LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- CEO of Sundiata Post Media Ltd, Dr. Max Amuchie, has penned a stirring tribute to the late Professor Biodun Jeyifo, tracing the icon’s journey from the lecture halls of Ile-Ife to the global stage of Harvard.
The news of Jeyifo’s passing on Wednesday, February 11, marks the end of an era for Nigeria’s radical intellectuals. Amuchie, a member of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, reflects on how “BJ,” as he was affectionately known became a mythic figure for a generation of 1991 National Youth Service corps members who believed that “ideas mattered” and that “debates could shape society.”
He remembered the literary giant whom he served with as a young youth corper as far more than a classroom theorist, describing him as a founding pillar of the Nigerian Left. Alongside the late Professor Bene Madunagu and Dr. Edwin Madunagu, Jeyifo formed a socialist nucleus that transformed Nigerian political thought.
Journeying through the transition from those long evenings of debate to the modern global stage, Amuchie noted the profound weight of this loss, stating, “His passing signals more than the loss of a distinguished professor. It marks the gradual closing of a chapter in Nigeria’s radical intellectual history.” He described the trio not as “armchair theorists,” but as organizers and public intellectuals committed to justice, equality, and human dignity.
Just last month, the cultural world and global scholars gathered at the MUSON Centre in Lagos for an international symposium celebrating Jeyifo’s 80th birthday. Organized by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ), the event, aptly titled ‘Who Is Afraid of Decolonisation?’ served as a final public testament to his lifelong scholarship and commitment to justice.
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Amuchie recalls the emotional sight of Jeyifo’s lifelong friend, Ropo Sekoni, moderating the event.
“That moment, Sekoni anchoring a global intellectual celebration in honour of BJ, symbolized not only enduring comradeship but also the magnitude of BJ’s influence,” he said.
Jeyifo stood as a rare intellectual bridge, connecting African realities with the global diaspora. Amuchie emphasizes that Jeyifo’s work was rooted in the belief that “intellectual labour is a form of public service” and that “socialism was not a slogan but an ethical commitment.” With the passing of both Bene Madunagu in late 2024 and now Jeyifo, Dr. Edwin Madunagu remains the sole survivor of this historic ideological vanguard.
Although Professor Biodun Jeyifo has taken his final bow, the echoes of his work remain a transformative force in the hearts of those he inspired.
“Professor Biodun Jeyifo has taken his final bow. But like all true teachers, he leaves behind not silence, but echoes,” Amuchie concluded, marking the departure of one of the true architects of Nigeria’s modern intellectual identity.
