Nigel Henry, longest-serving UI lecturer, dies at 71

Nigel Henry, the longest-serving lecturer at the University of Ibadan (UI), Oyo state, has passed on.

The Department of Classics, wherein he had taught, broke the news of his demise in a statement on Sunday.

It was gathered that the UI academic breathed his last on Saturday at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.

“With a deep sense of sorrow, the Department of Classics announces the passing of Mr. Nigel Henry which regrettable event occurred on the night of 30 January 2021, at the University College Hospital, Ibadan,” it wrote.

“Mr. Henry, our longest-serving academic member of staff.

“He spent over four decades nurturing students in the various sub-disciplines of Classics, especially in Greek and Latin languages and literature, was an outstanding student of the highest order.

“He took the M.A. (Classics) with First Class Honours (1969 – 73) from the University of St. Andrews, and the B. Phil in Classics (1973 – 75) from the University of Oxford.

“Mr. Henry brought to Ibadan the best traditions of classical scholarship, having been taught by such eminently acclaimed scholars like Sir Kenneth Dover and Prof. Hugh Lloyd- Jones.

“Every current member of staff of the department is a former student of Mr. Henry.”

Although the nature of the illness that led to his death was not disclosed, Nigel was aged  71 as of when he died.