On the 25th of June 2020, the foremost soil scientist, an erudite scholar and the first professor of Agronomy, Akinola Anthony Abel Agboola dropped the baton of life and relocate to the realm immortal.
Although gone, his immense contribution to the field of Agriculture will not be easily forgotten across the continent of Africa and the rest of the world.
In the word of his grandchild: “Grandpa was an incredible man.” He was adored by all that had the privilege of meeting and getting to know him. His hard work, his caring nature, his humour and his love of life are some of the many traits that characterized this amazing and loving person.
Professor Akinola Anthony Abel Agboola was born on August 15, 1932, in Ikere-Ekiti to the family of Pa Daniel Ojo and Madam Elizabeth Aina Agboola. He started his primary school education at St. Luke Primary School, Odo-Oja, Ikere Ekiti.
His academic brilliance and devotion to duty, which he displayed as a young man resulted in him being one of the sixteen (16) pupils admitted to the prestigious King’s College, Lagos in 1953 to 1958. There, he excelled in academics and sports, such as Hockey and High Jump.
At Kings College, Lagos, he passed the British Cambridge examination and received a scholarship to study at the University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign, from 1960 to 1964; and later at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria from 1967 to 1970.
The late Professor H. W. Hannah gave an interesting account of his encounter with Professor Agboola, whom he fondly called Tony, in January of 1960:
“While I was sitting down in our hotel lobby in Lagos, I was approached by a tall, young Nigerian. He obviously had made inquiries, because he asked for Dean Hannah from the University of Illinois. After I’d admitted my identity, he said his name was Anthony Akinola Agboola, and he wanted to go to the University of Illinois in Agronomy to learn how to save his country’s soil.
There was nothing bashful or reticent about that young man. His use of English was good.
After talking to him for a time, I decided to try to help him get to the University of Illinois. That turned out to be the beginning of a long association with Tony and the family he eventually acquired”.
In just 3 years, the young Akin finished his degree program set a record in the University because his program was meant to last for 4 years. Working as a Research Assistant at the University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign with the opportunity to continue living in the US young Akinola opted to come back to Nigeria where he felt that he would be of better use saving his country’s soil.
Talking about his sojourn in the United States can never be complete without mentioning 402 East Green, a lawn somewhere on the University of Illinois, Champaign Urbana campus where young Akinola uses to cut grass to earn some money for his upkeep in the United States, as a foreign student.
Getting back to Nigeria daddy started work at the Federal Department of Agriculture Research, Moor Plantation, Ibadan, and then the University of Ife now Obafemi Awolowo University and finally the University of Ibadan where Baba became a Professor of Soil Fertility Evaluation, Management and Farming Systems making him the first Professor of Agronomy on the African continent.
Grandpa was so passionate about imparting knowledge to the next generation that he ended up as the professor with the highest number of PhD students during his time at the University of Ibadan. Daddy was a very simple and down-to-earth man during his lifetime that we came up with a quote that “you can take the Ekiti man out of the bush but you cannot take the bush out of him”. Baba was truly a down-to-earth man.
Prof. A. A. Agboola had a very successful career spanning several years where he specialized in farming systems and soil science. With hard work, great determination and focus, he became the first Professor of Soil Science in Africa.
He was a research assistant at the University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign from 1963-64; Research Officer, Federal Department of Agriculture Research, Moor Plantation, Ibadan, Oyo State (1964-65); Lecturer at the University of Ife, Ile-Ife, Osun – State (1965-68); Lecturer/Senior Lecturer, University of Ibadan, Oyo State (1968-78), Professor of Soil Fertility Evaluation, Management and Farming Systems, 1978-85; Head Department of Agronomy, University of Ibadan, 1985-88.
Professor Agboola served in various capacities within the Academic Societies across the globe, and he was a fellow of the Soil Science Society of Nigeria as well as its former president. He served as Vice President (1989-1991) and as President (1991-1995) of the African Soil Science Society.
He also served as Vice-Chairman Committee IV of the International Soil Science Society (1982-1990) and was Vice President (1980-1984) of the Soil Science Society Nigeria. He was also a member of the Agronomy Society of America, Soil Science Society of America, Science Association Nigeria and the Agricultural Science Society Nigeria.
An accomplished academic, well-respected by colleagues, and held in awe and admiration by his former students.
Professor Akinola Abel Anthony popularly called ”Baba Soil” by his students published well over 200 academic articles on soil testing, fertilizer use, soil fertility and farming, in various local and international journals. He was, at the peak of his illustrious career, one of the top ten (10) in his field in the entire world. (Source: Newswatch’s Who’s Who).
Prof A. A. Agboola retired as an accomplished academic from the premier University of Ibadan, in the year 2000. Although, he had opportunities to continue working outside of Nigeria, his desire to improve his nation and the African Continent remained his driving passion.
The same year, 2000, at the behest of the then governor of Ekiti State, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, he accepted the offer to start the Faculty of Agriculture in UNAAD now EKSU (Ekiti State University of Ado-Ekiti).
