Ijebu Ode, Ogun State — Dr. Samuel Olusegun Osoba, a towering figure in African historiography, anti-colonial activism, and the Nigerian Left movement, has passed away at the age of 92.
Osoba died peacefully in his residence in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, in the early hours of Thursday, May 14, 2026.
Born on January 9, 1935, in Ijebu Ode, the economic historian and scholar had a distinguished academic career spanning decades. He taught at the Obafemi Awolowo University (formerly University of Ife) from 1967 to 1991, where he played a pivotal role in reshaping the study of History.
Osoba was a pioneer in analysing African and Nigerian history through socioeconomic and class dynamics. His approach challenged the traditional “great men” narrative, emphasising instead the role of economic structures, exploitation, and neo-colonialism in shaping society. He earned his doctorate from Moscow State University, an experience that profoundly influenced his Marxist perspective.
Beyond academia, Osoba was a key member of the 1977 Constituent Assembly and co-authored *The Minority Report and Draft Constitution for the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1976* with his comrade, the late Yusufu Bala Usman. The document remains influential in Nigeria’s constitutional debates.
He served as Chairman of the Yusufu Bala Usman Institute, where he continued to champion scholarship aimed at exposing capitalist exploitation and advocating for social justice.
The Institute described him as “a rare scholar whose whole life was dedicated to teaching and research… to educate his students, colleagues and the general public about the nature of the capitalist system and the structures of neo-colonialism.”
Osoba mentored generations of Nigerian intellectuals and students, inspiring them to view education as a tool for dismantling oppressive systems. Tributes have poured in from academics, activists, and former students who described him as a principled intellectual and patriot.
Funeral arrangements will be announced by the family. His death marks the end of an era for radical scholarship and progressive thought in Nigeria.
