University of Ibadan loses female professor, Aituaje Pogoson
By Adejayan Gbenga –
The University of Ibadan (UI), Oyo State, has announced the passing of its first female professor in the Department of Political Science, Professor Aituaje Irene Pogoson.
Prof. Pogoson reportedly died at the age of 65 in a private specialist hospital in Ibadan over the weekend. She was a respected scholar and former Head of Department in the Faculty of Social Sciences.
Her death was confirmed by the current Head of Department, Professor Dhikru Adewale Yagboyaju, who described her passing as a great loss to the department, the university community, and the academic world.
“With deep pain but with total submission to the Almighty, we announce the passing to glory of our colleague and former Head of Department, Professor Aituaje I. Pogoson. May her soul rest in peace,” Yagboyaju said.
Born in 1960, Pogoson earned a B.A. in History (1981) and Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Political Science (1984 and 1994), all from the University of Ibadan. She became the first female lecturer in the department’s history and later rose to the rank of professor.
Before joining UI in 2000, she served as Research Fellow and Administrative Secretary at the Presidential Panel on Nigeria Since Independence History Project from 1981 to 2000. She also worked as a Policy Analyst on Governance with the Independent Policy Group, Abuja, between 2005 and 2007.
A prominent researcher in International Relations, her academic focus included Foreign Policy Analysis, Strategic Studies, Governance, and Gender Studies. She was a member of several scholarly bodies, including CODESRIA and the Mo Ibrahim Foundation’s Advisory Council on African Governance.
Prof. Pogoson is survived by her husband, Professor Ohioma Ifounu Pogoson, also of the University of Ibadan, and three children. Funeral arrangements, according to the department, will be announced by the family.
