The Governing Council of Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, has appointed Professor Ebunoluwa Oduwole as the institution’s new Vice-Chancellor.
The announcement was made in a statement released by the university on Thursday, marking the end of the tenure of the outgoing Vice-Chancellor, Professor Timothy Adebayo, whose five-year leadership officially concludes at the end of this month.
During a ceremony organized to celebrate Adebayo following the council meeting on Wednesday, the Chairman of the Governing Council and Pro-Chancellor of the university, Dr. Olutoyin Okeowo, praised his remarkable contributions, describing him as a visionary administrator who steered the university through challenging economic times.
“Between the period that Prof Adebayo became the Vice-Chancellor in 2020 and now, this University has witnessed tremendous growth. This growth came at a time when the nation was going through a challenging economy,” Okeowo said.
He commended Adebayo’s creativity, discipline, and ability to ensure consistent growth despite the harsh economic climate, noting that many poorly managed institutions did not survive the economic storms of the last five years.
Okeowo also thanked the university’s management team, principal officers, and staff, crediting their dedication and teamwork for the institution’s successes.
He further restated the council’s mission to elevate the university’s standing globally, saying, “When we came on board, we had a clear goal that this University must be ranked among the best 1000 Universities in the world. That is still our objective, and I am confident it can be achieved.”
Okeowo officially welcomed Professor Oduwole, who makes history as Ajayi Crowther University’s first female Vice-Chancellor, urging staff and stakeholders to give her full support and prayers for a successful tenure.
Archbishop of Ibadan Province and member of the governing council, The Most Rev’d Williams Aladekugbe, also praised Adebayo’s leadership, describing his appointment five years ago as a blessing that brought remarkable academic and infrastructural achievements to the university.
Earlier in June, Adebayo had commended the Mind Education programme integrated into the school’s curriculum, describing it as a highly impactful initiative already yielding significant benefits for students.
