The Nigerian Academy of Letters (NAL), has conferred its prestigious Fellowship on Prof. Adebola Babatunde Ekanola, the Acting Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan, alongside other eminent scholars in different categories, stressing that “his conferment is based on his profound scholarship and not because he is the Acting Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan.”
According to a statement by the University’s Director of Public Communication, Mr. Olatunji Oladejo, Prof. Ekanola was admitted to the NAL’s College of Fellowship at the Twenty-Second and Twenty-Third (Combined) Convocation and Investiture of New Fellows at the J.F. Ade Ajayi Auditorium, University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos, on Thursday.
At the impressive ceremony, the Academy’s Secretary, Prof. Ayo Kehinde said the body “confers the award of the Fellowship of the Academy on the basis of their outstanding contributions to scholarship and extension of the frontiers of knowledge in their various subjects of the humanities.”
He explained that, ” the Fellows of the Nigerian Academy of Letters are a group of distinguished scholars of the humanities, nominated and selected in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the humanistic scholarship.
“The new Fellows have been elected following a robust review process; they have been recognised for the excellence of their research outputs and highly accomplished in their fields”, the scholar added.
As for Prof. Ekanola who was elected as a New Regular Fellow in the area of Philosophy, the outgoing President of the Academy, Prof. Francis Egbokhare said: “Just a quick one, I need to say that Prof. Ekanola is here as a Fellow on the recognition of his scholarship not because he is the Acting Vice-Chancellor. We don’t reward people because of administrative positions. We need to state it clearly. I will now call on Prof. Godwin Sogolo, the father of Philosophy in Nigeria, to join in his investiture.”
In a brief but well-crafted citation on Prof. Ekanola by the orator, Prof. Mabel Osakwe, at the event, read as follows: “Prof. Adebola Babatunde Ekanola holds B.A. Philosophy, First Class Division), Obafemi Awolowo University, 1991; M.A. Philosophy 1995 and Ph.D. Ibadan, 2003.”
“A Professor of Philosophy and Ethics, he was born on 2 December, 1969. He was appointed an Assistant Lecturer in Ibadan and rose through the ranks to Professorship in 2010. He has published extensively in reputable outlets in his field till his recent 2021 publications.”
“Prof. Ekanola is a profound and focused scholar who engages in robust and in-depth research in his field. He has significantly contributed to the field of philosophy, especially African Philosophy, Ethics and Logic.”
“An enduring brilliance of his research endeavour is his conceptual approach of deploying analytical skills in classifying and resolving classical issues in ethics as well as social and political practices.”
“Mr. President, It is my pleasure to present to you this brilliant, first-class and intellectually resourceful philosopher of peace and development for investiture as Fellow of NAL.”
Other humanistic scholars inducted at the convocation were Professor Ahmed Parker Yerima, Professor Frank Maduabuchi Dukor, Professor Olayemi Durotimi Akinwumi, Professor Lateef Babatunde Ayeleru, Professor Isidore Okeawolam Diala, Professor Abayomi O. Akinyeye, Professor Andrew Haruna, Professor Imelda Icheji Lawrence Udoh, Professor Olusegun Adesina Adekoya, Prof. Justice Obi Nwachukwu-Agbada, Prof. Mabel Evweierhoma and Prof. David Jowitt.
Also, His Eminence, Most Reverend Dr. Matthew Hassan Kukah, the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, was elected as an Honorary Fellow while Prof. Tanure Ojaide, NNOM, was elected as an Overseas Fellow of the Academy at the convocation.
By this investiture, Prof. Ekanola, is entitled to use the designatory letters “FNAL” after his name.