From 2000-2002, he pioneered the Faculty of Agriculture as the first Dean and Head of Department which he finally retired from active service of Academic. He did not sleep in his mind as he still contributed his knowledge to the development of Soil Science from his hometown of Ikere-Ekiti.
”Baba Soil” has not stopped receiving odes, accolades and farewell since his demise last week. The Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Fayemi has sent his condolence message to the family including from different University heads and his former students across Africa and the rest of the world.
Professor Agboola who died on 25 June 2020, would be remembered as a great father, grandfather, a world-class scholar and intellectual, as well as a great role model to his children and relations. Prof showed strength and love right up until his last days with us.
I hope that one day when I die, my children can look back, tell funny stories about me, and talk about how I loved them.
Then, like grandpa, I will have led a complete life. With Revelation 21:4 in mind “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more because the previous things have passed away” good old Prof, may God rest your soul, and may the family you left behind be comforted.
A glowing tribute from Dr Akinola appears in the Guardian https://guardian.ng/opinion/tribute-to-professor-akinola-agboola-1932-2020/
Professor Agboola lived a fulfilled life as a family man to his wives and children. The family has opened a web page for friends and well-wishers to pay tribute to him. https://www.forevermissed.com/profakinola-anthony-agboola/about
You can follow the page for farewell and Burial arrangement. The family will ensure strict COVID-19 protocols are adhered to and due to the current circumstances of our national health challenges, the family appeals to the public to observe strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols in their participation.
Furthermore, the details of the live media coverage of the funeral ceremony have been made public, as shown below:
However, in the near future, details of a larger funeral gathering will be announced where a lot more of his well-wishers will have the opportunity to pay him their respect.
For further details on burial arrangement, you can reach the family of through the following numbers, +2348034058227, +2349112306009
Pause and Pounder- An Emphasis on the Timeless Value of Perspective
Excerpts from some of the other tributes appear below…
Dr Abimbola Solebo
“Thank you Professor Agboola for sharing your gift of teaching to countless students most especially at the Agronomy Department of the University of Ibadan. You had the mastery of Soil Science, the commitment and passion of teaching your students. You taught us with authority in so much that we thought you originated Soil Science, you stimulated us apparently ordinary people to unusual effort and you made winners out of us. You are responsible for what we are today. You were a fascinating teacher and I am glad to be one of your students.”
Professor Olusegun Osinowo (FUNAAB)
“Prof. was an accomplished man who inspired many of us as our Lecturer in UI decades ago. May his soul rest in peace.”
Vincent Elegbeleye
“My memory of him was mostly in the ’80s and ’90s. He would come from Ibadan to Ikere on weekend then. He was always welcoming and engaging. Later in the late ’90s and early 2000s, I would hear from some of his students to whom I was acquainted, how supportive and helpful, they found and rated him. I was always impressed but not surprised by such positive remarks. Sweet shall be your rest sir, and may the mercy and grace of God shine a light unto your path, as you journey to the unreturnable land of the unblemished. Eyin te fi sile ko ni baje sir. My sincere condolence to Yemi and the other esteemed members of the Agboola family. God’s speed sir.”
Benjamin Ubi
“Our great Prof., you did well for our M.Sc. Agronomy class 1992 – 1994 (as well stated by Dr Abimbola Solebo, nee Jekayinfa, in the Guardian Newspaper tribute I just read today). You were the beacon of hope for all students under your tutelage and large-heartedly accommodated all irrespective of where one came from. On my part, first meeting you as my B.Sc. External Examiner in Agronomy at the University of Calabar in 1990, you so encouraged me to come to Ibadan for my Graduate Studies. You were more than a father to all of us and always took us along on your birthday (15th August, the Feast of Assumption of our Lady) for celebrations; your office and your home were always wide open to receive us; you also came all the way to Calabar to Chair my wedding reception in 2001. Adieu, our most distinguished Prof. May God rest your soul. Entrusting you under the care of our Lady – Mother Mary – Assumed into Heaven. Rest in Peace, Sir!
Adedeji Oloruntoba
“Baba is called the father of Soil. The first set of faculty of Agriculture in the University of Ado Ekiti was so blessed to have you as our pioneer. My first encounter with you was in a general course specifically designed for us students to tap into your vast knowledge. The first class was amazing as baba took us through the soils in Nigeria within minutes and was given details of the characteristic feature of the soils, their problems and how it can be amended for optimum usefulness. And he said, “give me any soil in the whole world and I will amend it.” What a man! A scholar par excellence, a father to many professors and well honoured all over the world. Your vacuum will be felt not just by your immediate family but the academic world. RIP.”
Princess Folasade Ayo-Adeyemi, SRE Dept., Fac. of Agric., EKSU.
“Baba Prof., as I fondly called you. You were really a father. The history of my success would not be complete without mentioning your name. When my world seemed to crumble, you rose to save the situation. Sincerely from the bottom of my heart, I wish you a good journey back to your creator and may your soul rest well……Adieu, a great pillar of academic.”
Adieu, People’s Professor. God’s Speed.
