From Taiye Joseph, Ilorin
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Professor Wahab Egbewole, SAN, has described the death of a renowned Islamic scholar and Director of the Linguistic Immersion Centre, Prof. Badmas Olanrewaju Yusuf, as a shocking and painful loss to the university and the academic community.
Prof. Yusuf, who joined the services of the University of Ilorin in 1992, passed away on Friday, January 30, 2026, after a brief illness. He was aged 69.
In a statement issued by the Director of Corporate Affairs of the university, Mr Kunle Akogun, the Vice-Chancellor said the management, staff and students of the institution received the news of Prof. Yusuf’s death with deep sadness.
According to Prof. Egbewole, the late scholar was a committed academic and administrator whose contributions to the university, Islamic scholarship and humanity would remain indelible.
“He was a hardworking, disciplined and exemplary scholar who distinguished himself in teaching, research and service to the University of Ilorin. His dedication to Islam and the mentoring of students and younger academics was remarkable,” the Vice-Chancellor said.
Prof. Egbewole extended the sympathy of the university community to the deceased’s family, friends, colleagues, students and mentees, urging them to find comfort in the impactful and upright life he lived.
He noted that Prof. Yusuf’s legacy of scholarship, humility and service would continue to inspire many within and outside the university.
The Vice-Chancellor also offered prayers for the repose of the scholar’s soul, asking Allah to forgive his shortcomings and grant him Aljanat Firdaus, while praying for strength for his loved ones to bear the loss.

