Shoes Too Big to Fill

My darling uncle, I knew your time was near but it still came as a shock when I woke up to the news of your departure. I know you were a National Treasure but to me, you were my big uncle, my mother’s big brother. You were the uncle that always sought me out just to check on me and make sure I was okay. You looked for my siblings as well, carving out precious time from your busy schedule just to see us. Who will do that now? Your shoes are too big to fill.

You were my uncle, the first son of your father, making you the head of the Mabogunje family for as long as I can remember. You held the office well, just like you held your academic office well and your national office well, an exemplary force for good wherever you were appointed to. You were a good husband, father, grandfather and even great-grandfather to emulate, a dear brother, uncle, cousin and friend. All that knew you, sing from the same song sheet, you were indeed a great man! Heaven’s gain is now our loss. Who can be all that you have been to this era? Your shoes are too big to fill!

I thank God for your visit to London last Summer, I got to see you one last time. I was honoured to cook for you, you ate the food and said it was tasty, I think I blushed at the praise. I didn’t realise that would be the last time. Thank you, uncle for all you did, for our family, for our nation, for Africa, for Geography world-wide. Who now will wear so many caps, who? Big shoes, shoes too big to fill.

Adieu Uncle, Rest in Peace Sir.

My Godfather, like no other- Professor Akinlawon Ladipo Mabogunje. (1931-2022).

I have known Prof for as long as I have known myself! He and my father, Bola Ige were classmates at Ibadan Grammar School and University College Ibadan, now University in Ibadan. He and my dad grew up in the North and would speak Hausa, when they didn’t want others to hear their conversation. They both married lawyers, both pioneer female lawyers, who later became Judges.

I am the first of my parents’ children and they took our upbringing very seriously. When I was to be baptised, being a girl, I only had one Godfather and my parents chose a Godfearing Christian who shared the same values as them. They chose the best person for me, Professor Akin Mabogunje. He took his Godfather role very seriously and as I prepared for my Confirmation in 1973, he explained the meaning of the Christian milestone-that I was then old enough to confirm the vows he had taken with my parents at my baptism, that jointly, they would raise me in the ways of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I remember he gave me a white Zondervan Bible for my Confirmation, autographed in his beautiful handwriting.
When I was 21, and I had a thanksgiving service he and his wife, Hon. Justice Titilola Mabogunje( my mum’s lookalike), gave me my first Omega wristwatch- it was a Seamaster edition.
Before I got married, I took my then Fiance, Gbenro Adegbola to meet him and of course, he gave his seal of approval. He gave me a handsome cash gift for my wedding.

Prof and Justice Mabogunje have been at every milestone of my life. They were there at my wedding, 40th, 50th, 55th birthdays. When I shared my vision of running a private secondary school, The Vale College, with him, he was most supportive. Hon. Justice Titilola Mabogunje was one of the Founders’ Day Lecturers in the early years of my school. They both attended nearly every Founders’ Day of the college. In 2020, he and his beautiful wife were given the award of PILLARS OF THE VALE for their support and contribution to the vision of the school. When I was building my College Hall, they gave the biggest donation. I am grateful to them for their generosity.

In 1995 when I moved to the same neighborhood, we became even closer in proximity. When my mum was transferred to Benin and Kaduna, she was happy that I and my family were in good hands, with the Mabogunjes, Ojos and Ade-Ajayis within walking distance.

However in 2003, when I lost both my parents within the space of 16 months, and I was totally emotionally shattered and devastated, my Godfather, now became truly ‘in loco parentis’, our relationship became even stronger. He helped us with the Order of Service for my mum’s service of songs and funeral.
Since his house was within walking distance, I would often, just stroll to spend time with him, sharing both the high and lows of my life. He would cheer and encourage me on.

