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Professor E. A. Ayandele: The historian explosion of private universities-many prioritising profit over pedagogy-validated his concerns about education becoming an elite status who correctly diagnosed Nigeria's elite pathology 50 years ago (1) – Businessday
BusinessDay
Dr. Richard Ikiebe
March 17, 2025
Professor Emmanuel Ayankanmi Ayandele (1928–2000), one of Nigeria’s most incisive 20th-century historians, occupies a unique position in African intellectual history. He stands as one of Nigeria’s most consequential scholar-critics, whose work reshaped historical scholarship, challenged post-colonial elitism, and redefined the role of academia in national development.
A scholar who combined rigorous academic analysis with unflinching social critique, Ayandele’s work transcended the ivory tower to interrogate the soul of Nigeria’s post-colonial leadership. His contributions and enduring critiques remain vital to understanding Nigeria’s socio-political trajectory.
His career at the University of Ibadan, where he taught from the 1960s until his retirement, coincided with Nigeria’s perhaps most turbulent decades, a period during which his scholarship became both mirror and scalpel for the nation’s elite class.
Born in 1928 in what is now Ekiti State, Ayandele’s early education at Anglican Mission schools immersed him in the very system he would later critique. This formative experience of excelling in Western curricula while witnessing the erosion of Indigenous knowledge shaped his lifelong preoccupation with cultural dislocation.
After studying history at the University College Ibadan (later the University of Ibadan), he earned postgraduate degrees at the University of London, where he developed his trademark synthesis of African agency and colonial impact. Prof. Ayandele emerged as a leading voice in the famed “Ibadan School” of history, which revolutionised African historiography in the 1960s–1970s.
While contemporaries like Kenneth Dike focused on pre-colonial states, Ayandele pioneered the study of colonial-era African elites. His 1966 biography Holy Johnson: Pioneer of African Nationalism established his method: meticulous archival research combined with psychological profiling of historical actors.
At Ibadan, Ayandele became known for his combative seminars, where he challenged students to reject colonial-era historical frameworks. His 1970 paper “The Changing Position of the Awujale of Ijebuland” exemplified his approach using Yoruba oral traditions alongside colonial records to reconstruct indigenous agency under imperial rule. Ayandele’s magnum opus, The Educated Elite in the Nigerian Society (1974), remains his most impactful contribution, offering a framework still used to analyse governance. This work transcended history, influencing political science, sociology, and policy debates about education reform. The Educated Elite distilled decades of observation into a blistering critique.
Drawing from his dual identity as both product and critic of colonial education, he diagnosed Nigeria’s leadership crisis as rooted in what he termed “mental decapitation”—the elite’s alienation from indigenous value systems. The book’s controversial thesis argued that Nigeria’s Western-educated class had become “deluded hybrids,” mimicking colonial oppressors while failing to develop authentic national visions.
His analysis drew ire from contemporaries who saw it as elitist hypocrisy. Yet Ayandele, who served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Calabar (1975–1978), insisted his critique came from “patriotic anguish.” Colleagues recall his frustration when political leaders quoted his work selectively while perpetuating the systems he condemned.
Ayandele’s influence extended beyond historiography to political theory and sociology. His concept of “windsowers”-elites who reap independence’s benefits without sowing developmental seeds-entered popular discourse, used by activists and columnists alike. Later works like Nigerian Historical Studies (1979) and A Visionary of the African Church: Mojola Agbebi (1991) expanded his examination of cultural synthesis. Despite his critique of Nigeria’s trajectory, Ayandele rejected pessimism. His 1986 convocation lecture at the University of Jos, “The Challenge of Nationhood,” called for educational reforms integrating Indigenous knowledge-a vision unrealised but increasingly relevant in Nigeria’s competency-based curriculum debates.
Ayandele’s later years saw him marginalised by Nigeria’s academic establishment, his unsparing critiques deemed unfashionable in the structural adjustment era. Yet his warnings about elite reproduction mechanisms proved prescient. The 1990s explosion of private universities-many prioritising profit over pedagogy-validated his concerns about education becoming an elite status marker rather than a developmental tool.
Today, as Nigeria grapples with governance failures that eerily mirror Ayandele’s 1970s diagnoses, his work experiences renewed interest. Young scholars are rediscovering his insistence that historical scholarship must engage contemporary crises. The #EndSARS protests’ intellectual underpinnings-particularly their critique of intergenerational elite failure—may bear traces of Ayandele’s analytical framework.
