Campus News

Meet UNILORIN’s First Female Professor of Linguistics, Bolanle Arokoyo!

Professor Bolanle Elizabeth Arokoyo is a distinguished scholar in the field of linguistics, with a career spanning over two decades in teaching, research, and academic leadership.

Born in Kabba, Kabba Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State, Professor Arokoyo gained admission to the University of Ilorin in 1995. She earned her Bachelor of Arts (Linguistics) in 2000, graduating with a Second-Class Upper degree as the best student in the department and faculty.

She went on to earn her Master’s and PhD in Linguistics from the University of Ilorin in 2005 and 2011, respectively. Professor Arokoyo joined the University of Ilorin as a Graduate Assistant on 21 August 2001 and rose through the ranks to become a full Professor in October 2023.

Her research focuses on morphology, syntax, language acquisition, Yoruba linguistics, and language documentation. Professor Arokoyo has supervised numerous Master’s and PhD theses and has trained hundreds of graduate and postgraduate students in linguistics. She serves as a role model for women in academia.

In August 2023, Professor Arokoyo became the first female Head of the Department of Linguistics and Nigerian Languages, and in October 2023, she became the University of Ilorin’s first female Professor of Linguistics.

With over 50 publications in local, national, and international peer-reviewed journals, Professor Arokoyo has also served as a reviewer and editorial team member for several journals. She is actively involved in institutional development and has contributed to committees on curriculum development, research, and academic quality assurance.

Professor Arokoyo was a member of the University of Ilorin 89.3 FM Radio Board. She has won full and supporting travel grants to the USA, France, and the Netherlands and has presented her research at several workshops and conferences at local, national, and international levels.

Professor Arokoyo has received numerous awards, including the University of Ilorin Senate’s Award for Best Graduating Student in Linguistics and the Faculty of Arts (1998-1999), the Adedapo Dojio Prize in Phonetics (1998-1999), and the University of Ilorin Senate Research Grant (2024).

She is a Fellow of the Living Tongues Institute for Endangered Languages (USA) and an active member of several professional associations, including the Linguistic Association of Nigeria (LAN), West African Linguistics Society (WALS), and African Lexicographers (AFRILEX).

A strong advocate for digital humanities, Professor Arokoyo has undertaken training in Natural Language Processing with Python, Introduction to Digital Humanities, and Online Course Creation.

Through her work in academia, research, and community service, Professor Bolanle Elizabeth Arokoyo continues to make a lasting impact on linguistics, language preservation, and education in Nigeria and beyond.