Former Kwara State Governor Cornelius Adebayo dies at 83

Former Kwara State Governor and one‑time Minister of Communications, Chief Cornelius Olatunji Adebayo, has passed away. He died on Tuesday morning following a brief illness.

A family source, who spoke to the newsmen on condition of anonymity, confirmed the news.

Born on February 24, 1941, in Igbaja — now part of Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State — Adebayo had a distinguished academic and political career. He attended All Saints Anglican School in Oke‑Onigbin and Provincial Secondary School in Ilorin before moving on to Barewa College, Zaria (1962–1963). He later earned a degree from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (1964–1967), and furthered his studies at the University of Ghana, Legon (1967–1969).

In 1969, Adebayo began lecturing at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), and by 1973 he became Head of the English Department at Kwara State College of Technology.

He served as Kwara State Commissioner for Education, and later as Commissioner for Information and Economic Development from 1975 to 1978.

Adebayo was elected Senator under the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) in 1979 and became the Governor of Kwara State in 1983. His governorship was cut short by the December 31, 1983 military coup led by Major General Muhammadu Buhari.

In 1999, he was appointed Minister of Communications under President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, where he played a pivotal role in the reform and growth of Nigeria’s telecommunications sector.

The family has yet to announce funeral arrangements.