In October 2024, Professor Moyo Okediji presented a paper titled “Ifa Infinity: Permutations Beyond 250 Iconographies” at a webinar organized by the Institute of Cultural Studies (ICS), Obafemi Awolowo University. Following the presentation, the then Director of the Institute, Professor Fasiku (now Dean of the Faculty of Arts), informed him that the Institute was interested in publishing the paper as an article in Ife: Journal of the Institute of Cultural Studies. Professor Okediji declined the offer, explaining that the presentation constituted only a portion of a larger book manuscript he was developing. He stated that he could only acknowledge the Institute for providing the platform where part of the work had been presented.
Consequently, sometime in May 2025, Professor Okediji requested and was provided with the Institute’s logo solely for the purpose of acknowledging the Institute in the forthcoming book, in recognition of the opportunity it had given him to present an aspect of the work.
There was no further communication until late June 2026, when Professor Okediji contacted Professor Fasiku to inform him that he was in Ile-Ife and wished to pay him a visit. Professor Fasiku, accompanied by a senior colleague, met with him at his residence. During the meeting, Professor Okediji announced that the book he had earlier referred to was now completed and expressed his desire to deliver a public lecture on it and launch it at the Faculty. He presented each of them with a copy of the book, titled Ifa Tuntun: Sixteen Sacred Stanza.
Professor Fasiku was impressed by the accomplishment and, in his capacity as Dean of the Faculty of Arts, proposed that the Faculty organize a lecture platform to provide a broader academic engagement with the publication. Although the Faculty’s schedule was already quite busy, it was agreed that both the public lecture and the book launch would proceed.
The Dean subsequently referred the planning of the programme, together with a copy of the book, to the Faculty Seminar Committee. The Committee selected a date and commenced preparations. Despite concerns expressed by some Ifa practitioners regarding the title of the book, planning continued, and invitation letters were dispatched to relevant stakeholders.
However, during one of the Committee’s meetings, it was discovered that the book listed the Institute of Cultural Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University, as its publisher.
Both the Faculty and the Institute regarded this as a serious breach of established publishing procedures and an infringement of accepted academic and institutional protocols. At no time had the manuscript been submitted to the Institute for editorial review or consideration for publication. Neither the Institute nor the University had entered into any contractual agreement with Professor Okediji to publish the book, nor had there been any discussion, negotiation, or approval authorizing the use of the Institute’s name as publisher.
The Dean immediately raised the matter with Professor Okediji. In response, Professor Okediji stated that he had previously informed Professor Fasiku of his intention while Professor Fasiku was Director of the Institute, and that the Institute’s logo had been provided on that basis. Professor Fasiku clarified that the logo had been given solely to enable an acknowledgement of the Institute’s role in hosting the earlier seminar presentation, and not as authorization for the Institute to serve as publisher. He further pointed out that the published book was substantially different from the seminar paper presented in 2024.
The Dean reiterated that:
• the manuscript had never been submitted to the Institute for assessment or editorial review;
• no contractual agreement existed between Professor Okediji and the Institute concerning publication of the book;
• no discussion or formal approval had taken place authorizing the Institute to publish the work; and
• Professor Okediji had no permission to publish the book under the name of either the Institute of Cultural Studies or Obafemi Awolowo University.
Accordingly, the Faculty considered the attribution of the Institute as publisher to be both an ethical and procedural infringement inconsistent with the University’s standards of academic integrity.
Following these discussions, Professor Okediji agreed to instruct his editor to remove the names of the Institute of Cultural Studies and Obafemi Awolowo University from the publication as publisher and to arrange for the book to be published under another imprint. In light of this development, both Professor Okediji and the Faculty agreed that proceeding with the scheduled public lecture and book launch could be misconstrued as the University’s endorsement of the claim that the Institute had published the book. To avoid such an impression, both parties mutually agreed that the event should be cancelled.
It is important to state unequivocally that the cancellation was not prompted by any security concern or external pressure. No letter of protest was received from any individual or group, nor was any threat of violence communicated to the University. Indeed, many Ifa practitioners and other invited guests had looked forward to the event and later expressed disappointment over its cancellation. Consequently, any public claim suggesting that the event was cancelled because of security threats or intimidation is inaccurate and unsupported by the facts.
On Sunday, 12 July 2026, Professor Okediji contacted the Dean to express his willingness to follow the appropriate institutional procedures. He was advised to meet with the new Director of the Institute of Cultural Studies on Monday, 13 July 2026, to discuss the matter before reverting to the Dean. He agreed to do so. While the Faculty was still awaiting this step, another post appeared on Professor Okediji’s Facebook page announcing that the book had been removed from the imprint of the Institute of Cultural Studies and was now being published under the imprint of ONA ART SERIES.
Obafemi Awolowo University has long been recognized as a citadel of scholarship and academic excellence, committed to the highest standards of integrity and ethical practice. Members of the University community have been advised not to engage in social media exchanges over this matter. Accordingly, readers are encouraged to exercise caution regarding one-sided accounts and commentaries circulating online.
This clarification is not an official statement of the University. Its sole purpose is to present the sequence of events as understood by those directly involved and to place the facts on record.
Thank you.
Institute of Cultural Studies,
Obafemi Awolowo University,
Ile-Ife.
