Chief Oluwole Emmanuel Adefila Adegboro, a respected figure in Nigeria’s academic, political and royal circles, has died at the age of 73.
Adegboro passed away recently in Akure, Ondo state.
His death has triggered an outpouring of tributes from political leaders, academics, traditional institutions and former student activists across the country.
A member of the Osupa/Odundun royal family of Akure, Adegboro was widely known for his lifelong commitment to student activism, public service and democratic development.
He first rose to national prominence in 1971 when he was elected national president of the National Union of Nigerian Students (NUNS).
He later became the first continental president of the All-Africa Students Union, headquartered in Accra, Ghana, helping to elevate Nigerian student activism onto the African stage.
Adegboro joined the Nigerian Army in 1974 and served with distinction in the Education Corps, retiring with the rank of captain.
He later transitioned to tertiary education, holding senior administrative roles at the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, and the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), where he was a deputy registrar and member of the governing council.
In politics, Adegboro’s journey spanned the Second Republic to the present Fourth Republic.
He was a member of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) and later became an influential figure in the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He represented Akure federal constituency at the 1988–89 National Constituent Assembly, where his legislative acumen earned him national respect.
Adegboro also held key positions in Ondo state, including commissioner for information, youth, sports and culture; commissioner for commerce and industry; and special adviser on education and special duties.
One of his most celebrated legacies was facilitating the relocation of Adekunle Ajasin University to its permanent site in Akungba-Akoko.
As a publisher, he founded Odua Voice newspaper and Black Pride magazine, platforms that shaped progressive discourse in Nigeria.
He was also the author of Michael Adekunle Ajasin: The Story of a Legend, among other works.
His popular column, “Platform,” was widely read and respected for its intellectual rigour and moral clarity.