Olaopa hails late Akin Mabogunje as mentor, national icon

The Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), Prof. Tunji Olaopa, has paid glowing tribute to the late renowned geographer, Prof. Akin Mabogunje, describing him as a mentor, intellectual hero, and patriot whose influence shaped generations of scholars and policymakers.

Olaopa made the remarks during the 2nd Public Lecture and launch of the PALM Foundation held in honour of Prof. Mabogunje in Lagos on Saturday. He recounted his over three-decade relationship with the late scholar, noting that Mabogunje’s mentorship was instrumental to his personal and professional development.

“Papa offered himself as a sounding board, think tank, and teacher for all seasons,” he said. “He would patiently listen, identify gaps in one’s knowledge, and methodically guide you to close them—like a modern-day Socrates.”

The FCSC Chairman described Mabogunje as a “national icon, global scholar, and unarguably an intellectual hero,” whose ideas and contributions would continue to inspire generations of Nigerians dedicated to public service. “His contributions to our conceptual, intellectual, and development policy architecture remain indelible,” he stated.

According to Olaopa, Mabogunje personified the discipline of geography, using it as a framework for nation-building and policy formulation. “He gave geography and its limitless nuances uncommon prominence and influence in Nigeria’s policy space for decades, binding theory with practice in a contextualised application to national development,” he noted.

Highlighting Mabogunje’s extensive contributions to Nigeria’s progress, Olaopa cited his involvement in the 1962 national census demarcation, the 1972 Udoji Reform Commission, the Directorate of Food, Roads and Rural Infrastructure (DFRRI), and the conceptualisation of the community banking model. He also recalled his roles in the planning of the Federal Capital Territory, housing reform, and mentorship at the Ibadan School of Government and Public Policy (ISGPP).

Olaopa remarked that Mabogunje was revered during his lifetime and would be remembered as a monumental figure after death. “Contrary to the Yoruba adage that people are only deified after death, Mabogunje was revered while alive as a colossus. And now in death, he has become a monument,” he said.

Reflecting on the enduring relevance of the late scholar’s ideas, Olaopa noted that Mabogunje’s autobiography, A Measure of Grace, remains a treasure trove of wisdom for Nigeria’s policymakers. “His thoughts and ideas are still flowing freely in the development space. These eternal contributions are available for visionary governments to tap into. That is what constitutes immortality for this colossal genius and patriot,” he added.