In 2023, Professor Isaac Megbolugbe, Chairman of the Emeritus Professor Akin Ladipo Mabogunje Committee for Tributes and Legacy, collaborated with Professor Anthony Chokor to produce a Special Issue of the Benin Journal of Geography, Environment, and Planning. This tribute was presented at the inaugural memorial meeting at the University of Ibadan, marking the first anniversary of Professor Mabogunje’s passing. Notably, both Professors Megbolugbe and Chokor were undergraduate students of Professor Mabogunje at the University of Ibadan.
Their academic paths diverged, with Megbolugbe earning his doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania and Chokor from the University of London. Megbolugbe retired from Johns Hopkins University, while Chokor remains a Professor at the University of Benin. Despite their different career trajectories, they continue to collaborate on issues related to the interface between human activities and the environment, as well as sustainable urbanization, reflecting their shared interests and commitment to Professor Mabogunje’s scholarship.
This ongoing collaboration is a testament to the enduring impact of Professor Mabogunje’s work and legacy at the University of Ibadan, where he was a distinguished member of the social sciences faculty. The intersectionality and confluence of ideas fostered by Professor Mabogunje’s scholarship continue to inspire and influence his students, including Professors Megbolugbe and Chokor, who remain dedicated to advancing his vision and ideals.
To commemorate the second anniversary of Professor Mabogunje’s passing, Professors Bola Ayeni and Isaac Megbolugbe worked with Professor Chokor to publish a honorific article in the Benin Journal of Geography, Environment, and Planning. This article was subsequently reprinted in the Vanguard Newspapers on August 4, 2024, further amplifying the tribute to Professor Mabogunje’s lasting legacy.
