Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former minister of transportation Rotimi Amaechi on Friday attended the funeral service of Prof Beatrice Aboyade in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.
Obasanjo, whose last outing was in Anambra to celebrate with Governor Charles Soludo on his first year in office, was dressed in white for the occasion.
Aboyade was the first woman in sub-Saharan Africa to obtain a PhD in English literature.
The funeral service was held at the Chapel of the Resurrection, University of Ibadan.
This was preceded by a lying-in-state at Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan from 8.30 am to 9.30 am.
The academic and wife of the late eminent economist Professor Ojetunji Aboyade died on March 3. She was aged 87.
A wake was held in her honour at the same venue on Thursday.
Described as a pioneer in librarianship in Nigeria by the World Encyclopedia of Library and Information Services, Aboyade worked at the universities of Ibadan and Ife (Obafemi Awolowo University) libraries.
Born on August 24, 1935, Aboyade had her primary education at Christ Church Primary School, Porogun, Ijebu Ode. She proceeded to Queen’s College, Lagos for her secondary education between 1948-51. From 1952 to 1953, she completed high school at Queens College, Ede. She got her first degree in English from the University of Ibadan in 1960, then obtained further degrees from the University of Michigan in 1964. In 1970, she completed her doctorate from UI.