He and his wife, like my parents, are my role- models in marriage- two professionals united in love yet giving each other space to grow and flourish, without taking the shine off one another. They would both take walks round the neighborhood right till their 80s. I was happy to be present at their 60th wedding anniversary, surrounded by their children, grandchildren and great- grandchildren.
Prof was the epitome of a complete gentleman. Very calm, polite and soft-spoken. He was extremely clever yet not arrogant. He was a man of peace and distinction- very measured, articulate, meticulous and detailed in his dressing as well as his calligraphy.

One of the attributes I love most about him, is his love for family and loyalty to friends. He loved and supported his beautiful wife, Hon Justice Mabogunje. I thank her for the way she looked after him especially in the past one and a half years. Thank you mum, for your unconditional love and care for dad. May the Lord bless and keep you, grant you good health and long life IJN. Amen. I pray that the Holy Spirit the Comforter will suffuse you with His presence and abide with you always IJN. Amen.
Mum and Dad are blessed with such wonderful children- how many families have 2 Professors as children, including Professor Sade Ogunsola, the first female Acting Vice-Chancellor of University of Lagos. He was really blessed and highly favored- Father of Professors, literally and
metaphorically! Indeed God gave him a great measure of His grace.

His children- Segun and Sade Ogunsola, Seun and Toki Mabogunje, Gboyega and Nirvana Mabogunje, Femi and Bimpe Oye and Sola and Sinmi Mabogunje gave him the very best care, medically and emotionally. Indeed Gboyega spent two months at his bedside. What a great family full of sacrificial love for one another. You are all very worthy children and my prayer is that you will all live long in good health and that your children will care and pamper you just as you did for your parents. Amen.

Prof died peacefully in his sleep, quietly and without any pain, just as he lived. A true child of God has returned to his Father who he loved and served all his life. He loved hymns and spiritual songs and would sing lustily in his sonorous voice, knowing the lyrics by heart. To say I would miss him, is an understatement- When my dad died, I told myself ‘Baba ku, baba ku’, now that my Godfather has gone to meet my dad on the other side, all I have left and will always have is my Almighty Father, the Lord Jesus Christ.

I bless God for the past 20 years that I had Prof as a strong father figure in my life. He saw me flourish and saw both my children get married - he was very present at my daughter’s marriage introduction. I cannot thank God enough for sparing his life for the birth of my first two grandchildren, with my granddaughter being born the day before his 89th birthday .

We Yorubas believe that our dear departed ones meet in heaven, I am sure you and your friends- my parents, would have met by now and you can tell them how great a support you have been to me and mine. Rest In Peace my Outstanding Irreplaceable Godfather, I love you very much but I know Jesus loves you more. You lived well, loved much and served God, family, nation and the entire world, to the best of your ability. You gave your all to humanity, impacting and touching millions of lives, directly and indirectly. We are assured that you are in the bosom of our Lord Jesus Christ and so, I bid you Goodnight and see you on the Resurrection morning, when we shall meet to part no more. May the angels carry you and may light perpetual shine upon you. Amen.

Goodnight my one and only Godfather, an icon and exceptional academic and statesman. I will always love you and all that you loved! Rest In Peace my Godfather, like none other!

Funso ADEGBOLA
Nee Ige.

Prof was a great Father to many of us who were not his biological children.He was very close to my late father Dr Olarewaju Olasimbo and after we lost him almost thirty years ago ,he was always there to support our family.

I always call him on his birthday because we share the same birthday month October
He was a giant in the academic world and highly cerebral in his discussion and always soft spoken

The role he played in my University Olabisi Onabanjo University can never be forgotten as the first pro chancellor and chairman of council
His works in eradicating  poverty in Ijebu land will always be remembered.

Prof continue to rest in the bosom of your savior
Adieu Prof
Dr Olayinka Olasimbo

Knowing and interacting with Professor and Justice Mabogunje was always a privilege for me. My parent’s closest friend's; uncle and auntie were always there for them, and for my sister and I. Uncle was a professor for as long as I knew him, and undoubtedly, one of the smartest people I’ve met anywhere in the world. Like Einstein, he had an ability to break down the most difficult concepts or ideas, and simplify them in a manner anyone would understand.

