In the citation read during the presentation ceremony, the organisation described Professor Enoch Oyedele, FHSN
Recipient of the News Bell Magazine Lifetime Excellence Award in Education, Scholarship and National Development as a national asset.
Noting that it is with profound honour and great admiration that we celebrate an exceptional scholar, historian, educator, researcher and mentor whose remarkable contributions have enriched higher education, historical scholarship and national development in Nigeria in person of Professor Enoch Oyedele, FHSN.
Born on 7th May 1950 in Jos, Plateau State, Professor Oyedele’s academic journey is a shining testament to discipline, excellence and lifelong learning. He attended Government Secondary School, Ganye, Government Secondary School, Bauchi, and later Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he earned a B.A. (Hons) History (Second Class Upper Division), a Graduate Certificate in Education, and subsequently a Ph.D. in History in 1987. His doctoral thesis, Colonial Urbanisation in Nigeria: Kaduna, 1913–1960, remains an important scholarly reference.
His teaching career began at Teachers College, Mubi, followed by service during the NYSC at Holy Ghost Juniorate, Ihiala. In August 1978, he joined Ahmadu Bello University, where he served with distinction until his voluntary retirement in December 2015.
Nearly over four decades, Professor Oyedele taught undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Nigerian, African, European and World History, Historiography, Industrialisation, Urbanisation, Research Methodology and History Writing. His research has made significant contributions in governance, corruption, communal conflicts, urbanisation and the history of the Gbagyi people.
A distinguished mentor, he supervised more than 70 undergraduate projects, 22 Master’s dissertations and 19 Ph.D. theses. He also served as external examiner to several Nigerian universities and held key leadership positions including Head of the Department of History and Acting Director of the Institute for Development Research IDR).
Professor Oyedele has presented scholarly papers at numerous national and international conferences, authored and edited influential books and journal publications, and was honoured as Fellow of the Historical Society of Nigeria (FHSN) in 2008.
He is happily married to Dr (Mrs) Rebecca Oyedele (née Farayola), and they are blessed with five children.
Today, News Bell Magazine proudly honours Professor Enoch Oyedele, FHSN, for his lifetime of outstanding contributions to education, historical scholarship, mentorship and national development. His legacy continues to inspire generations of scholars and leaders.
