Things to know about late former Oyo governor, Olunloyo

Former Governor of Oyo State, Chief Victor Omololu Sowemimo Olunloyo, has passed away, just days before his 90th birthday.

The respected statesman, mathematician, and politician died in the early hours of Sunday, April 6, 2025.

The news was confirmed in a statement signed by Barrister Oladapo Ogunwusi, a former Editor of the Nigerian Tribune, which described the late elder statesman’s passing as the end of an era.

Here are 15 important things to know about the life and legacy of Chief Omololu Olunloyo:

1. Birth: He was born on April 14, 1935, in Ibadan, Nigeria.

2. Academic Brilliance: Olunloyo was a mathematician and engineer with a Ph.D. from St. Andrews University, Scotland, obtained in 1961. His doctoral thesis focused on the “Numerical Determination of the Solutions of Eigenvalue Problems of the Sturm–Liouville Type.”

3. Academic Contributions: He published several papers in number theory and applied mathematics, establishing himself as a top academic mind.

4. Early Loss: He lost his father, Horatio Olunloyo, at the age of 13 in December 1948.

5. Commissioner at 27: At just 27, he was appointed Commissioner for Economic Development for the Western Region under Dr. Moses Majekodunmi. He was later reappointed under the military administration of Colonel Adeyinka Adebayo.

6. Development Efforts: He served as Chairman of the Western Nigerian Development Corporation, helping to shape the economic direction of the region.

7. Governor of Oyo State: In 1983, he contested and won the governorship of Oyo State under the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), defeating incumbent Bola Ige of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN).

8. Truncated Tenure: His administration was cut short after just three months due to the military coup led by General Muhammadu Buhari on December 31, 1983.

9. 2003 Gubernatorial Bid: In 2002, he declared interest in contesting again for governor under the PDP but was not selected as the party’s candidate.

10. LAUTECH Panel Chair: In 2009, he led a panel that investigated the collapse of a building at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, which sparked a political clash with Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala.

11. Political Leadership: He chaired the PDP Planning and Strategy Committee for Ibadanland ahead of the 2011 elections and later the PDP Media and Publicity Committee for Oyo State.

12. Party Switch: In 2012, he left the PDP and joined the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), which later merged into the All Progressives Congress (APC).

13. Pioneer Rector: He served as the first Rector of both Ibadan Polytechnic and Kwara State Polytechnic, showcasing his commitment to education and youth development.

14. Traditional Titles: Olunloyo held several prestigious chieftaincy titles, including the Balogun of Oyo and the Otun Bobasewa of Ife.

15. Legacy: His life reflected a rare blend of academic excellence, political service, and community leadership. He remains one of the most respected elder statesmen in Nigeria’s Southwest region.

Chief Olunloyo’s passing marks the end of a remarkable era in Nigerian history. He will be remembered for his intellect, his contributions to governance, and his tireless dedication to public service.