Federal Government Mourns Literary Icon and Former ASUU President Biodun Jeyifo

In an update published by The Punch on February 14, 2026, President Bola Tinubu has expressed profound grief over the passing of Professor Biodun Jeyifo, a renowned literary critic and former President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). Jeyifo, a scholar of international repute, was celebrated for his contributions to African literature and his unwavering activism for academic freedom and social justice.
The presidency described his death as a monumental loss to the global academic community and the Nigerian intelligentsia. Jeyifo was known for his critical work on the works of Wole Soyinka and Chinua Achebe, as well as his radical approach to political economy and cultural studies. Tributes have continued to pour in from university campuses across the nation, remembering him as a “scholar-activist” who never compromised his principles.
As reported by The Guardian and ThisDay, Jeyifo’s legacy remains a cornerstone of Nigerian intellectual history. The Guardian stated that “his death marks the end of an era for the radical left in Nigeria,” while ThisDay featured a quote from a colleague: “Professor Jeyifo was a titan of the mind whose pen was as sharp as his commitment to the masses.”
Echotitbits take: Jeyifo’s passing leaves a void in the Nigerian intellectual space. As ASUU continues to navigate complex negotiations with the government in 2026, his history of principled leadership will likely serve as a renewed source of inspiration for the current academic struggle.
Source: The Punch – https://punchng.com/tinubu-mourns-literary-giant-ex-asuu-leader-biodun-jeyifo/, February 14, 2026
Photo credit: Arise