Renowned scholar, revolutionary activist, and feminist, Prof. Bene Madunagu, who passed away on November 26, 2024, will be laid to rest on January 17, 2025, according to the Funeral Planning Committee.
The committee, led by Prof. Biodun Jeyifo, announced in a statement on Monday that the burial service will be preceded by a celebration of her life on January 16. The event will feature a feminist forum, a funeral conference, cultural performances, and tributes from comrades, friends, and well-wishers, reflecting her immense contributions to Nigeria’s intellectual and social movements.
Born on March 21, 1947, in Abak Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State to Chief Michael and Madam Angelica Afangide, Benedicta Afangide (later Prof. Madunagu) pursued academic excellence and activism with passion. She earned her education from the University of Lagos and the University of Ibadan before beginning her teaching career as an assistant lecturer at the University of Lagos.
In 1976, she joined the University of Calabar, where she became a Professor of Botany and an influential mentor to numerous students. Her academic career was interrupted in 1978 when she and her husband, Dr. Edwin Madunagu, were dismissed during the nationwide “Ali Must Go” protests against the commercialization of education under General Olusegun Obasanjo’s military regime. The couple was reinstated under President Shehu Shagari’s administration, marking a significant moment in Nigeria’s academic and social history.
Prof. Madunagu’s career was marked by activism. She was a pioneering member of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and became the first female chairperson of its University of Calabar branch. She was also a member of numerous scientific organizations, including the Botanical Society of Nigeria and the Science Association of Nigeria.
As a staunch advocate for women’s rights, Prof. Madunagu played a pivotal role in the establishment of Women in Nigeria (WIN) and served as Chairperson of the Girls’ Power Initiative (GPI), an organization dedicated to empowering girls and women.
Her contributions to social and academic causes earned her several accolades, including the “Erudite Scholar and Advocate of Equality and Girl Child Rights” award from Cross River State in 2005 and recognition from the Centre for Reproductive Rights at the University of California. She was also a Fellow of the MacArthur Foundation.
Prof. Madunagu is survived by her husband, Comrade Edwin Madunagu; her children, Mrs. Unoma Madunagu-Agrinya, Ikenna Madunagu, and Michael Madunagu; and numerous comrades within the Nigerian Left.
The Funeral Planning Committee invites all whose lives were touched by her legacy to join in celebrating her remarkable life and contributions on January 16 and 17 in Calabar, Cross River State.