The late Pan-Africanist scholar Dr. Tajudeen Abdulraheem, Daily Trust African of the Year 2009.

The late Nigerian activist, scholar, newspaper columnist, social campaigner and exemplary Pan Africanist Dr. Tajudeen Abdulraheem was last night named as the Daily Trust African of the Year for 2009. The choice was announced by the Advisory Board at a special dinner and award ceremony at the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, which was attended by Mrs Winnie Madhkizela-Mandela and the Ghanaian Member of Parliament Mrs Samia Nkrumah, among other prominent guests.

Taju, as he was popularly known among his very wide circle of pan-Africanist friends and associates, died on May 25, 2009 in a car crash in Nairobi, Kenya, where he was based.

Chairman of the Daily Trust African of the Year International Advisory Board Dr. Salim Ahmed Salim, who announced the selection and read the citation, said the choice was simultaneously humbling and inspiring. He said “even in death, Tajudeen still speaks and is recognised for his tremendous contributions to the development of the continent. We are aware that the next generation will not grow up to see Tajudeen, therefore we must work together to create a better society such that we could say to the next generation, this is the world Tajudeen helped to build.”