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Nigeria-born Professor Elected President Of An International Organization
The largest African archaeological association in the world, the Society of Africanist Archaeologists, has elected Professor Akinwumi Ogundiran as its 18th president. Professor Ogundiran, an eminent archaeologist and historian, will be the first Nigerian to lead the 51-year-old organization.
Professor Akinwumi Ogundiran
Archaeologists are professionals who use ancient objects to write history and study past cultures.
The Society of Africanist Archaeologists is an organization of more than 1,500 members from all over the world. It is dedicated to the study of Africa’s deep history and archaeology. Its members are known for making major archaeological discoveries all over Africa. In a statement released by the Nominations and Elections Committee of the organization, Professor Ogundiran received the majority votes in a pool of three candidates who vied for the presidency position.
Dr. Kolawole Adekola of the University of Ibadan and a member of the elections committee noted that the election of Professor Ogundiran to lead a renowned international organization at this time demonstrates the impacts of Nigerian archaeologists in the world and the role that Professor Ogundiran has played in advancing the study of Nigerian history and archaeology globally.
Professor Akin Ogundiran has thanked the world organization for their confidence in him. He promised to work hard to advance the mission of the organization. “I will use my tenure as president of the Society of Africanist Archaeologists to “prioritize working with African and other international partners on initiatives to preserve African archaeological heritage sites and integrate these concerns into policy-making processes. I will also use my position to facilitate collaboration among Africans and their counterparts in Europe, America, Asia, and other continents.”
Professor Ogundiran is a native of Ibadan. He attended Okusehinde Primary School, Aremo, in Ibadan, and African Church Grammar School, Abeokuta. He earned his B.A. (First Class Honors) from Obafemi Awolowo University, M.Sc. from the University of Ibadan, and Ph.D. from Boston University in the United States.
The eminent scholar is widely known for his groundbreaking research on Yoruba history and the African Diaspora, leading to the publication of six books and more than 60 other publications. His recent book, The Yoruba: A New History, won two awards, the Vinson Sutlive Prize & Isaac Delano Prize.
Professor Ogundiran is a highly decorated scholar. He is the Editor-in-Chief of African Archaeological Review, the leading journal in African archaeology. He is also a seasoned administrator who served as the Department of Africana Studies Chair for more than 10 years at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, United States. Until recently, he held one of the university’s three Chancellor Professorship titles. He is scheduled to take up an endowed professor chair at Northwestern University in September.
He is also a Senior Research Fellow at the prestigious Dumbarton Oaks, a major research center in Washington DC, United States, and a Visiting Professor of Archaeology and Anthropology at his alma mater, the University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
Veteran Nollywood actor, Taiwo Adeshina, professionally known as Elegbeje Ado, is dead.
Elegbeje Ado who is also a pastor, died on Monday, June 29, 2026, after a brief illness.
He was 66.
The founder of Best of Nollywood Awards, Seun Oloketuyi, confirmed his passing in an Instagram post on Tuesday.
Oloketuyi wrote, “It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Pastor Taiwo Adeshina, a beloved Nollywood legend.
“Your remarkable contributions to Yoruba movie industry and the lives you touched will never be forgotten. May God grant you eternal rest and comfort your family, friends, and fans. Rest in peace, legend.”
TheGazelleNews, popular Lagos based online newspaper is set to honour the trio of Senator Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon, Asiwaju Olorunfumi Bashorun and Chief Waliu Ojuko for their contribution to democracy and governance in Nigeria.
Solomon, Bashorun and Ojuko will be honoured with the flagship award of the online newspaper, the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2026 Annual Public Lecture and Award of the newspaper scheduled to hold on Wednesday, 15 July, 2026.
The lecture with the theme: Driving Grassroots Governance with Public-Private Partnership: The Gains, the Pains, the Prospects will be delivered by Chief Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication
According to a statement by the Chairperson of the Organising Committee for the event, Mrs Adetutu Audu-Adebisi, the Lifetime Achievement Award is the flagship award for politicians who have distinguished themselves and contribute immensely to the democracy and governance in the country.
