A Call on the Federal and Ogun State Governments to Recognise Professor Felicia Adetoun Ogunsheye at 100

By Adeniyi Akinbobola

There are moments in the history of a nation when its greatest failure is not the inability to produce exceptional individuals but its failure to recognise and celebrate their extraordinary contributions. As Professor (Mrs.) Felicia Adetoun Ogunsheye, Nigeria's first female professor and a distinguished pioneer in education, librarianship and women's advancement, approaches her 100th birthday, the country has another opportunity to correct this historical oversight.

Born on December 5, 1926, Professor Ogunsheye will celebrate her centenary on December 5, 2026. Her remarkable journey, spanning a century of intellectual excellence, institutional development and service to humanity, deserves more than congratulatory messages and ceremonial celebrations. It demands meaningful national recognition.

As Nigeria prepares to celebrate this extraordinary woman, an important question must be asked: What is the value of promoting education, celebrating excellence and advocating gender equality when a woman whose achievements helped redefine the position of women in the nation's academic history has yet to receive the national recognition she deserves?

Born in Benin City to James Herbert Odukoya Banjo and Sabina Banjo of Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, Professor Ogunsheye's life has been an inspiring story of courage, determination, intellectual brilliance and commitment to societal development.

In 1973, she made history as the first Nigerian woman to attain professorial status, breaking a significant barrier in an academic environment largely dominated by men. Her achievement was not merely a personal triumph; it was a landmark accomplishment that opened doors for generations of Nigerian women in academia.

Her journey to academic greatness began at a time when female education was not universally encouraged. Undeterred by the limitations of her era, she distinguished herself as one of the pioneering female students admitted to Yaba Higher College. She subsequently proceeded to the University of Cambridge, where, according to published accounts of her life, she became the first African woman to study at the prestigious institution.

After obtaining a degree in Geography from Cambridge University in 1952, she returned to Nigeria, demonstrating her conviction that education should contribute directly to national development.

Her subsequent transition into librarianship opened another remarkable chapter in her professional career. At the University of Ibadan, she distinguished herself as a scholar, administrator and institution builder, making significant contributions to the development of library and information science education.

In 1977, she became the first woman elected Dean of the Faculty of Education at the University of Ibadan. Her membership of the university's Senate and leadership of the Department of Library Studies further demonstrated her intellectual capacity and administrative competence.

Beyond her academic accomplishments, Professor Ogunsheye's commitment to educational development extended to children and disadvantaged communities. In 1974, she established the Abadina Media Resources Centre at the University of Ibadan to promote reading, encourage children's literacy and improve access to educational materials.

The centre has contributed to the training of professionals in children's literature, school librarianship and media resources. This initiative reflects her understanding that sustainable educational development must begin with children and the creation of opportunities for them to acquire knowledge.

Her contributions to women's advancement were equally remarkable. Through her involvement in organisations such as the National Council of Women Societies and the National Association of University Women, she consistently advocated greater opportunities for women in education, leadership and public life.

Professor Ogunsheye's intellectual contributions also extend to publishing, research and cultural documentation. With more than 50 publications attributed to her, she has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to scholarship and the preservation of knowledge.

One of her notable works, Aso Oke (1950–2020s), published in August 2022 when she was 95, documents the history, evolution and cultural significance of the traditional Yoruba textile. Another literary contribution, A Break in Silence, examines the tragic experiences surrounding her younger brother, Colonel Victor Banjo, during the Nigerian Civil War.

Her continued intellectual productivity well into her tenth decade demonstrates that age need not diminish the capacity for creativity, scholarship and meaningful contributions to society. Her distinction as Africa's oldest publishing author, as highlighted in a December 2025 publication by the DAWN Commission, further underscores the exceptional nature of her accomplishments.

Her professional achievements have also attracted international recognition. She has served as a consultant and resource person to reputable international institutions, including UNESCO, the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), the British Council and the World Bank.

Among her numerous honours are the Ford International Fellowship, an honorary Doctor of Library Science degree from Simmons College, the Simmons College International Alumnus Award, a Fulbright Fellowship, recognition by the Nigerian Library Association and an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from the University of Maiduguri.

Yet, despite these remarkable achievements, one fundamental question remains: Why has Nigeria not adequately honoured this exceptional woman with a befitting national recognition?

This is not merely a question of awards, titles or official decorations. It is about the values a nation chooses to uphold and the kind of history it wishes to bequeath to future generations.

Nigeria has, over the years, recognised individuals who have distinguished themselves in politics, business, entertainment, public administration and other sectors. While such recognition is commendable, academic pioneers, institution builders and individuals whose contributions have transformed society deserve equal consideration.

Professor Ogunsheye's achievements transcend personal success. She challenged the limitations imposed on women, demonstrated that intellectual ability is not determined by gender and contributed to the development of institutions that continue to advance education and knowledge.

Her contributions to Ogun State also deserve particular attention. Between 1989 and 1993, she reportedly served as Chairman of the Ogun State Teaching Service Commission, where she introduced reforms aimed at improving the administration of public schools. Among the initiatives attributed to her administration were the posting of two vice-principals to large secondary schools to strengthen management and the establishment of the Ogun State Library.

These contributions further reinforce the need for the Ogun State Government to celebrate her as one of its distinguished daughters whose professional accomplishments have had lasting implications for educational development.

Her centenary should therefore not be treated as an ordinary birthday celebration. It presents a historic opportunity for the Federal Government, Ogun State Government, National Assembly, universities and other relevant institutions to demonstrate genuine appreciation for her outstanding service.

The Federal Government should consider conferring on her a befitting national honour. The Ogun State Government should equally recognise her contributions through an appropriate state honour and other meaningful initiatives. The University of Ibadan and other academic institutions should also document and celebrate her achievements.

Beyond ceremonial recognition, her life and accomplishments deserve permanent preservation in Nigeria's educational history. Her biography should feature prominently in educational materials, public lectures, academic conferences and programmes designed to inspire girls and young women to pursue careers in education, research, science and leadership.

There is also an important lesson for successive governments and public institutions: national heroes and heroines should be celebrated while they are alive to witness and appreciate the recognition of their contributions.

A society that neglects its pioneers risks sending the wrong message to younger generations. It must not create the impression that dedication, sacrifice, intellectual excellence and decades of service are only appreciated when the individuals concerned are no longer alive.

As Professor Felicia Adetoun Ogunsheye approaches her 100th birthday on December 5, 2026, Nigeria has an opportunity to correct this oversight and demonstrate that it values those who have contributed immensely to its educational, intellectual and institutional development.

Her life remains an enduring testament to the transformative power of education, the importance of equal opportunities and the responsibilities that accompany knowledge and privilege.

At 100, Professor Ogunsheye deserves more than birthday messages, congratulatory advertisements and ceremonial speeches. She deserves meaningful recognition, national appreciation and a permanent place among Nigeria's most celebrated pioneers.

The question is no longer whether Professor Ogunsheye deserves national recognition. Her accomplishments have already provided the answer. The real question is whether Nigeria will rise to the occasion and honour this extraordinary woman while she is still alive to receive the recognition she has earned.

A nation that fails to honour those who paved the way for its progress should not be surprised when future generations struggle to understand the true value of service, sacrifice, patriotism and excellence.

Nigeria must not allow the centenary of its first female professor to pass without giving this outstanding national icon the honour she rightfully deserves.