If he wasn’t a professor of geography, he would have excelled in whatever he tried, and with his sense of humour and ability as a raconteur, he could have been a professor of comedy.

May his soul RIP, and may the good Lord console and continue to bless Auntie and the entire family.

By Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina
AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK GROUP
President
6, Avenue Jean-Paul II – 01 B.P. 1387 – Abidjan 01 (Côte d’Ivoire)

It is with a very heavy heart that I learnt of the passing away of Professor Akin Mabogunje. Nigeria, Africa, and the world have lost a great intellectual giant.

Prof. Mabogunje’s name is synonymous with geography, and he was globally respected in the field.

He was a man of many firsts. He was the first Nigerian professor in geography. He was the first African to be elected to the globally prestigious United States National Academy of Sciences, as a Foreign Associate. A prodigious writer, his work and contributions got him elected as President of the International Geographical Union and he was the first African to hold the position.

He was awarded the Vaudrin Lud Prize, the highest global distinction in geography, widely considered as the ‘Nobel Prize in Geography’ for his immense contributions.

Prof. Mabogunje contributed immensely to the knowledge and understanding of urbanization, spatial economic development, and critical role of rural infrastructure development in reducing rural-urban migration.
Known as the ‘father of geography in Nigeria’, Prof. Mabogunje for decades advised state, regional, and Federal governments with the power of his ideas to support balanced economic growth models that consider the environment and people’s wellbeing.

He was passionate about geography with spiritual fervency, seeing it as an opportunity to serve God in managing land, people and all that dwell on it.
As Prof. Mabogunje said when he was awarded the Vaudrin Lud Prize “the totality of the environment is what geography means to me.’’
A passionate promoter of the need for a balance between development and the environment, Prof. Mabogunje said “nature is now showing that man cannot go beyond certain boundaries. Our pollution has shown us the limits to which we can go. The environment is now more important than it was before.’’

Prof. Mabogunje was exceptional and extremely brilliant, becoming a full Professor at the University of Ibadan at the age of 34 years, just seven years after earning his doctorate degree.

His contributions to Africa’s development were immense. He was the Vice-President, Governing Council for Pan African Institute for Development (1972-78); Chairman, International Committee for Overcoming Hunger in the 1990s (1988-1994); Visiting Research Fellow, World Bank, 1990; Member, Executive Committee, Senior African Leadership Forum (1992-date); Adviser to the Secretary General, United Nations Second Conference on Human Settlements (1994-1999).

He helped to chart a path for national recognition of professional academic excellence in Nigeria and was a Member of the National Merit Award Endowment Fund (1983-89) and Chairman of the Fund (1989-1994).

Despite being such an intellectual giant, Professor Mabogunje was incredibly humble. He related with me as if we were contemporaries.

I treasured sharing the same name ‘Akin’ with him, and he always calling me ‘Namesake’. I will greatly miss the precious moments we spoke; he always encouraged me to keep on being an ‘Akin’ (a warrior and conqueror).
Namesake, Professor, you were truly an ‘Akin’: you used your very sharp brain to fight wars on underdevelopment and you conquered many knowledge territories, in Nigeria, Africa and globally.

Your legacy is indelible.

With your passing, Nigeria has lost a great mind, a jewel, an intellectual colossus, an exemplary human being, a great role model, and a national patriot who made Nigeria and Africa so proud.
May God comfort your loving family. Sleep well, ‘Namesake, Professor’! May your soul rest in peace.

By Tony Marinho

We will not fail to weep when great men and women,who we have never lacked in number, sleep the final sleep.