”Our President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu won the maiden award in 2022 while the Chairman of the influential Governance Advisory Council (GAC), Prince Tajudeen Oluyole Olusi won it in 2024.
”This year we are honouring three distinguished Nigerians who have played major roles in governance and sustenance of democracy in the country,” Mrs Audu-Adebisi said.
Senator Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon popularly called GOS by many is a deeply rooted grassroots politician.
Senator Solomon has developed a political career that has made him a man of the people.
He was former Executive Chairman of Mushin Local Government, was a member of the House of Representatives between 2003 and 2007 where he represented Mushin Federal Constituency I.
Between 2007 and 2015, Senator Solomon represented Nigeria’s biggest Senatorial District, Lagos West where he rose to become the Minority Whip of the Upper Chamber.
A Rotarian, Solomon is very popular among the people particularly those at the grassroots.
Presently, he is a member of the very influential Governance Advisory Council (GAC) and is the APC Apex Leader for Mushin combining the two Federal and State Constituencies.
Elder Statesman, Asiwaju Reuben Olorunfumi Bashorun is the first Secretary to the State Government (SSG) when he served the administration of the late Lateef Kayode Jakande between 1979 and 1983.
A former banker and highly referred politician, Asiwaju Olorunfumi Bashorun was an active player in the aborted Third Republic.
A member of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Chief Bashorun was one of the leaders who contributed to the success of late MKO Abiola in the SDP presidential primary in Jos.
The Igbogbo-born politician was in the forefront of the struggle for the actualisation of the June 12 election.
Presently, he is a member of the GAC.
Chief Waliu Olajide Ojuko is a highly respected Awori politician.
Born in Ota, Ogun State, Chief Ojuko had a highly distinguished civil service life in both state and federal civil service in Lagos and Ogun states before venturing into politics.
He was a director at Gateway Hotels during the administration of late Chief Olabisi Onabanjo
He was Ogun state Secretary of the Social Democratic Party where he played key role in delivering Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola at the Jos Convention and his electoral victory alongside former Governor Olusegun Osoba.
He was Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperative & Tourism under Olusegun Osoba;
Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs under Senator Ibikunle Amosun; and
Senior Special Adviser Political Affairs under Gov. Dapo Abiodun
Chief Ojuko is the
Olotu of Ota Aworiland;
Balogun Ojokoro, Lagos;
President, Iganmode Club, Ota;
Member, Abeokuta Sports Club;
Member, Lagos Island Club; and
National President, Iganmode Grammar School Old Students Association
Nigerian rapper Odumodublvck has come under heavy fire after making a controversial claim about hip-hop.
The ‘Declan Rice’ crooner sparked fresh controversy after re-echoing Wizkid’s infamous claim that hip-hop music is no longer relevant.
While reacting to a list of Nigerian artists with the most monthly listeners on Spotify currently via X, Odumodublvck boldly declared, “Hip Hop is dead,” alluding to the conspicuous absence of Nigerian rappers from the list.
His post elicited mixed reactions, with many berating him for disrespecting the genre while arguing that hip-hop is still much relevant outside Nigeria.
Despite Nigeria having both veteran and thriving rappers, hip-hop artists are absent from the list of Nigerian artists with the most monthly listeners on Spotify currently, with singers occupying the entire top 10.
Burna Boy leads with 40.68 million listeners, closely followed by Tems with 40.64 million listeners.
Rema ranks number 3 with 29.43 million listeners, while Ayra Starr and Wizkid take the numbers 4 and 5 spots with 16.84 and 16.81 million listeners, respectively.
Omah Lay (11.24m), Davido (10.83m), CKay (10.71m), Fireboy DML (9.23m), and Asake (8.69m) complete the top 10.
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