Olabanji Akinola

On Monday, January 10th, 2022, Banji passed away peacefully surrounded by his family at the Algoma Residential Community Hospice (ARCH) at the age of 37. His family includes his wife of 8 years, Abiola Bankole; two children, Anjolaoluwa (AJ) and Arinola; his parents, Mr. Olubayo and Mrs. Olufunlayo Akinola (née Aresa); as well as his siblings Mr. Seun Akinola, Dr. Olugbenga Akinola, Mr. Oluwole Akinola, and Mrs. Temitope Reid (née Akinola). Banji will be remembered by many other family members and friends in Canada, Nigeria and all over the world.

Dr. Akinola earned his BSc in Political Science at the University of Ibadan (Nigeria) in 2007, and an MA in International Studies (Political Science) from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (Geneva, Switzerland) in 2010. He went on to further graduate study at the University of Guelph, where he completed a second MA (2011) and his PhD in Political Science and International Development Studies (2017). He joined the faculty at Algoma University as Assistant Professor of Political Science in the Department of Law and Politics in 2018 in a limited-term position and was appointed on the tenure-track in 2021. He taught courses in comparative politics, global governance, and international relations in the Political Science program, as well as courses on international community development for the Community Economic and Social Development program.

Resting at O’Sullivan Funeral Home, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario where family will receive guests on Thursday, January 13th, 2022, from 2pm - 6pm. If you are unable to attend the visitation in person, but would still like to pay your respects, we invite you to view the live stream of the visitation by following the zoom link and using the password provided below: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83493605241?pwd=UE1mOXJxMFFFQVpNZnpuYjhmbHlWQT09

Meeting ID: 834 9360 5241

Passcode: 056074

Following the visitation on Thursday in Sault Ste. Marie, a funeral service will take place at Gilbert MacIntyre and Son Funeral Home, 1099 Gordon St., Guelph on Saturday, January 15th, 2022 at 9:30 a.m. Interment to follow at Woodlawn Memorial Park, 762 Woolwich St, Guelph. Attendees are required to register their attendance prior to the service using the RSVP button below this obituary. Due to the COVID-19, masks will be required, social distancing must be adhered to and attendance is limited. The service will be live streamed via ZOOM on Saturday beginning at 9:30 a.m. The link will be available at that time below this obituary.

In lieu of flowers, donations made to the funeral expenses of Dr. Olabanji Akinola would be appreciated by the family (cheques made payable to Abiola Bankole with the memo as Funeral Expenses).