Such persons are eminently exemplified by Emeritus Professor Akin Mabogunje who tirelessly fought the good fight till very close to the end. Today he has finished the race, breasted the tape between life and eternal glory. Meanwhile we are forced to ask why others are so deaf, their brains impervious to the desperate need of the many and to the 70 years of sound guidance repeatedly given by such greats great men and women as we look around and ask ' How did we get to this dark place here with so much good will, so many meetings, so many conferences, so many papers, so many feasibility studies?
The great man's work is done.
May he RIPP and grant Aunty Justice and the family strength at this time of a painful present and glorious memories. Amen

From the Department of Geography, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ibadan.


Professor Akin MABOGUNJE, former Dean of Faculty of the Social Sciences, UI (1968 - 1970) joined the triumphant Angels on 4/8/2022

Our Department & Faculty will miss Professor Akin Mabogunje very sorely.

A rare breed, an icon, an institution and indeed a moving archive.

He epitomized sagacity, erudition and uncommon insight.

Yet, the great man was profoundly humble and soft-spoken.

One could always easily relate with an aura of peace and happiness around him.

I remember a few years back when some Britons that visited Nigeria, on a project that Prof. Ibidun Adelekan led its Nigerian component, insisted that they needed to have him sign autographs for them.

Their request was granted and that alone made their trip . He was unarguably a global scholar.

Geography Department will sorely miss him..

Faculty of the Social Sciences will miss him greatly.

University of Ibadan will.. Humanity definitely will..

What a man!

Adieu, an achiever of repute. Adieu, the Geographer. Adieu, the social scientist

By Sola Adelaja GCI old boy

I am extremely grateful to God for the golden opportunity of thanking Papa directly several times, for the invaluable role God enabled him to play, in blessing me with my wonderful wife, about 23 years ago. The last opportunity I had was at the funeral ceremony of Biodun Ogunmekan's Dad, at Ibadan.

I actually ensured that Biodun witnessed our conversation.

I also recollect what the the former spokesman to the late President Yaradua wrote in his Book on President Yaradua. He quoted President Yaradua 's observation to the effect that Professor Mabogunje was one of the extremely few Nigerians, who never discussed personal favours during or after their Meetings,in Aso Rock.He added that Professor Mabogunje kept very strictly to discussions on the solutions to the problems of Nigeria.

I am reminded about the comment of the son of Sir Christopher Wren, who designed the magnificent St.Paul's Cathedral in London.

Some people in authority asked him for suggestions on memorializing his late father, Sir Christopher Wren.

His reeponse was to the effect that the magnificence of the Cathedral his father designed was the best way of memorializing him.

All will be well !

By Prof Eyitayo Lambo

ODE TO THE LATE SAGE
He came, he saw, he conquered!
His reputation precedes him.
His name evokes great aura of intellectualism and science .
His presence exudes wisdom.
His works ooze excellence and novelty.
Indeed, a gold fish has no hiding place.

An omnibus of knowledge.
Master of all!
Daring and endearing.
A barrel full of substance,
Not a moment for vain noises.
Hear him speak, wisdom echoes;
Yes, resonating in the minds of the seekers.
His works are knowledge to thrones,
Great wisdom to crowns,
Insightful to scholars and sages.
An ode to the iconic

Behold again Emeritus
Professor Akin L Mabogunje!
The son of the soil.
The first among many.
A great African,
Yet a global pride.
A think tank!
A geographer, a planner, an economist, a linguist, a poet, a philosopher and a statesman.
For the masses he professed.
Yes, a proponent of prosperity for the masses
'O poverty in the midst of plenty' he lamented.

Adieu!
Gandmaster of the greatests!
Professor of professors!
The nation mourns thee!
The world mourns thee!
Geography mourns thee!
I mourn thee!
We mourn thee!
Adieu Emeritus Professor Akin L. Mabogunje.
Good night!

(C) Amiolemen 2022

My heartfelt condolences go to the Mabogunje family who will surely miss his love and care. I pray that his brilliant soul shall find that absolute peace in the Lord's bosom.

