In an exclusive interview with the Group Editor-in-Chief of Education Monitor Group of Newspapers, Hajj Waziri Isa Adam Gwantu, Professor Gbenga Solomon Ibileye, Vice-Chancellor of Federal University Lokoja, spoke on his investiture as a Regular Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters, NAL, the state of humanistic studies in Nigeria, and the future of mother-tongue education. The investiture took place on Thursday, 13th August 2026 at the University of Lagos.
Professor Gbenga Solomon Ibileye is a Professor of English and a scholar of international repute. As Vice-Chancellor of Federal University Lokoja, he has distinguished himself as an advocate for academic excellence and the practical application of humanities to national development. His induction into NAL, the highest body of scholars in the humanities in Nigeria, is a recognition of decades of scholarship, leadership, and service.
Education Monitor: What do you say about this day, when people came from different parts of the country to celebrate you?
Professor Ibileye: Naturally, one is glad. One is elated. One gives thanks to God for the grace of election, for the consistency He has granted me, and for leading me along the path of scholarship. This is a crowning moment because the Nigerian Academy of Letters is the preeminent academy in the humanities.
For the Academy to find me worthy and deserving of this honour, after a rigorous and competitive process, is a great validation of the modest contributions one has been able to make. More importantly, it speaks to the continued relevance of the humanities to the dignity of Nigerian society.
There is a tendency to sideline scholarship in the humanities and place it in the background. However, this investiture and the lecture that accompanied it have underscored the fact that the humanities remain central.
Science, artificial intelligence, and technology alone cannot drive society. We must understand society from a humanistic point of view. This understanding endows science and technology with purpose, so that they serve the good of humanity. Even before technology is invented, it must be anchored on a proper understanding of societal needs.
It is only the humanities that can provide that background and depth of understanding, so that science does not derail society. The way the world is going, if we rely on technology alone, on firearms alone, or on armoured tanks alone, we will destroy one another. But a proper understanding of human relationships can prevent the use and deployment of weapons and stop conflicts before they escalate into warfare. The humanities provide the foundation for that kind of understanding.
Education Monitor: How do you think government can come in to ensure that what you are advocating becomes a reality?
Professor Ibileye: There must be a deliberate realignment of government policy. I believe we have not demonstrated sufficient understanding of the value of the humanities. We have elevated scientific studies and research above research in the humanities.
Until we retrace our steps and accord prominence to the humanities, the problem will persist. My advocacy is that government should place priority on humanities education, starting from secondary school and continuing to university admissions. At present, the admission ratio skewed 60:40 in favour of the sciences gives the impression that the humanities are of no relevance or value. We must reverse that and place a premium on humanistic studies.
Education Monitor: The convocation lecture was very exciting. What lesson have you drawn from it?
Professor Ibileye: The underlying value of the lecture is that our indigenous languages must be mainstreamed into national development. Children learn best when they are taught in their formative years in the language of their immediate environment, their mother tongue.
Whether it is science, technology, or the humanities, the solidity of a child’s foundation in learning depends on this. And they learn best when taught in their mother tongue.
Education Monitor: How do you plan to translate this into reality in your university as Vice-Chancellor?
Professor Ibileye: We are already doing that. We have strong Departments of Linguistics, English, and Literary Studies. I have also just established a Centre for Translational Humanities.
The Centre is a recognition of the value of the humanities in scholarship and in the transformation of society. It is the first of its kind on the African continent.
Our goal is to play a pioneering role in this direction. Graduates of the humanities will not only be taught theories, but will also be trained to translate those theories into practical interventions that benefit society. That is the essence of translational humanities. It underscores our understanding of the centrality of the humanities to the stability, growth, and development of society.
Education Monitor: Best of luck, Sir. Congratulations!
Professor Ibileye: Thank you
