The academic community is mourning the loss of Prof. (Pastor) Elizabeth Abidemi Balogun, a distinguished scholar and the wife of the fourth substantive Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Prof. Oluwafemi Olaiya Balogun. She passed away on Monday, June 8, 2026, at the age of 71.
Her death has triggered a wave of tributes celebrating her extensive contributions to scientific research, higher education, and Christian ministry.
A Legacy of Scientific Excellence
Prof. Elizabeth Balogun was a highly respected researcher whose work primarily focused on Biochemical Toxicology and Phytomedicine, with a groundbreaking emphasis on antimalarial drug development.
Before her retirement, she served as a Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), where she left an indelible mark on the institution’s academic framework. Throughout her career, she held several pivotal administrative roles, including:
- Head of the Department of Physiology and Biochemistry
- Sub-Dean of the Faculty of Life Sciences
- Head of the Department of Biochemistry
Her academic journey also closely intersected with FUNAAB, where she taught at the Department of Biochemistry, mentoring a generation of younger scholars and elevating the standards of biochemical sciences in Nigeria. In recognition of her scientific breakthroughs, she was elected as a Fellow of both the Nigerian Society for Experimental Biology and the Nigerian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
FUNAAB Mourns a “Woman of Excellence”
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Vice-Chancellor of FUNAAB, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, expressed deep sorrow over her passing, describing her as a rare gem who balanced academic rigor with profound humility and faith.
”Prof. Elizabeth Abidemi Balogun was an accomplished scholar, a devoted Christian, a loving mother, and a woman whose life was marked by excellence and service to humanity,” Prof. Kehinde stated. “Her contributions to the growth of higher education and the development of young scholars will remain indelible.”
He extended the university’s heartfelt condolences to her husband, Prof. Oluwafemi Olaiya Balogun, and the entire grieving family, praying for fortitude during this difficult time.
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Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced by the family in due course.