The Mabogunje clan is dealing with a painful loss, but as the many tributes will undoubtedly show, while this is a sad time we can all attest to and take solace in our patriarch's indelible mark on his immediate and extended family, his country and the world. He was a renound accademic, a fierce champion of his beloved Nigeria and a passionate advocate and teacher. Its been said the true measure of a person is intangiable and can be best be summed up sucintnly in the 5 Cs. Creed, character, conversation, contribution and conduct. Rather than enumerating singular examples of each of these traits from my personal experience with my beloved uncle (there'd be too many mention), I'd rather leave it to each of us to reflect on our own individual interactions with him and each of these traits.
"Uncle the professor" and we fondly called him was a true example of humility, intelligence and honor. He led by example, spoke softly, yet with conviction and took every opportunity to impart knowledge. My early memories of him included him calling my siblings amd me "master" in deference to our young age and marking our transition to manhood by then calling us "mister" as we came of age. He would tell us upon graduation from university that we were now the same as him (we were now graduates), even tough we knew full well this was a joke. He would speak to us in Hausa since we grew up in the north and switch to yoruba with such ease.... all the while probing genuingly, about our progress with school, career and life in general.

like everyone else I relished every opportunity I had to sit and talk with him, his insight into several aspects particularly history of Nigeria and Africa in general was so illuminating, plus it was never the stuff in the history books but first had account of certain histoeic occurences and decisions because he was actually in the room.The nigerian history i expected but he did the same with Zimbabwean history when we spent some time in Harare in '15. That ride was an hour long and yet it felt like a few mintutes on account of his recantment of nuanced detail.The fact that he was on first name basis with more than one Nigerian president and other foreign leaders was fascinating to me. He was called to serve, to advise, to solve problems, to establish processes, to delivery results. In his every endeavor he embodied the 5 Cs unequivocally. May we all be so blessed to live full and rich lives following in his footsteps. Big shoes to fill but...we must try.. Rest well uncle....rest well.

A veritably distinguished scholar and gentleman of the old school. Sir, to the Glory of God, yours was a remarkably exemplary and eminently accomplished life, which impacted positively on numerous individuals, and very many communities and countries. May the Almighty God graciously grant eternal rest, and may divine consolation abide with the family, amen

Thank you sir for your contributions to human development especially in theoretical and practical Geography, of which I benefited immensely. May you gentle soul Rest In Peace and May God grant your family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

My Darling Uncle, assuredly there is a time and season for everything under the sun and indeed it's your time to leave us. We knew it was coming but it still hurts to say goodbye. I sigh heavily as I realise it's time for my generation to rise up and take the helm and learn the precious lessons that you left for us to follow. But who Uncle, can walk in your footsteps? Who can en masse all your qualities, hardwork and dedication and put them on so elegantly just like a cloak and lead as you have led? Who will serve Family,Education, Nation, Continent and beyond all at the same time, all with such humility, I ask who?
Thank you Sir for all you did. Thank you Sir for including me and mine in your agenda. Thank you Sir for heading our great Mabogunje clan with love, understanding and patience, thank you Sir for nurturing the next generation and showing us the way to go. We will not let you down, the name Mabogunje will continue to be synonymous with integrity, by God's grace.
Adieu Uncle, Rest in Peace Sir.

Adieu uncle! You have left your indelible mark on the sands of greatness and your legacy is larger than life. I watched you sing a Yoruba song from verse 1 to 5 off head once at your granddaughters wedding and I said what a genius! That perception is shared by many around the world.
I pray that God accepts you in His bosoms and grants you a walk with the Saints above. Rest In Peace.

Baba Mabogunje, I just want to thank God for the opportunity of knowing you and the lessons learnt through you while here with us.
You came, you saw and you conquered, the mark you left in our heart can never be erased because you are a good father
Papa continue to rest in the bosom of your God.
Rest on BABA ONINURE.