Prof Joshua Olusola Akande was a Professor of Adult and Community Education in the Department of Adult and Lifelong Learning at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. His research focused on community education, community development, adult and community health education, adult and lifelong learning and rural education. He carried out research work in the area of alleviating poverty in Africa using adult education as a toolbox, and worked in the area of community participation in solving environmental issues.

Prof Akande was interested in the application of adult learning theories to address issues in community education and community development, and particularly in the integration of indigenous community education to the contemporary studies in adult and community education.

Prof. Akande was one of the pioneering members of the Sustainable Futures in Nigeria. He was an exemplary leader graced with warmth and humility. He was a good listener with a very large heart to accommodate people, even with their excesses. He always believed that everyone should be tolerated and given a chance to express his or her hidden potentials. He was never too busy to render assistance and encouraging words to students and colleagues. Even during his illness, he made several efforts to participate in the SFA-Nigeria Hub activities. For those he could not attend, he followed up with calls and made significant contributions. In fact, 2 weeks prior to his death, he attended the Strategic meeting of translating the Hub into an NGO, with so much excitement of seeing the hub members coming together from different parts of the country. Unfortunately, that was the last opportunity the hub members had with him before he departed to eternity. He is greatly missed by all. May his gentle and amiable soul rest in perfect peace.