By Emmanuel Afonne
Malam Isa Yuguda, former governor of Bauchi, and Pro-Chancellor, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), has described Emeritus Prof. Godwin Sogolo as a national asset whose scholarship has elevated African philosophy globally.
Yuguda, who was represented by Prof. Vincent Tenebe, former Vice-Chancellor of NOUN, spoke at the presentation of a book titled: “Philosophy, Human Values and Development in Africa”, in honour of Sogolo.
He said Sogolo’s contributions to NOUN, the University of Ibadan, the University of Benin and other institutions, across the country were worthy of emulation and mentioning.
“Sogolo is an academic to the core and a teacher by excellence, whose life and work exemplify integrity, scholarship and service.
“One thing I have learned from Sogolo is that he has a clean heart; if you do not keep malice and do not get yourself worried, you will live long.
“Sogolo is also celebrating his 80th birthday today, so, we need to honour the emeritus professor for his decades of dedication to teaching, research and mentorship,” Yuguda added.
Reviewing the book, Prof. Eghosa Osaghae, the Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), described Sogolo as a pioneer in decolonising African philosophy.
Osaghae said the 21-chapter volume examined ethics, governance, health, knowledge production and comparative philosophy, highlighting Sogolo’s enduring influence.
“There are moral values that should become an integral part of our governance process. He even advocates institutionalising moral education as a basis for leadership.
“The book demonstrates how African and Western philosophies were complementary rather than mutually exclusive.
“I commend the editors and contributors for producing a 316-page volume that paid tribute to leading figures in Nigerian philosophy and affirmed Africa’s place in global intellectual discourse,” he said.
In his remarks, Prof. Sogolo emphasised the need to document and institutionalise African philosophical systems.
Sogolo said Africa’s strong oral tradition had historically limited the preservation of philosophical ideas, unlike Europe’s written tradition.
“Every ethnic group and nation has its own philosophy – Chinese, Indian, European and so on; Africa is no different.
“Philosophy reflects a people’s way of life, belief systems and culture.
“Today, we are documenting and passing these ideas on.
“I belong to one of the first generations of African philosophers working to establish an authentic African philosophy,” he said.
Sogolo noted that while intellectual borrowing was common worldwide, African scholars must develop indigenous systems rooted in local knowledge and culture.
He cited Hausa proverbs as examples of philosophical reflections that encapsulate universal truths about inheritance and gravity long before formal Western articulation.
According to him, recognising Nigerian philosophical traditions—such as Yoruba, Isoko and Igbo thought systems would enable Africans to produce original scholarship and appreciate their heritage.
He also disclosed that he authored a foundational book on African philosophy in 1993 and was distributing copies to support its study across the continent.
Earlier, Prof. Abdallah Adamu, former Vice-Chancellor of NOUN, commended the Federal Government for taking a step in the transformation of the university system.
Adamu said the implementation of improved welfare packages for university staff, especially for professors would impact on their knowledge that could turnaround the fortunes of tertiary education in the country.
Adamu clarified that university agitations were not solely about financial benefits.
“As someone who is about to retire in about five months, I am very happy to see that at least some of the promises the government made, particularly regarding staff welfare, have begun to be implemented.
“Many people think when we talk about ASUU, it’s all about money—but it is not. We also want better facilities, especially in this challenging period of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
“AI, including tools that allow students to generate assignments, had introduced new challenges to teaching and learning.
“We must develop new strategies and part of the government’s implementation involves improving university delivery systems,” he said.
Adamu added that salary increments for professors and improved retirement packages were among the benefits being implemented, describing them as reasonable and satisfactory.
Also speaking, Prof. Uduma Uduma, the Vice-Chancellor of NOUN, said universities should not be seen as centres for obtaining certificates, rather, it should be seen as a place for critical thinking.
“At the National Open University of Nigeria, we deeply value scholars of Professor Sogolo’s standing.
“These are men and women who remind us that universities are not mere centres for certification but communities for the pursuit of truth, critical thinking and service to humanity.
“For Prof. Sogolo, we are not merely celebrating longevity because of his 80 years of age, rather, we are celebrating a life of intellectual depth, academic courage and enduring service to philosophy, scholarship and humanity,” he said.
The event attracted academics, students and dignitaries who celebrated Sogolo’s legacy and the growing recognition of African philosophy as a driver of human values and development. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma
