Curriculum & Service

Public Service & Work Experience

Six decades of academic appointments, government roles, traditional consecrations, and editorial leadership.

i.

University Administration

  • 2006–present President, Ifá Heritage Institute, Ọ̀yọ́, Nigeria
  • 1982–1990 Vice-Chancellor, University of Ile-Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University)
  • 1977–1979 Dean, Faculty of Arts, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife
  • 1975–1982 Founding Head, Department of African Languages and Literatures, Obafemi Awolowo University
ii.

Academic Experience

  • 2004–2005Distinguished Visiting Scholar, Department of Liberal Studies, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY
  • 1999Professor of Humanities, Department of English, Colgate University, Hamilton, NY
  • 1998–2003Professor, Department of Religion, Boston University, Boston, MA
  • 1997Professor of the Humanities, Africana and Latin American Studies, Colgate University
  • 1996–1997Fellow, W.E.B. Du Bois Institute & Department of African American Studies, Harvard University, Cambridge
  • 1990–1991Scholar-in-Residence and Visiting Professor of Black Studies, Amherst College, Amherst, MA
  • 1980–1981Visiting Henry R. Luce Professor of Comparative Religious Ethics, Amherst College
  • 1976–1990Professor of African Languages and Literatures, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife
  • 1973Associate Professor of Folklore, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
  • 1971Visiting Assistant Professor of Folklore, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
  • 1966–1972Lecturer, School of African and Asian Studies, University of Lagos
  • 1963–1965Junior Research Fellow, Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan
iii.

Political, Cultural & Public Service Appointments

  • 2005–presentDirector, UNESCO Proclamation of Intangible Cultural Heritage Award to Nigeria — Subject: Ifá
  • 2003–2005Adviser to the Nigerian President on Traditional Matters and Cultural Affairs, Office of the Presidency, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Abuja
  • 1995–1998Member, Council for the World's Religions
  • 1992–1993Senate Majority Leader, Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Abuja
  • 1992Special Adviser to the Governor of Ọ̀yọ́ State, Nigeria
  • 1990–presentInstalled as Asiwaju Awo of Remo, Nigeria
  • 1988–1989Member, Executive Committee, Association of Commonwealth Universities
  • 1986–presentInstalled as Elemoso of Ketu, Benin Republic
  • 1981–presentInstalled as Awise Awo ni Agbaye — World Spokesperson for Ifá and Yorùbá Religion
  • 1981–1989Chairman, Governing Board, Ọ̀yọ́ State College of Arts and Science, Ile-Ife
  • 1979–1982Chairman, Ọ̀yọ́ State Tourist Committee
  • 1978–1984Chairman, Board of Directors, University of Ife Guest Houses Ltd.
  • 1976–1978Chairman, Ọ̀yọ́ State Broadcasting Corporation
  • 1974–1984Chairman, Board of Governors, Oliver Baptist High School, Ọ̀yọ́
  • 1974–1976Chairman, Ọ̀yọ́ Zonal Health Board, & Member of the State Health Council
  • 1971–presentConsecrated as Babaláwo (Ifá Priest)
iv.

Editorial & Other Professional Work

  • 1972–1979Editor, Yorùbá, Journal of the Yoruba Studies Association of Nigeria
  • 1970–1972Editor, Lagos Notes and Records, Bulletin of the Institute of African and Asian Studies, University of Lagos
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