In a significant development for tertiary education in Ekiti State, Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji has approved the appointment of Professor Abayomi Babatunde Omojola as the substantive Vice-Chancellor of Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere-Ekiti (BOUESTI). The appointment, which takes immediate effect, marks a new chapter for the young institution established in 2020 and named after the late former Governor of old Ondo State, Pastor Bamidele Olumilua.
The announcement was formally conveyed through an official statement issued on Monday in Ado-Ekiti by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Yinka Oyebode. The statement, which was promptly circulated to journalists and media houses across the state, underscored the governor’s confidence in Professor Omojola’s ability to lead the university to greater heights.
Professor Omojola, a distinguished scholar in the field of Animal Science with particular expertise in Animal Products and Processing as well as Food Safety, is no stranger to academic leadership. Until his new appointment, he served as the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture at the prestigious University of Ibadan, one of Nigeria’s foremost institutions of higher learning. His transition from one of the country’s oldest and most respected universities to a relatively young state-owned institution in his home state has been widely interpreted as a homecoming of sorts and a strategic move to inject world-class academic standards into BOUESTI.
Born on August 14, 1962, in Usi-Ekiti, a community in Ido/Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Professor Omojola is a true son of the soil. His educational journey began in his hometown, where he attended Notre Dame College, Usi-Ekiti, for his secondary education between 1976 and 1980. Demonstrating early academic brilliance, he gained admission into the University of Ibadan in 1984, graduating in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science, earning a Second Class Honours (Upper Division) – a remarkable achievement that set the tone for his illustrious career.
He remained at Ibadan for his postgraduate studies, obtaining a Master of Science degree in Animal Science in 1991 and later a Doctor of Philosophy in the same discipline in 1997. His deep-rooted connection with the University of Ibadan spans over three decades, beginning as a Lecturer II in 1997 and steadily progressing through the academic ranks to attain the prestigious rank of full Professor in October 2011.
Throughout his career, Professor Omojola has combined teaching, research, and administrative responsibilities with exceptional competence. He served as Head of the Animal Products and Processing Unit in the Department of Animal Science from 2000 to 2023 – an unprecedented 23-year tenure that speaks volumes about his leadership stability and impact in that specialized unit. Between 2016 and 2018, he was the Director of the University of Ibadan Teaching and Research Farms, a critical facility for practical training in agriculture.
His influence extended beyond Nigeria’s borders. From 2013 to 2019, he served as a Visiting Professor at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Ghana, contributing significantly to academic programmes in West Africa. Within Nigeria, he functioned as an External Examiner for the University of Calabar (2012–2016) and Osun State University, Osogbo (2015–2018). At the University of Ibadan, he was an active member of the University Senate from 2011 until his recent appointment and chaired the influential Committee of Deans, Heads of Departments, and Directors.
Governor Oyebanji, who by virtue of his office is the Visitor to BOUESTI, expressed strong confidence in the new Vice-Chancellor’s capacity to transform the institution. In his message, the governor charged Professor Omojola to deploy his vast experience as an accomplished academic and seasoned administrator toward repositioning the university as a globally competitive centre of learning, particularly in education, science, and technology – the core mandate of the institution.
The governor equally used the occasion to extend heartfelt appreciation to the outgoing Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olufemi Adeoluwa, whose five-year tenure will formally end on January 6, 2026. Professor Adeoluwa, the pioneer Vice-Chancellor of BOUESTI, has been widely commended for laying a solid foundation for the university since its upgrading from the College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti, to a full-fledged university in 2020. Governor Oyebanji described his service as meritorious and wished him success in his future endeavours.
The appointment has been warmly received across Ekiti State, with many stakeholders viewing it as a deliberate effort by the Oyebanji administration to prioritize competence, merit, and local content in the leadership of state-owned tertiary institutions. Observers note that Professor Omojola’s homegrown pedigree, coupled with his outstanding track record at the University of Ibadan, positions him uniquely to understand both the aspirations of Ekiti people and the rigorous demands of 21st-century university administration.
As BOUESTI continues to carve a niche for itself among Nigeria’s specialized universities, the incoming Vice-Chancellor is expected to focus on staff development, infrastructural expansion, research commercialization, and stronger industry linkages – especially in agriculture and food technology, areas where he has distinguished himself over the decades.
With this appointment, Governor Biodun Oyebanji has once again demonstrated his administration’s commitment to revitalizing the education sector in Ekiti State, ensuring that institutions like BOUESTI not only produce graduates but also serve as engines of innovation and socio-economic development for the state and the nation at large.
The entire university community, alumni, and people of Ekiti State have been urged to extend maximum cooperation to the new Vice-Chancellor as he assumes duty at a time when the institution is poised for rapid growth and global recognition.
