Former APC Governorship Aspirant and philanthropist, Engr. Oyedele Hakeem Alao, popularly known as Allow Alao, has expressed deep sorrow over the death of Professor Isiaka Kolawole, former Deputy Director of the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, and Director General of the 2023 APC Governorship Campaign Council in Oyo State.
Prof. Kolawole passed away on Sunday leaving behind a legacy in both academia and partisan politics.
In a condolence statement released to journalists on Sunday, September 6, 2026, Engr. Alao said the death of the respected scholar and political strategist is a huge loss to Oyo State, the APC family, and Nigeria’s education sector.
“It is with a heavy heart that I received the news of the passing of my brother, leader, and mentor, Prof. Isiaka Kolawole,” Alao stated.
“Prof. Kolawole was more than a party man. He was an intellectual, a builder, and a bridge between the classroom and the corridors of power. His exit has created a vacuum that will be difficult to fill.”
Engr. Alao eulogized the late professor for his decades of service to basic education in Nigeria. As a former Deputy Director at UBEC, Prof. Kolawole was instrumental in policy formulation and implementation that expanded access to quality education at the grassroots.
“His commitment to ensuring that every Nigerian child, regardless of background, had access to foundational education was unwavering,” Alao said.
“He carried the UBEC mandate with diligence and passion. Many of the reforms we enjoy in basic education today bear his fingerprints.”
Colleagues at UBEC remember Prof. Kolawole as a meticulous administrator and a scholar who believed that education was the greatest equalizer.
Beyond the classroom, Prof. Kolawole was a key figure in Oyo State politics. He served as the Director General of the APC Governorship Campaign Council in the 2023 general elections, where he coordinated strategy, mobilization, and policy engagement for the party.
According to Alao, Prof. Kolawole brought academic rigor to politics.
“He approached politics with the mind of a professor and the heart of a community man. In 2023, he led our campaign council with wisdom, unity of purpose, and an uncommon commitment to the progress of Oyo State,” he said.
“Even in disagreement, he remained a gentleman. He believed in issue-based politics and mentored many of us along the way.”
Party chieftains described him as a stabilizing force within the APC, known for his calm demeanor, wealth of knowledge, and ability to reconcile differing interests.
Engr. Alao, who is also a prominent voice in Oyo APC, prayed for the repose of the deceased’s soul and asked God to grant the family, the APC, and the people of Oyo State the fortitude to bear the loss.
“On behalf of Allow Alao family, associates, and the good people of Oyo State who benefited from his service, I extend my heartfelt condolences to the immediate family of Prof. Kolawole, the entire academic community, and the APC in Oyo State,” he said.
“May Almighty Allah forgive his shortcomings, accept his good deeds, and grant him Aljanah Firdaus.”
He urged all those who were mentored by Prof. Kolawole to uphold his values of integrity, scholarship, and selfless service.
The late Prof. Isiaka Kolawole is survived by his wife, children, and a wide network of students, colleagues, and political associates across Nigeria.
Funeral arrangements will be announced by the family in due course.