A 51-year-old Nigerian lecturer and researcher at the University of Fort Hare in South Africa, Dr Ayodele Temidayo Odularu, has been found dead at her residence in the Eastern Cape Province.
Her brother, Dr Gbadebo Odularu, confirmed her death to Diaspora Tales on Wednesday following the creation of a GoFundMe campaign to support the family.
A family member, who spoke anonymously, said Odularu’s death was not from natural causes, although the circumstances surrounding it remained unclear. The family had also called for an investigation into her death.
Odularu died on August 16, 2026. She was an Independent Senior Researcher within the University of Fort Hare community, where she contributed to academic research and worked on issues including access to knowledge, educational opportunities, sustainable development and solutions aimed at empowering underserved communities.