AKINWALE ABOLUWADE
Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide, a leading Yoruba self-determination group, has honored its founder and leader, Prof. Emeritus Stephen Adebanji Akintoye, on his 90th birthday, lauding his lifelong dedication to the Yoruba cause.
Prof. Akintoye, a distinguished historian, prolific writer, and former senator, has been a central figure in the struggle for the realization of a Yoruba nation. Despite residing in Cotonou, Benin Republic, he continues to actively steer the affairs of Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide.
In a statement dated Thursday, February 20, the group praised Akintoye as a beacon of Yoruba identity and an exemplary Omoluabi. “Happy 90th birthday to the patriarch of our time and the leader and founder of Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide, Professor Emeritus Stephen Adebanji Akintoye, the father of the entire Yoruba race. We celebrate you and wish you good health and happiness as you lead us in the quest for freedom for the Yoruba people,” the statement read.
Born in 1935, Prof. Akintoye’s academic journey began at Christ’s School, Ado Ekiti (1951–1955), followed by studies in History at the University of Ibadan (then affiliated with the University of London) from 1956 to 1961. He later completed his PhD in History at the University of Ibadan in 1966.
He went on to teach at the Department of History, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, where he served as a professor and Director of the Institute of African Studies between 1974 and 1977. His academic contributions extended beyond Nigeria, with teaching roles in the United States at the University of South Florida, Montgomery County Community College, and Eastern University in Pennsylvania.
In addition to his academic career, Prof. Akintoye was an active politician, serving as a senator during Nigeria’s Second Republic from 1979 to 1983 under the banner of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN).
His most acclaimed work, A History of the Yoruba People (Amalion, 2010), offers fresh perspectives on Yoruba origins, challenging long-held narratives and solidifying his legacy as a leading authority on Yoruba history.
At 90, Prof. Akintoye remains a revered figure in Yoruba socio-political movements, embodying the values of leadership, scholarship, and cultural pride.
