Ajayi Crowther University Appoints First Female Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ebunoluwa Oduwole

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 The Governing Council of Ajayi Crowther University (ACU), Oyo, has appointed Prof. Ebunoluwa Oduwole as the institution’s new Vice-Chancellor, making her the first female to occupy the position in the university’s history.

The announcement was made on Wednesday following a council meeting, and formally communicated in a statement made available to journalists on Thursday.

Prof. Oduwole succeeds Prof. Timothy Adebayo, whose five-year tenure concludes at the end of this month. Adebayo was praised for steering the university through challenging economic times and ensuring consistent institutional growth.

Chairman of the Governing Council and Pro-Chancellor, Dr. Olutoyin Okeowo, lauded the outgoing Vice-Chancellor’s achievements, citing reports from external auditors which highlighted the university’s “tremendous growth” since 2020.

“Between the period that Prof. Adebayo became Vice-Chancellor in 2020 and now, this university has witnessed remarkable progress despite the nation’s tough economic climate,” Okeowo said. “Most institutions would have struggled, but his creativity and discipline ensured yearly growth.”

He emphasised that Adebayo’s success was a result of teamwork involving the university’s management, principal officers, and staff, and expressed gratitude on behalf of the Anglican Supra-West Church.

Introducing Oduwole, Okeowo urged staff and stakeholders to extend their full support:

“Prof. Oduwole is making history as the first female Vice-Chancellor of this university. I trust that with your cooperation and prayers, she will excel in all ramifications.”

Archbishop of Ibadan Province and governing council member, The Most Rev’d Williams Aladekugbe, also commended Adebayo’s leadership, describing his appointment five years ago as “a blessing that has led to multiple academic and infrastructural gains.”

During his tenure, Adebayo notably integrated the Mind Education programme into the university’s curriculum, a global initiative that he described as “highly impactful” and already delivering positive outcomes for students.

The Governing Council reaffirmed its commitment to positioning Ajayi Crowther University among the top 1,000 universities globally, a vision Oduwole is now expected to advance.