The long process of appointing new Vice Chancellor for the University of Ibadan, has ended with Professor Kayode Adebowale emerging as UI’s 13th substantive VC.
Adebowale defeated the incumbent acting vice-chancellor, Adebola Ekanola, and 14 others in a keenly contested process that took almost one year to resolve.
The chairman of the university’s governing council and former chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Odigie Oyegun, made the announcement at exactly 7:57 p.m on today (Thursday)
Announcing the new vice-chancellor, Mr Oyegun said Mr Adebowale emerged the best after a thorough process which he noted was witnessed by representatives of the Federal Character Commission and the Federal Ministry of Education.
The post of the Vice Chancellor of University of Ibadan became vacant on December 1, 2020, and in accordance with the provisions of the extant rules, the last Governing Council initiated the process of the appointment.
However, the process was aborted by the Visitor due to the circumstances beyond control, which led to the dissolution of Council at that time. A new Governing Council was inaugurated in April this year and it decided in its wisdom to start the process afresh.
In line with the University Acts, Search Team was subsequently constituted to search for suitable persons who might not apply on their own volition. At the end of the exercise, additional two applications were received and this brought the number of the applicants to sixteen
On Wednesday, 13 October 2021, Council interacted with all fifteen candidates. All members of Council scored the candidates using approved Council guidelines. At the end of the exercise, eight candidates in order of merit were shortlisted for the final interview.
At the meeting, two members of Council, as required by Law, were also appointed.
Earlier in the week, Senate had elected two members of Senate to serve on the Selection Board for the appointment of the Vice Chancellor.
