UI APPOINTS IGBOORA-BORN PROF. OLAPEGBA AS 14TH VICE-CHANCELLOR

The Governing Council of the University of Ibadan, UI has appointed Prof. Peter Olamakinde Olapegba, an indigene of Igboora, Ibarapa land, as the institution’s 14th Vice-Chancellor.

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

According to Akande, the process to appoint a new VC commenced in line with the University Act ahead of the expiration of the tenure of the incumbent Vice-Chancellor on November 1, 2026.

He said advertisements inviting applications were published in April 2026 in three national newspapers, attracting six applications.

The Council subsequently constituted a Search Team, as required by law, to identify other qualified candidates. This yielded two additional applications, bringing the total number of candidates to eight.

Akande disclosed that the Council interacted with all eight candidates on Tuesday, July 21, during which members independently assessed and scored them using approved guidelines.

The exercise produced five candidates who were shortlisted, in order of merit, for the final stage.

The Pro-Chancellor added that the Council appointed two of its members to serve on the Selection Board, while the University Senate had earlier elected two of its representatives for the exercise.

The Joint Council-Senate Selection Board interviewed the five shortlisted candidates on Wednesday before recommending Prof. Olapegba as the best candidate.

Describing the exercise as “thorough, transparent and highly competitive,” Akande said the Governing Council unanimously approved the Selection Board’s recommendation.

“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,” he said.

Prof. Olapegba is the current Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) of UI and a professor in the Department of Psychology at the premier university.

He will assume office on November 1, 2026, when the tenure of the current VC expires.

The appointment of the Igboora-born academic has been welcomed by stakeholders in Ibarapa land who described it as a proud moment for the zone.