Victor Olabisi Onabanjo served as the first elected civilian governor of Ogun State from October 1979 to December 1983, during the Nigerian Second Republic, and is best known for institutional foundations that continue to shape the state’s educational and media landscape.
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EARLY LIFE AND JOURNALISM
Victor Olabisi Onabanjo was born on 12 February 1927 in Lagos, Nigeria, of Ijebu heritage. He attended Baptist Academy in Lagos and later studied journalism at Regent Street Polytechnic in London in 1950 and 1951. Before entering politics, he built a respected career in journalism, editing Nigerian newspapers including Daily Service and Daily Express, and became known for his plain‑spoken commentary and civic engagement.
POLITICAL RISE AND GOVERNORSHIP
Onabanjo entered politics at the local level as Chairman of Ijebu Ode Local Government Area in 1977. He was elected governor of Ogun State in July 1979 on the Unity Party of Nigeria platform, taking office on 1 October 1979. At that time, Ogun State was newly created, having been carved out of the old Western Region in 1976, and was in need of foundational institutions and governance systems.
His administration was widely regarded as progressive for its focus on human capital, public access to services, and institutional development in a young state operating under a new democratic framework.
FOUNDING OUGUN STATE UNIVERSITY
One of Onabanjo’s most enduring contributions was the establishment of Ogun State University in 1982, designed to expand access to higher education within the state. A planning committee was convened in January 1982 and led by Professor Akinlawon Ladipo Mabogunje, which reported in March 1982. A bill was passed by the State House of Assembly and the governor assented to it on 7 July 1982, legally creating the university. The institution opened its doors to students in early 1983 and was originally called Ogun State University.
The university was conceived as a multi‑campus institution with sites across the state, integrating faculties in areas such as agriculture, engineering, and health sciences, reflecting a broad vision for academic and developmental impact. In recognition of his central role in its establishment, the institution was renamed Olabisi Onabanjo University on 29 May 2001, long after his tenure ended. Today it remains a significant centre for education and research in southwestern Nigeria.
ESTABLISHING OGUN STATE TELEVISION
On 13 May 1982, Ogun State Television (OGTV) was commissioned under Onabanjo’s government, becoming the first state‑owned television station in Nigeria. It was established to provide educational content, local news, and cultural programming in a context where national broadcasting was dominant. The creation of OGTV reflected the administration’s belief in mass communication as an instrument for public information, civic education, and community engagement.
POLICY APPROACH AND ADMINISTRATION
Onabanjo’s government emphasised practical measures to expand public services, particularly in education and information access. Rather than focusing exclusively on high‑profile constructions, his administration worked through legislation and planning processes to implement institutions of lasting public value, such as the state university and state broadcasting.
Documentation emphasizes that these institutions were legally and administratively embedded in Ogun State’s governance structures through formal assembly action and gubernatorial assent, highlighting a commitment to transparency and public process.
END OF TENURE AND LATER LIFE
Onabanjo’s tenure was cut short by the military coup of December 1983 that ended the Second Republic. Following the overthrow of the civilian government, he was among several governors detained by the succeeding regime but later resumed work in journalism, contributing columns to national newspapers from 1987 to 1989.
He died on 14 April 1990, respected as a statesman whose government is often remembered for its integrity, vision for education, and institutional foresight.
LEGACY AND IMPACT
Chief Victor Olabisi Onabanjo’s legacy is most visible in the institutions he established, which continue to serve Ogun State and Nigeria decades after their founding. Olabisi Onabanjo University remains one of the state’s key centres of tertiary education, producing graduates in a wide range of disciplines. Ogun State Television continues to operate as a public media platform, extending access to local broadcasting.
His administration is often cited as a benchmark for civilian governance in Ogun State’s history, particularly for its emphasis on human development through education and public communication, and for embedding institutional frameworks via legislative assent and planning committees.
Groups within the Yorùbá sociopolitical community have commemorated his contributions, noting his commitment to public service and infrastructure that supported educational access and local entrepreneurship.
Chief Victor Olabisi Onabanjo’s period in office as governor of Ogun State laid foundational pillars for the state’s educational and media infrastructure. Through the establishment of a university and a state television station, and his commitment to governance shaped by legislative process and societal needs, he provided transformative leadership that continues to influence Ogun State’s development trajectory.
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AUTHOR’S NOTE
This article highlights the concrete and lasting contributions of Olabisi Onabanjo to Ogun State’s public life. Beyond mere accolades, the institutions he founded stand as testaments to his commitment to education and public communication, ensuring his influence endures in the lives of educators, students, media practitioners, and citizens.
REFERENCES
- Official history and establishment records of Olabisi Onabanjo University.
- News and commentary remembering Chief Olabisi Onabanjo and his legacy.
- Institutional histories of Ogun State University and OGTV’s commissioning.
