The Faculty of Arts, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, on Thursday, January 29, 2026, held its Second Distinguished Alumni Lecture at the Oduduwa Hall, bringing together academics, students, alumni and notable public figures to reflect on democracy, intellectual heritage and institutional development.
The lecture was chaired by the Executive Governor of Ekiti State, His Excellency Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, while the guest lecturer was Mr. Sam Oritsetimeyin Omatseye, a foremost Nigerian journalist and Chairman of the Editorial Board of The Nation newspaper.
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Also in attendance was the Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Professor Gbenga Fasiku, who served as the host of the event. In his welcome address, Fasiku explained that the Distinguished Alumni Lecture was designed to strengthen the Faculty’s relationship with its former students and celebrate their contributions to national development.
According to him, the Faculty of Arts, established in the early 1960s, has ‘trained some of the best minds who are leaders in every facet of life and continues to strive for excellence.’ He, however, highlighted key challenges confronting the Faculty, including ageing buildings in urgent need of massive renovation and the lack of reliable internet connectivity.
Professor Fasiku disclosed that the Faculty requires access to Starlink Internet services, estimated to cost about ₦7 million for a minimum five-year subscription, to support teaching, research and administrative activities across departments. He also revealed plans to construct a Humanities Block IV to address space constraints.
Governor’s Open Remark
In his opening remarks, Governor Oyebanji described it as an honour to chair the lecture, noting that being in an academic environment evoked memories of his days as a university teacher. He praised Omatseye as a distinguished alumnus whose intellectual depth and journalistic excellence exemplify the ideals of the Faculty of Arts.
‘There is no perfect democracy in the world,’ the Governor stated, adding that democracy operates within different political traditions and systems. He stressed the importance of consensus-building, inclusion and adherence to rules in democratic practice, while pledging support for some of the Faculty’s infrastructural needs.
The event also featured cultural performances by students of the Departments of Dramatic Arts and Linguistics and African Languages, adding colour and vibrancy to the lecture.
Mr Omatseye’s Lecture
The citation of the guest lecturer was read by Dr. (Mrs.) Olubunmi Oyebode, after which Mr. Omatseye formally acknowledged and honoured Governor Oyebanji. In his lecture, he explained that his intention was neither to praise nor to bury democracy, but to examine it from multiple perspectives.
He outlined qualities associated with democrats, noting that ‘democrats love human rights, embrace free and fair elections, believe in citizen involvement, espouse the rule of law, protect freedom of expression and the press, and stand for equality, accountability and majority rule.’
Tracing the historical roots of democracy in Nigeria, Omatseye argued that the system was largely imposed through colonialism. ‘Back in Nigeria, we did not crave democracy before a country foisted it on us,’ he said, adding that indigenous political systems were disrupted by colonial governance.
He compared democratic experiences in countries such as the United States with elements of pre-colonial Yoruba political systems, particularly the Oyo Empire, which had institutional checks like the Oyo Mesi. According to him, ‘Democracy is idealist, so there is no real democracy, including the United States.’
Omatseye further emphasised the importance of liberty in sustaining the rule of law, noting that freedom was fundamentally incompatible with the colonial structure of British rule. He concluded that democracy requires time to mature, describing it as a complex system with many ingredients. ‘To have a democrat in full, they must be allowed to grow with all their witchcraft and beauties,’ he said. ‘The most important ingredient is time,’ he concluded.
A discussion session anchored by the Head of the Department of English, Professor E.T.O. Babalola, followed the lecture, addressing key issues raised by the speaker.
Award Presentations
Awards were later presented to Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, His Royal Majesty Oba Akinola Oyetade Akinrera (Latiiri I), and a representative of Asiwaju Nurudeen Bola Oyebanji (AMBO). The guest lecturer, Mr. Omatseye, also received awards from various associations, including the Historical Students Association of Nigeria (OAU Chapter), the Faculty of Arts Students’ Association (FASA-OAU) and the Faculty of Arts.
The event reinforced the Faculty of Arts’ commitment to intellectual engagement, alumni participation and the promotion of critical discourse on national issues. The lecture concluded with closing remarks by the chairman of the event.