Former Minister of Information and Culture [Alhaji Lai Mohammed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lai_Mohammed) announced on Thursday that he was deeply saddened by the death of veteran educator and journalist [Prof. Idowu Sobowale](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idowu_Sobowale). Sobowale, who served as Lagos Commissioner for Education, died on 8 October at the age of 85.
Key facts include: he was 85 years old at the time of his death; he had acted as Special Adviser on Education to then Lagos Governor Bola Tinubu while Mohammed was Chief of Staff; he previously worked under former Governor Lateef Jakande; and Mohammed described him as an “accomplished professional, wise counsellor, dear friend and valued colleague.”
What was Sobowale’s role in Lagos education?
Sobowale held the portfolio of Special Adviser on Education during Bola Tinubu’s administration and later became the state’s Commissioner for Education, where he introduced pioneering opinion polling techniques in Nigerian journalism and mentored generations of media scholars.
How did Mohammed and Sobowale know each other?
Mohammed recalled a uniquely cordial relationship that began when Sobowale served as his adviser on education. Their friendship endured beyond their tenure in the Lagos cabinet, and Mohammed said the bond remained strong even after they left public office.
“His experience, having served under Lateef Jakande, was invaluable to the administration,” Mohammed said, adding that Sobowale’s loss would be felt by his family, friends, and the broader community of educators and public servants.
Mohammed concluded by praying for Sobowale’s eternal rest and for strength for his bereaved relatives.
What legacy did Sobowale leave?
Sobowale is remembered as a pioneering communication scholar who shaped opinion polling in Nigerian journalism and left an indelible mark on the nation’s educational landscape.