FUTA gets first female VC as Governing Council appoints Adenike Oladiji

By OLA MUDOPE, Akure –

The Governing Council of the Federal University of Technology Akure, FUTA has appointed Professor (Mrs) Adenike Temidayo Oladiji of the Department of Biochemistry, University of Ilorin, as the eighth substantive Vice Chancellor of the University.

Professor Oladiji succeeds Professor Joseph Fuwape, whose term ends on Monday, 23rd May, 2022.

The Council presided over by the Pro-Chancellor, Chairman of Council, Ambassador (Dr.) Godknows Igali, ratified the appointment at its Special Meeting held on Thursday May 12, 2022.

According to a letter of appointment personally signed by Ambassador (Dr.) Igali, Professor Oladiji’s appointment,which takes effect from Tuesday May 24, 2022, is for a single term of five years.

A statement signed by Mr. Richard Arifalo, Registrar and Secretary to Council and dated May 12, 2022, said that, after an extensive process, which had commenced with the application of 30 candidates, made up of 27 males and two females, 20 candidates were shortlisted at the close of application for the post.

The statement explained that 19 of the 20 candidates were interviewed, with one of the shortlisted candidates absent. “At the end of the interview the Joint Council and Senate Selection Board recommended a final list of three candidates for appointment in line with extant regulations governing the process. At the end of the process, Professor Oladiji emerged the successful candidate.”

The University authorities also noted that “the appointment of Vice Chancellors of Universities is domiciled with the Governing Council of Universites which, on the advice of an internal selection committee, has the power to choose from any of the three best candidates submitted to it”.

The statement said the newly appointed Vice-Chancellor, “Professor Oladiji was born on 27th April, 1968. She attended Christ Anglican School, Ijomu-Oro, Iludun Oro Nursery and Primary School between 1972 and 1977 and St. Claire’s Anglican Grammar School, Offa from 1977 to 1982, all in Kwara State, for her secondary education. She holds a B.Sc Biochemistry, Second Class Upper Division Degree from the University of Ilorin, 1988, MSc. Biochemistry, University of Ilorin, 1991 and Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Biochemistry from the University of Ilorin, 1997. She joined the services of the University of Ilorin in July 1992 as Assistant Lecturer and was appointed a Professor in September 2011”.

“She has over 29 years of continuous service in the university system. She has held various positions and served on almost all University Committees as Chairman and Member. She has also served in various capacities including Head of Department; Sub Dean of Faculty; Deputy Director, Center for International Education; Director, Center for Research and Development and In-House Training; Director, Central Research Laboratory; Dean, School Of Basic Medical Sciences (Kwara State University); Dean, School of Life Sciences and Member, Governing Council, Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa and Crown Hill University, Eiyenkorin, Ilorin.”

“A prolific reseacher with over 100 publications, Professor Oladiji has won many distinctions and awards which include University’s Merit Award, Certificate of Merit and scholarships among others. She is a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science and Fellow, Nigerian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. She has served as Member of various Scienctific Committees at the National Universities Commission, NUC, Tertiary Education Fund, TetFund and has been an external examiner in over 20 Universities in Nigeria and outside the country. She is a Member of Professional Bodies such as the West Africa Research and Innovation Management (WARIMA), American Society of Nutrition, Organization for Women in Science for Developing World (OSWD), Science Association of Nigeria and Nigerian Society for Experimental Biology.

She is happily married and blessed with children.”