Felicia Adeyoyin

Felicia Adeyoyin
Born6 November 1938
Died1 May 2021
NationalityNigerian
OccupationAcademic
Known forAuthor of the Nigerian national pledge
AwardsOrder of the Niger
Academic background
Alma materBirkbeck University; University of Lagos
ThesisThe Dynamics of Teaching Social Studies at the Grade Two Teachers' College Level in Lagos State (1977)
Doctoral advisorJ. U. Aisiku; A. I. Asiwaju
Academic work
InstitutionsUniversity of Lagos

Felicia Adebola Adeyoyin (6 November 1938 – 1 May 2021) was a University of Lagos professor and a princess from the Iji ruling house of Saki, Oyo State. She was the author of the Nigerian national pledge.[1]

Early life

Felicia Awujoola was born on 6 November 1938 in Ogbomoso, Oyo State.[2][3] She attended Idi-Aba a Christian Baptist School from 1953 and graduated in 1957 from its teacher programme.[2] In 1965 she married Solomon Adedeji Adeyoyin, who had attended Idi-Aba's brother school, the Baptist Boys' High School.[3][2]

Education

She received her Bachelor's Degree with honors in Geography from Birkbeck, University of London in 1968 and then her Diploma of Education at the same university in 1976,[4] followed by an M.A. in Social Studies from Columbia University, New York in 1977, before finally earning her PhD in 1981 from the University of Lagos.[5][6]

Career

Adeyoyin was Professor of Education at the University of Lagos and a consultant for the United Nations.[2]

In 1976, she wrote the pledge published in the July 15 edition of the Daily Times in an article titled "Loyalty to the Nation, Pledge". Then-Head of State Olusegun Obasanjo modified the pledge and introduced it as the national pledge, decreeing that school children should recite it during assembly.[7][8][9]

Adeyoyin was also Deaconess of Yaba Baptist Church, Yaba.[2]

Death

Adeyoyin died on 1 May 2021 after a brief illness.[10]

Awards

In 2005, Adeyoyin was given a national award, the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).[5]

References

  1. ^ "Nigeria @ 59: Interesting facts about Nigeria's National anthem, Pledge". The Nation. 2019-10-01. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  2. ^ a b c d e Lawoyin, Oyeronke Alake (2007). IDI-ABA. Xulon Press. ISBN 978-1-60477-072-8.
  3. ^ a b Who's who in Nigeria. Newswatch. 1990. ISBN 978-978-2704-12-2.
  4. ^ "Notable Birkbeckians: Graduates In Academia". bbk.ac.uk. Birkbeck, University of London. 2021. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
  5. ^ a b "Author Of Nigeria's National Pledge, Felicia Adedoyin, Is Dead". Gistmaster. 2021-05-05. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  6. ^ Adeyoyin, Felicia (1977). "The Dynamics of Teaching Social Studies at the Grade Two Teachers' College Level in Lagos State" (PDF).[permanent dead link‍]
  7. ^ "Author of Nigeria's National Pledge, Felicia Adebola Adedoyin, is Dead". National Mirror. Archived from the original on May 10, 2021. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
  8. ^ Joshua, Temi (2021-05-05). "Author of Nigeria's National Pledge, Prof. Felicia Adedoyin, dies at 83". The Daily Page. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
  9. ^ Mbamalu, Socrates (3 May 2021). "Prof. Felicia Adeyoyin, Author of Nigeria's National Pledge, Dies at 83". Foundation For Investigative Journalism.
  10. ^ Akinselure, Wale (2021-05-09). "Saki Indigenes Ask FG, Oyo Govt To Immortalise Late National Pledge Composer". Nigerian Tribune.