Legendary singer and guitarist, Sir Victor Uwaifo is dead.
Popularly called ‘Guitar Boy, a family source confirmed that Sir Uwaifo died on Saturday after a brief illness.
In March, he marked his 80th birthday, which was turned into a carnival of sort, to celebrate his contributions not just to music, but also to creative arts.
Uwaifo is also the first professional musicians to be awarded with the National Merit Honours of Member of the Order of the Niger (MON).
Uwaifo, who served as Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism in Edo State of Nigeria between 2001 and 2003, was born on March 1, 1941, in Benin City.
He attended Western Boys High School in his hometown and later, St Gregory’s College, Lagos.
He then went to Yaba College of Technology, Lagos from where he obtained a National Art Diploma with distinction.
He received a B.A Hons, First Class, Fine and Applied Arts from the University of Benin and a Masters’ Degree in Sculpting from the same university.
He also obtained a Ph.D in Architectural Sculpture from the same university where he has been a Professor for many years.
Uwaifo had a Doctor of Letters (D.Litt) Degree (Honoris) by awarded to him by University of Benin.
He was also a recipient of Benin National Merit Award; the University of Benin Distinguished Alumnus Award and MON.
He was the first Nigerian musician to be honoured by the Federal Government.
In 2010, Prof. Uwaifo was one of the select Nigerians awarded the fellowship of the Nigerian Academy of Letters at a grand event at the University of Lagos.