I received the greatest shock on December 2, 2025, when I learned that my mentor had gone the way of all mortals. The messenger of death paid an unholy visit to Siyanbola omo olorin nla, and the chirps of Kowee were evident. On Monday, 1st December, 2025, I was still holding your hands, cracking jokes, and promising to come back on Wednesday, not knowing it would be the last time I held the hand of a living encyclopedia. It remains a painful experience for me.
The first day of February is always an important day for Professor Siyan Oyeweso’s mentees, friends and family across the globe. In fact, today, 1st February 2026, was to be special as it marks 40 years of the academic and research excellence of Prof Oyeweso and celebrates 65 years of age with profound service to humanity. I was going through some of my books and found a write-up he dictated to me about his life and why celebrating his 65th birthday was important. He started by saying, “65 years is a very special day in my life because it is a celebration of God’s grace. It wouldn’t have been possible without God’s divine hands. I acknowledge before God and man that only Allah deserves to be worshipped and praised”.
Prof. asked me to type out this song, which he described as one he loves to sing when he faces challenges in life.
Oke talagbara gun to min ele x2
Lemi omo re gun, mo pada wa dupe
Oke talagbara gun to min ele
After singing the song, Prof. Siyan Oyeweso dictated the following lines to me:
“At many stages of my life, since my kindergarten years, Almighty God has always intervened in the course of my life. As a kindergartener in the ancient city of Ibadan and a bourgeois in Ghana, I wish to acknowledge the presence of God and His Divine Healing. I started my elementary school at Wesley Elekuro, Ibadan and later completed it at St. Peter’s Anglican Primary School, Sekona, Ede. As a school pupil in primary four to six, I was at the top of my class and my grandmother. Iyalode Safuratu Titilade took the pain and anguish when the big boys in my class poured Macuna Pururiens (Yerepe) on me because I carted away all the school prizes in 1970”.
“I have also had the blessing of God throughout my modern school day at Ode-Omu and my secondary school years at Oke-Iragbiji Grammar, Iragbiji. At Oke-Iragbiji Grammar School, my teachers, Mr. Paul Ogunjinmi Aremu, Mr. Ademola Oladosu, and Mr. Olabopo, discovered my talents. I am grateful to God for their impactful mentoring and guidance. Through the efforts of all my teachers and mentors, I earned a Grade I distinction in the West African School Certificate Examination in 1978. I am a historian by choice and by providence. I owe a great deal to my teachers, particularly Mr Ademola Oladosu, who discovered that history was my best subject and insisted that I offer it at a higher level. Mr. Oladosu retired as a senior management officer of the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) and currently resides in Abeokuta. Mr. Paul Ogunjinmi, now a nonagenarian, discovered my strength in literature and geography. He nominated me to the editorial board of the Oke-Iragbiji Grammar School magazine called “The Mountaineers.” I was the editor and later the editor-in-chief of Form Four. In 1975, we competed in the Western State Essay Competition, and I emerged first in the entire state. My prize was a book, Shaka The Zulu, written by Thomas Mofolo”.
“In 1976, when I was in form three, I also competed in the Western State Quiz and, once again, emerged best, beating Loyola, Odudwa College, and Ilesa Grammar School. My prize was another book, The Great Trek. The two prophetic books foretold future adventures in the discipline of history. I also served as a Library Prefect at Oke-Iragbiji Grammar School. The library was our intellectual resource room, stocked with books and encyclopedias. It was a strong foundation for me because while my mates were using the LACOMBE Dictionary, I already had access to Oxford Advanced Dictionaries and Thesaurus”.
“I am also a product of the institution of monarchy. My first contact with the institution came in 1968, when I accompanied my maternal grandmother to Enunwa Square, the ancient palace of the Ooni Adesoji Tadenikawo Aderemi, and later to the residence of Pa. Pedro Arubiidi. In those days, Baba Pedro was the sole authority for issuing on- and off-licenses required to sell beer and assorted liquor throughout the Western Region. The next monarch I had early interaction with in life was my grandmother, Iyalode Safuratu Titilade, a pharmacist, and the modernizing monarch was Oba John Adetoyese Laoye, Akanji Erin, Timi of Ede (1946-1981)”.
“In my interaction with the palace, he made a terrific impression on me. However, the one who played a very significant role in my life and who made today possible was Timi Tijani Oladokun Ajagbe Oyewusi, Agbonran II. When my biological father was reluctant to finance my university education due to family intrigues, Timi Oyewusi Agbonran awarded me the Timi Oyewusi Scholarship, which I used to study history at the then University of Ife. I owe this open declaration to God and to him, Alhaji Adetoro Lawal, the Babalaje of Ede, who also contributed his portion. Without yesterday, there cannot be today. The mustard seed sown years ago has become the distinguished Professor of History and University administrator”. (Let us go to CBCIU, end of discussion)
Prof. Siyan Oyeweso, your passing has, no doubt, left us with a relentless sense of loss, pain and grief and has cast a dark shadow that seems difficult to remove. One can affirm that you are not a saint; no human ever is, but you lived a disciplined and morally upright life. You will be forever missed and will never be forgotten, the Pythons Eye and the Footprints of an Ant – Prof. Siyan Oyeweso. I deeply miss you, “Olawale Isaac”, “Yemisi Ogbomoso” – your words of advice, our every night talks, your discipline, energetic scholarship, your uncountable kindness and pursuit of knowledge. I thank God I learned from you, Prof., the energetic scholar. May God continue to comfort and strengthen your wife, triplets and everyone around you.
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