Prof. Ayandele’s greatest contribution lies in framing Nigerian academia’s moral imperative—to produce scholarship that serves national development rather than elite interests. He died in 2000 – just as Nigeria transitioning to civilian rule after nearly 40 years of military dictatorship. He never held political office, yet his work continues to shape debates about Nigeria’s future. His unrealised vision of universities (where scholars synthesise global and Indigenous knowledge, and as crucibles that produces “New Nigerians”), remains academia’s urgent mandate
In an era of renewed decolonisation discourse, his call for synthesising global and indigenous knowledge rather than rejecting either offers a nuanced alternative to binary thinking.
The University of Ibadan, where he trained generations of historians, now houses his personal papers-a trove awaiting scholars willing to confront uncomfortable truths about Nigeria’s post-colonial journey.
As the nation struggles with persistent elite capture, Ayandele’s ghost seems to whisper from every crumbling infrastructure project and every rigged election: The educated elite have failed their historic mission. The question remains whether Nigeria’s current generation will heed his warning or repeat his lament.
As Nigeria grapples with crises of governance that Ayandele presciently dissected, his work stands as both indictment and roadmap-a challenge to transcend the pathologies he diagnosed over half a century ago.
Richard Ikiebe, Ph.D, FNIPR – who is the President of iNSDEC Limited/ GTE, is a media expert and scholar with extensive experience of over 45 years in both the public and private sectors. Was until recently a Senior Fellow and pioneer Director of the Center for Leadership in Journalism at the School of Media Communication (SMC) at Pan Atlantic University in Lagos, Nigeria. He continues to work with the University as an adjunct Senior Fellow teaching courses in Media Leadership and Public Policy.
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Words on ammo in CEO shooting echo common phrase on insurer tactics: Delay, deny, defend – The Associated Press
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
Two law enforcement officials say a masked gunman who stalked and killed the leader of one of the largest U.S. health insurance companies on a Manhattan sidewalk used ammunition emblazoned with the words “deny,” “defend” and “depose.” AP reporter Jake Offenhartz explains. (AP video by Joseph R. Frederick, Ted Shaffrey, and John Minchillo)
Bullets lie on the sidewalk at the scene outside the Hilton Hotel in midtown Manhattan where Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was fatally shot, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)
This image provided by the New York City Police Department shows a man wanted for questioning in connection to the investigation of the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. (New York City Police Department via AP)
The UnitedHealthcare headquarters in Minnetonka, Minn., lowered its flags to half-staff on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, in honor of CEO Brian Thompson, who was fatally shot outside a hotel in New York. (Kerem Yücel/Minnesota Public Radio via AP)
Two law enforcement officials say a masked gunman who stalked and killed the leader of one of the largest U.S. health insurance companies on a Manhattan sidewalk used ammunition emblazoned with the words “deny,” “defend” and “depose.” AP reporter Jake Offenhartz explains. (AP video by Joseph R. Frederick, Ted Shaffrey, and John Minchillo)
Bullets lie on the sidewalk at the scene outside the Hilton Hotel in midtown Manhattan where Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was fatally shot, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)
Bullets lie on the sidewalk at the scene outside the Hilton Hotel in midtown Manhattan where Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was fatally shot, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)
This image provided by the New York City Police Department shows a man wanted for questioning in connection to the investigation of the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. (New York City Police Department via AP)
This image provided by the New York City Police Department shows a man wanted for questioning in connection to the investigation of the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. (New York City Police Department via AP)
The UnitedHealthcare headquarters in Minnetonka, Minn., lowered its flags to half-staff on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, in honor of CEO Brian Thompson, who was fatally shot outside a hotel in New York. (Kerem Yücel/Minnesota Public Radio via AP)
The UnitedHealthcare headquarters in Minnetonka, Minn., lowered its flags to half-staff on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, in honor of CEO Brian Thompson, who was fatally shot outside a hotel in New York. (Kerem Yücel/Minnesota Public Radio via AP)
Live Updates: Follow the latest updates on the shooting death of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO.
A message left at the scene of a health insurance executive’s fatal shooting — “deny,” “defend” and “depose” — echoes a phrase commonly used to describe insurer tactics to avoid paying claims.
The three words were written on the ammunition a masked gunman used to kill UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, according to two law enforcement officials who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday. They’re similar to the phrase “delay, deny, defend” — the way some attorneys describe how insurers deny services and payment, and the title of a 2010 book that was highly critical of the industry.
