Prof. Oluwayemisi Adebowale: Celebrating A Diamond Jubilee Of A Serial Debutant of Excellence By Victor Akinpelumi | The Precision

People born on May 14 generally share the ruling astrological planet of Mercury, which plays a part in making these individuals hardworking, and creative. These individuals are known to be flexible, and have a strong sense of sympathy and compassion towards others. These peculiar individuals love to be social, but also hold a desire, for sense of independence. They are known to have a warm and big heart, which makes them highly likeable among others. These individuals are ambitious, and are motivated by visions of a future, which is filled with great happiness and love.

Sian Philips an Actress, Sofia Coppola, a TV producer, film producer and screenwriter and actress; Miranda Cosgrove, an actor and singer; Cate Blanchett, an actress; Mark Zuckerberg, Co-founder of Facebook and computer programmer, among other noble persons who were born on May 14, share the above attributes with our own Professor of Yoruba literature, Olúyẹmísí Adébọ̀wálé.

Born on 14th May, 1958 to the family of Mr. S. F. Famakinwa of blessed memory and Mrs. C. A. Famakinwa in Ondo West Local Government Area of Ondo State, Nigeria, Olúyẹmísí Adébọ̀wálé had her primary and secondary education at the Local Authority Primary School I, Akure in 1964, and St. Louis Secondary School, Akure in 1970, respectively.

In a quick successive order, she had her Advanced Level examinations at the Polytechnic, Ibadan in 1976, and admission to the University of Ibadan, Oyo State  in 1978 and came in a flying colour in 1981 having earned a B. Ed. (Hons) 2nd Class Upper Division in Yoruba/History. In 1984, she bagged an M.A. degree in Yorùbá from the same University.

As a lover of academic profession and a called teacher, Olúyẹmísí Adébọ̀wálé joined the services of the then Ondo State University, Ado-Ekiti, in 1985 as an Assistant Lecturer and rose to the position of Senior Lecturer in 1995. 

Her genuine quest for new challenges and indisputable yearn to add value to humanity, prompted her to move to Adekunle Ajasin University in 1999 when the Ondo State government relocated the university to Akungba-Akoko.

Olúyẹmísí Adébọ̀wálé was promoted Reader in 2000 and appointed Professor of Yorùbá Literature in 2005. 

A versatile Professor, Olúyẹmísí Adébọ̀wálé, had at one time or another, served AAUA, the education sector and the nation in general, in various capacities, including, Ag. Head of Department of Linguistics and Nigerian Languages, from 1999 to 2003; and the Ag. Head of Department of Linguistics and Languages from 2006 to 2008; Admissions Committee from 2001 to 2002; Representative of Faculty of Arts in the Board of Postgraduate School from 2001 to March 2011;  Member, Task Force on the Implementation of the First Phase of the University Master Plan, 2002; Member, Students Disciplinary Committee, from 2004 to 2010; Member, Post-UTME Screening Committee from 2007 to 2009; Chairman, Faculty of the Social & Management Sciences Examination Misconduct Committee, 2007 to 2014; Member, Ceremonies Committee, from 2006 to 2008; Chairman, Ceremonies Committee, from 2008 to November, 2011; Ag. Dean, Postgraduate School from July to August 2009; Chairman, Faculty of Arts Postgraduate Committee from May 2010 to March 2011; Head of Department, of Linguistics and Nigerian Languages at Ekiti State University from August 2011 to March 2012 during her Sabbatical Leave; Member, Adekunle Ajasin Governing Council from September 2011 to December 2014; Member, Labor Industrial Relations Committee, from May 2012 to 2013; Dean, Students Affairs from August 2012 to 19th January 2014; Member, Yorùbá Cross-Border Vehicular Language Commission, from September 2012 to date; Chairman, Work-Study Review Committee, from January 2013 to February 2014; Dean, Faculty of Arts from 20th January to 19th January, 2015; and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) from 23rd December 2014 to 23rd December 2016.

She has also served as the Managing Editor of Inquiry in African Languages and Literatures from 1994 to 2003; Treasurer of the Yorùbá Studies Association of Nigeria (YSAN) from November 2006 to 2008, Managing Editor, Inquiry in African Languages and Literatures from 1994 to 2011; Editor, Inquiry in African Languages and Literatures from 2016 till date and Editor, Akungba Journal of Linguistics and Literatures from 2016 till date. 

She led other seasoned Yorùbá scholars to edit Ọ̀tun Ìmọ̀ Nínú Iṣé D. O. Fágúnwà, the anthology of critical essays written mostly in Yorùbá on Daniel Ọlọ́runfẹ́mi Fágúnwà to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of his demise. 

She also belong to a number of Professional bodies, including Yorùbá Teachers’ Association of Nigeria; Yoruba Studies Association of Nigeria; and Nigerian Academy of Letters (NAL).

A dynamic academic, a poet, playwright, critic, and global conference paper presenter, Professor Olúyẹmísí Adébọ̀wálé, has 52 publications published across the globe.  

As a serial debutant of excellence, in 1994, Olúyẹmísí Adébọ̀wálé became the first female to earn a Ph.D. in Yorùbá from the University of Ibadan; She was the first female Editor of the Yorùbá: Journal of the Studies Association of Nigeria (YSAN) from November 2002 to November 2006; Oluyemisi Adebowale was elected the first female President of the Yorùbá Studies Association of Nigeria (YSAN) in October 2012 for a two year term and was re-elected for another two year term in 2014 but she had to hold the position until another President was elected in 2017.

In 2005, she became the first female Professor in Adekunle Ajasin University. Her Inaugural Lecture, titled Writing and Reacting: The Experience in Indigenous Yorùbá Literary Art delivered on Tuesday, 11th October, 2011 was, the first to be delivered by a female Professor in the University. In 2012 she became the first female Dean of Students Affairs. In 2014 she also became the first female Dean of the Faculty of Arts. Not done yet, in the same 2014, she was appointed the first female Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), a position she occupied till 23rd December 2016.

What more can one say about this exquisitely resourceful Professor? Though she is 60, she is agile, radiant, and spick and span. Please, join me to celebrate this erudite scholar, a quintessential and astute administrator, an exemplary and passionate teacher, a seasoned leader and role model per excellence, a responsible, caring and loving mother, a virtuous and pretty woman, a God-fearing human being, and a proudly hardworking Nigerian, Olúyẹmísí Adébọ̀wálé, Professor of Yoruba Literature.

Congratulation!