Ayodele Odularu, a Nigerian lecturer serving at the University of Fort Hare in South Africa, was discovered dead at her home in the Eastern Cape Province.
News reports indicate that the 51-year-old scholar passed away on August 16, as confirmed by her brother, Gbadebo Odularu, who spoke with reporters on Saturday.
Her brother stated that the family does not believe her passing was due to natural causes, noting that the exact circumstances surrounding her death remain uncertain.
Because of this uncertainty, the family is demanding a full investigation into the incident.
In a GoFundMe campaign launched on behalf of the relatives, Gbadebo described her as someone who “dedicated her life to knowledge, discovery, and creating a better future for communities.”
The family further noted that “although her journey on earth ended too soon, the impact of her life continues through the people she inspired, the knowledge she shared, and the communities she hoped to serve.”
The statement continued: “Ayodele was far more than a sister. She was a cherished daughter, aunt, friend, mentor, scholar, and a source of encouragement, compassion, wisdom, and strength to everyone blessed to know her. Her presence brought warmth into every room. She was known for her kindness, infectious laughter, generosity, resilience, and unwavering commitment to uplifting others. She had a rare ability to make people feel valued, heard, and inspired.”
It added: “Dr. Ayodele Odularu dedicated her life to knowledge, discovery, and creating a better future for communities. As an Independent Senior Researcher at the University of Fort Hare Community, she contributed meaningfully to academic research and the advancement of knowledge through her scholarly work.”
The University of Fort Hare paid tribute to her by holding a memorial service on Thursday.
Her death occurred during a period of renewed violence targeting Nigerians and other African foreign nationals in South Africa. Since June, the Federal Government of Nigeria has arranged the repatriation of 1,716 citizens to escape xenophobic hostilities in the country.
