Famous Yoruba actor and university don, Kola Oyewo, passes on at 80

Veteran Nigerian actor, theatre icon and university teacher, Dr Kola Oyewo, is dead.

Close associates of the renowned actor and academic confirmed that he passed away on Friday, June 12, after a brief illness. He was 80 years old.

Oyewo was widely celebrated for his contributions to Nigerian theatre, film and academia, where he spent decades nurturing young talents and promoting indigenous culture through the performing arts.

A retired lecturer in the Department of Dramatic Arts at Obafemi Awolowo University, Oyewo was regarded as one of the foremost figures in Nigerian theatre. Throughout his career, he combined scholarship with performance, earning respect both on stage and in the classroom.

Tributes poured in following news of his death, with colleagues, students and admirers describing him as a mentor, cultural ambassador and a living institution whose impact extended beyond the entertainment industry.

One of his associates described him as “a veteran actor, distinguished scholar and one of the finest icons of Nigerian theatre and film,” noting that he dedicated his life to preserving and promoting Yoruba and Nigerian theatrical traditions.

The associate added that Oyewo’s contributions to academia and the arts had left an enduring legacy, stressing that generations of students and performers benefited from his knowledge, guidance and passion for excellence.

Dr. Oyewo is survived by family members, colleagues, former students and countless admirers across Nigeria’s cultural and academic communities. Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced by the family.