Academy of letters inducts Obi Of Onitsha, two journalists as honorary fellows

Published 2 days ago• 3 minute read

The Nigerian Academy of Letters (NAL) has named His Majesty, Nnaemeka Alfred Ugochukwu Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha, as one of its Honorary Fellows for 2025.

The announcement was made following the Academy’s College of Fellows meeting on Tuesday, July 8, 2025. Two notable figures in Nigerian media, Mr. Jahman Oladejo Anikulapo and Dr. Lasisi Olagunju, will join the revered monarch in receiving this prestigious recognition.

Their selection underscores the Academy’s growing emphasis on honouring excellence and leadership in humanistic and cultural practice beyond the walls of academia.

In addition to the honorary fellows, 12 distinguished scholars were elected as Regular Fellows, representing disciplines such as Classical Studies, Literary Studies, Communication and Media Studies, and Linguistics.

Professor Akinwumi Ogundiran, a noted historian based abroad, was also elected as an Overseas Fellow. The Academy will formally confer the fellowships and other recognitions during its 27th Convocation, scheduled for August 14, this year, at the University of Lagos.

The ceremony will also feature the conferment of the Awards of Excellence in Humanistic Practice on Mr. Laolu Ogunniyi, Alhaji Teju Wasee Kareem, and Mr. Musa Alao Adedayo.

President of the Academy, Professor Sola Akinrinade, announced the honourees and expressed the institution’s commitment to celebrating contributions to humanistic thought and cultural development.

Meanwhile, Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has extended heartfelt congratulations to Olagunju on his conferment with an Honorary Fellow of the NAL.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Sulaimon Olanrewaju, Makinde described the recognition as a well-deserved honour, hailing Olagunju’s distinguished career in journalism and his consistent excellence as a columnist.

“I felicitate Dr. Lasisi Olagunju on this remarkable recognition by the Nigerian Academy of Letters. Dr. Olagunju has elevated the art of column writing in Nigeria with his profoundly incisive and inspiring analyses rendered in alluring language laced with wit and history.

“He is a writer with a rare skill of bringing the past to the present to make a point. His mastery of the craft has made his column so captivating and the Nigerian Tribune so fascinating. Hence, time and time again, Dr. Olagunju has won awards that have put him in a class of his own,” he said.

Makinde added that the fellowship serves as a national affirmation of Olagunju’s place among the country’s foremost figures in journalism and the humanities, describing it as “a confirmation that he has earned his place among the country’s greats.” He further urged Dr. Olagunju to see the honour as a call to greater service.

“I charge him to see this additional epaulette on his shoulder as a challenge to do more for humanity,” he added. Olagunju, a respected media professional and columnist, has won several national honours for his work in journalism, including multiple Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME) and Nigerian Media Merit Awards (NMMA).

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