The death of Sophia Oluwole on Monday, December 24, 2018, came with a shock to many Nigerians. Her death at the age of 83 is not only about humanity, it is about a lacuna of erudition which her demise will create in the academics and history of Nigeria.
Without any iota of doubt, Oluwole, when education for women was a bane, broke through all the walls of obstacles to become the first Nigerian woman to bag a PhD in philosophy.
She indeed left her footprints on the track of history, and for that she will be remembered for giving Nigerian women the hope to proceed into glory.
In the wake of encomiums, Legit.ng highlights 11 amazing facts about the great woman, who Nigerians choose to call "the philosopher."
1. Birthplace
Sophie Oluwole was born in Igbara-oke, a community rich in culture in Ondo state. And that was in 1936.
2. Education
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Oluwole went to school in Ife, and was critical of the education system in the 1940s. Describing an event during school, where she was sent to a hospital to distribute food and medicine to the desperately sick patients, she said: "That day, I knew I was not going to be a nurse."
3. Studied at UNILAG
She studied History, Geography and Philosophy at the UNILAG in Lagos, and eventually settled on philosophy.
4. Life as lecturer
Following her first degree, she was employed in UNILAG for a time as an assistant lecturer in 1972, and went on to complete her PhD in philosophy at the University of Ibadan.
5. Remains in history as the first
Oluwole is the first female doctorate degree holder in philosophy in Nigeria. Now a qualified professor, Oluwole taught African Philosophy at UNILAG for six years between 2002 and 2008.
6. Mamalawo or Iyanife
Mamalawo, the female version of Babalawo (herbalist), is a term used to describe the priest of oracle. It was a term Sophia Oluwole used to described the traditionalist side of herself. She was an African philosopher, who dedicated herself to traditional belief.
7. Work and Philosophy
Oluwole's teachings and works are generally attributed to the Yoruba school of philosophical thought, which was ingrained in the cultural and religious beliefs (Ifá) of the various regions of Yorubaland.
8. On Orunmila predates Socrates
Oluwole believed in this branch of philosophy that predates the western tradition, as the ancient African philosopher Orunmila predates Socrates by her estimate.
According to Oluwole, the two thinkers, representing the values of the African and Western traditions, were two of her biggest influences and she compared the two in her book, Socrates and Orunmila.
9. Philosophy and the role of women
Oluwole was vocal about the role of women in philosophy, and the disproportionate representation of African thinkers in education.
10. Her legacy
Oluwole is known for the zeal to promote indigenous knowledge, skills and discipline that could help to redefine people and a nation.
11. Death
She died in the early hour of 24th of December, 2018. She died at age 83.
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Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the first female doctorate degree holder in philosophy in Nigeria, Professor Sophie Oluwole, was reported dead.
Professor Sophie was a practitioner of Yoruba philosophy, a way of thinking which originates from the southwestern region in the country.
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Source: Legit.ng
