faculties and talk to individuals, people asked me who would look after my home if I became the DVC and were in top management.
  • [14] Prof Abiola speaking on the opposition she faced

Quotes about Abiola Odejide

• She worked so hard when she was the deputy vice chancellor during my tenure as vice chancellor, and I am happy that her ex-students appreciate her contributions to their development.
  • [15] Former vice chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Ayodele Falase, described Professor Abiola in 2022.
• A scholar par excellence, mentor, administrator and mother.
  • [16] Professor Kayode Adebowale, commended Prof Abiola.
• In fact, she is a woman of many firsts, including being the first professor of children’s literature, and the first female deputy vice chancellor.
  • [17] Prof Kayode describe Prof Abiola as a woman of many firsts
• Her achievements are significant by all standards, and her simple approach to life is what draws many people to her.
  • [18] Prof Kayode speak on Abiola Achievements.
• Although Professor Emerita Odejide retired in 2011, but she continued supervising students in her department – Communication and Language Arts.
  • [19] Prof Titi appraises Prof Odejide and why she honored her.
• Therefore, in honouring Professor Emerita Odejide, this is also a platform for lecturers to present their researches and papers.
  • [20] Prof Titi commended her former teacher in 2022.