By Nudoiba Ojen
Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji has approved the appointment of Professor Joseph Babatola Ayodele as the Vice Chancellor of Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti.
This was contained in a statement by the Special Adviser (Media) to the Governor, Yinka Oyebode, made available in Ado Ekiti on Monday.
Ayodele, a Professor of Education Management, is until the appointment, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) of the University.
Prof Ayodele’s appointment as Vice Chancellor takes effect from August 20, 2024.
He will take over from Prof, Edward Olanipekun, whose tenure as Vice Chancellor of the University ends on August 19, 2024.
Prof Ayodele was born in Ikere Ekiti, Ikere Local Government area of Ekiti State on August 13, 1963. He attended Annunciation School, Ikere Ekiti from 1974-1979.
He later proceeded to the Ondo State College of Education, Ikere Ekiti for the Nigeria Certificate in Education between 1982 and 1985.
He obtained a First Class Bachelor of Education (B.ed) degree in Economics from the Ondo State University, (now Ekiti State University), Ado- Ekiti in 1992.
Ayodele also bagged a Master’s degree in Education Management from the University of Ibadan, Ibadan in 1997; and a Doctor of Philosophy in Education Management from same University in 2000.
He started his lecturing career as a Graduate Assistant at Ondo State University (now Ekiti State University), Ado-Ekiti, in 1995 and rose through the ranks to the position of a Professor in 2012.
The incoming VC had served EKSU in different capacities notably as Assistant Director, Affiliate Programmes, (2006-2008); Acting Head, Department of Educational Foundations and Management (2010- 2012); Dean, Faculty of Education (2018-2020); Director, Directorate of Continuing Education Programmes/Distance Learning (2020-2022); Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) 2022- date.
Oyebanji, who is the Visitor to the university, urged the new VC “to bring his wealth of experience as an academic and a seasoned administrator to bear in the bid to further reposition the University as a world class institution of learning, even as he wishes him a successful tenure.
The governor thanked the outgoing VC, Olanipekun, “for his meritorious service to the University” and wished him success in his future endeavours.
