University of Ibadan Spanish Lecturer, Munoz, Is Dead

A distinguished Professor of European Studies, University of Ibadan, Rev Louis J. Munoz, is dead. Munoz who died in Ibadan on March 19 after a brief illness at the age of 79 was the former Head of Department, European Studies, University of Ibadan, and a former Parish Priest of Our Lady Seat of Wisdom of the university.

His remains will be laid in-state at the Vice-Chancellor's lodge at the university today, thereafter, a requiem mass will be celebrated for the repose of his soul at Our Lady Seat of Wisdom, by 9 a.m. to be followed by interment at the Ikoyi Cemetery in Lagos the same day. The Spanish citizen by birth, until his death, was a Nigerian citizen by naturalisation, and was recipient of the National Honour award of Member of the Federal Republic (MFR).

Born on October 4, 1933, Munoz was ordained a Priest of the Prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei in Madrid, Spain, on August 9, 1959. Following an invitation by the Founder of Opus Dei, St. Josemaria Escriva, he came to Nigeria in 1967 and started teaching at the University of Ibadan same year, which coincided with the year the Nigerian civil war began, and since then, he had remained in Ibadan. Munoz never went back to Spain again.

According to the university, since he came, he was deeply involved in the spiritual and moral growth of all members of the university community including teachers, students and workers.

He was appointed the Catholic Chaplain in charge of the Chapel of Our Lady Seat of Wisdom by the Catholic Bishop of Ibadan. Besides the liturgical services and dispensing of sacraments, Munoz was also involved in an extensive work of character formation through individual counselling, classes on theology, Christian ethics among other.

The Professor of European Studies was also an authority in the theory of tradition especially the African traditions. He had been assisting assiduously in developing the African tradition as attested in his book, 'The Past in the Present: Towards a Rehabilitation of Tradition' in 2007.

His research on African traditional state with special attention to the Yoruba tradition gave birth to his book entitled: 'A Living Tradition: Studies in Yoruba Civilization' in 2003