Foremost historian and a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Ade Ajayi is dead.
He passed away at the University College Hospital, Ibadan on Saturday. He was aged 85.
Among scholars of his age and beyond, Ajayi was particularly respected for the thoroughness of his researches and the fact that he gave character to the study of African history.
A profile of him read “As an early writer of Nigerian and African history, Ajayi brought considerable respect to the ‘Ibadan School’ and African research. He was known for the arduous research and rigorous effort he put into his work.
“By extensive use of oral sources in some of his works, such as pre-twentieth century Yoruba history, he was able to weigh, balance and reconcile each and all of his sources, uncovering a pathway towards facts in the period which was scarce in written and non prejudiced forms.”
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