TheCable

President Muhammadu Buhari has described Wale Adebanwi, an Oxford professor, as an inspiration to Africa.

Buhari likened him to Wole Soyinka and Chinua Achebe who put Africa on the world’s knowledge map.

Adebanwi, a journalist turned scholar,  was appointed as Rhodes professor in race relations in the school of interdisciplinary area studies at the University of Oxford, United Kingdom – making him the first black African to hold the position.

He had taught at the University of Ibadan, where be had a Ph.D in political science.

In a statement issued by Garba Shehu, presidential spokesman, on Saturday, Buhari described him as “an African gem and role model who has brought honour and respect to the continent”.

“As the first black African scholar to be appointed to the endowed chair since it was created more than 60 years ago, President Buhari affirms that Prof Adebanwi’s sharp intellect and distinguished learning is worthy of emulation by other young Nigerians,” the statement read.

“The president, who has maintained a keen interest in the soaring profile of the scholar right from his early years in journalism in Nigeria to a lecturer in the University of Ibadan, is delighted to see him achieve this much very early in his life.

“At just 47 years, President Buhari notes that young Africans like Adebanwi are showing the wit, steadfastness, creative energy and astuteness of renowned African writers and intellectuals such as Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe, John Pepper Clark and Abubakar Imam who put the continent on the world’s knowledge map.”

The president further described him as “a source of pride and inspiration to Black Africa as a whole”.

He wished him more “notable successes as he clinches laurel upon laurel on his steady rise as a scholar of international distinction”.