Police haven’t officially commented on the wording or any connection between them and the common phrase. But Thompson’s shooting and the messages on the ammunition have sparked outrage on social media and elsewhere, reflecting a deepening frustration Americans have over the cost and complexity of getting care.
Bullets lie on the sidewalk at the scene outside the Hilton Hotel in midtown Manhattan where Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was fatally shot, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)
Bullets lie on the sidewalk at the scene outside the Hilton Hotel in midtown Manhattan where Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was fatally shot, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)
“Delay, deny, defend” has become something of a rallying cry for insurance critics. The terms refer to insurers delaying payment on claims, denying claims and defending their actions.
The phrase has been used to describe many types of insurers — auto, property, and health.
“The longer they can delay and deny the claim, the longer they can hold onto their money and they’re not paying it out,” said Lea Keller, managing partner at Lewis and Keller, a North Carolina-based personal-injury law firm.
“Delay, Deny, Defend” is also the title of a 2010 book by Jay Feinman that delves into how insurers handle claims.
“All insurance companies have an incentive to chisel their customers in order to increase profits,” says an excerpt on the book’s website.
UnitedHealthcare provides coverage for more than 49 million Americans and brought in more than $281 billion in revenue last year as one of the nation’s largest health insurers. UnitedHealthcare and its rivals have become frequent targets of criticism from doctors, patients and lawmakers in recent years for denying claims or complicating access to care.
Critics say insurers are increasingly interfering with even routine care, causing delays that can, in some cases, hurt a patient’s chances for recovery or even survival.
The UnitedHealthcare headquarters in Minnetonka, Minn., lowered its flags to half-staff on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, in honor of CEO Brian Thompson, who was fatally shot outside a hotel in New York. (Kerem Yücel/Minnesota Public Radio via AP)
The UnitedHealthcare headquarters in Minnetonka, Minn., lowered its flags to half-staff on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, in honor of CEO Brian Thompson, who was fatally shot outside a hotel in New York. (Kerem Yücel/Minnesota Public Radio via AP)
Doctors and patients have become particularly frustrated with prior authorizations, which are requirements that an insurer approve surgery or care before it happens.
UnitedHealthcare was named in an October report detailing how the insurer’s prior authorization denial rate for some Medicare Advantage patients has surged in recent years. The report from the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations also named rivals Humana and CVS.
The masked gunman who killed UnitedHealthcare’s CEO on a Manhattan sidewalk used ammunition emblazoned with the words “deny,” “defend” and “depose,” according to a law enforcement official. Here’s what we know so far.
Insurers say tactics like prior authorization are needed to limit unnecessary procedures and prevent the overuse of care to help control costs.
Frustrations extend beyond the coverage of care. Expensive breakthrough medications to slow Alzheimer’s disease or help with obesity are frequently not covered or have coverage limits.
“Many Americans view these companies as driven by profit rather than a commitment to serve their customers,” said Mario Macis, a Johns Hopkins economist who studies trust in the health care system. “And this creates a big disconnect.”
Anger and vitriol against health insurers filled social media in the wake of Thompson’s killing. Users’ reactions — and in many cases jokes — populated comment sections teeming with frustration toward health insurers broadly and UnitedHealthcare in particular.
“I would be happy to help look for the shooter but vision isn’t covered under my healthcare plan,” one comment read on Instagram.
“Thoughts and prior authorizations!” wrote another user.
In the U.S. health care system, patients get coverage through a mix of private insurers such as UnitedHealthcare and government-funded programs such as Medicaid and Medicare. That can prove particularly frustrating for doctors and patients because coverage often varies by insurer.
Polls reflect those frustrations with the health care system in general and insurance companies in particular.
About two-thirds of Americans said health insurance companies deserve “a lot of blame” for high health care costs, according to a KFF poll conducted in February.
A 2023 KFF survey of insured adults found that most give their health insurance an overall rating of “excellent” or “good” — but a majority also said they experienced a problem using their insurance in the previous year. That included denied claims, provider network problems and pre-authorization problems. Nearly half of insured adults with insurance problems said they were unable to resolve them satisfactorily.
AP polling editor Amelia Thomson-DeVeaux in Washington and health writer Devi Shastri in Milwaukee contributed to this report. Murphy reported from Indianapolis.
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
