UI appoints Prof Olapegba as 14th substantive VC

By Adeola Badru

The Governing Council of the University of Ibadan has appointed Professor Peter Olamakinde Olapegba as the institution’s 14th substantive Vice-Chancellor following a competitive selection process involving eight candidates.

The appointment was announced on Wednesday by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Chief Adebisi Akande, shortly after the council approved the recommendation of the Joint Council-Senate Selection Board.

Announcing the appointment, Akande said the process of selecting a new vice-chancellor commenced in line with the provisions of the University Act ahead of the expiration of the tenure of the incumbent vice-chancellor on November 1, 2026.

He explained that advertisements inviting applications for the position were published in three national newspapers in April 2026, attracting six applications from qualified candidates.

According to him, the governing council subsequently constituted a search team, as required by law, to identify other suitably qualified academics who had not initially applied for the position. The exercise yielded two additional applications, bringing the total number of candidates to eight.

Akande disclosed that the council met with all eight candidates on Tuesday, July 21, for a rigorous assessment during which members independently evaluated and scored each candidate in accordance with approved guidelines.

He said the exercise produced five candidates who were shortlisted in order of merit for the final stage of the selection process.

Akande further explained that the Governing Council appointed two of its members to serve on the Joint Council-Senate Selection Board, while the University Senate had earlier elected two representatives to participate in the exercise.

He noted that the selection board interviewed the five shortlisted candidates on Wednesday before recommending Professor Olapegba as the most suitable candidate for the office of vice-chancellor.

Describing the selection process as “thorough, transparent and highly competitive”, Akande said the Governing Council unanimously approved the recommendation of the Selection Board.

“It is, therefore, my pleasure to present to you the 14th Vice-Chancellor of this great university, the University of Ibadan, Professor Peter Olamakinde Olapegba. We wish him success in his tenure,” Akande said.

Professor Olapegba, who currently serves as the university’s deputy vice-chancellor (administration) and is a professor in the Department of Psychology, will succeed the incumbent vice-chancellor, whose tenure expires on November 1, 2026.

His appointment makes him the 14th substantive vice-chancellor of Nigeria’s premier university following a competitive selection process conducted in accordance with the university’s statutory provisions.

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