The University of Ibadan first female professor of Political Science, Professor Aituaje Irene Pogoson is dead.

She was 65.

The Department of Political Science, Faculty of The Social Sciences, University of Ibadan (UI), confirmed her demise.

She was the immediate past Head of Department (HOD) of Political Science.

In March 2024, Prof. Pogoson delivered the 545th inaugural lecture of the university titled: “The World in Transition: Understanding Power in the International System”.

Pogoson is the first female HOD since the Department of Political Science became a full-fledged department in October 1963.

The Department’s HOD, Professor Dhikru Adewale Yagboyaju, who succeeded Professor Pogoson, announced her demise, expressing deep sorrow over the passing of the renowned academic.

Yagboyaju said: “With deep pain but with total submission to the Almighty, this is to announce the passing to glory, in the early hours of Saturday, 25 October 2025, of our colleague and former Head of Department, Professor Aituaje I. Pogoson.”

Yagboyaju described her death as a great loss to the department, the university community, and the academic world at large.

Prof. Pogoson holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History (1981) from the University of Ibadan and obtained Masters (1984) and Doctoral (1994) Degrees in Political Science from the same institution.

She was a Policy Analyst on Governance (2005 and 2007) with the Independent Policy Group, a UNDP/Soros Foundation founded policy Think-Tank for President Olusegun Obasanjo.

She is survived by her husband, Ohioma Ifounu Pogoson, a professor of Arts in the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan and three children. (The Nation)