University of Ibadan appoints Olapegba as 14th vice-chancellor

The Governing Council of the University of Ibadan has appointed Professor Peter Olamakinde Olapegba as the institution’s 14th vice-chancellor following a competitive selection process involving eight candidates.

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.

Akande said the process to appoint a new vice-chancellor began in line with the provisions of the University Act ahead of the expiration of the tenure of the incumbent vice-chancellor on November 1, 2026.

He explained that advertisements for the position were published in three national newspapers in April, attracting six applications, while a search team later identified two additional qualified candidates, bringing the total to eight.

The pro-chancellor said all eight candidates were assessed by the governing council on July 21, with members independently scoring them based on approved guidelines before five candidates were shortlisted in order of merit for the final stage of the selection process.

“The exercise was thorough, transparent and highly competitive. 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,” Akande said.

He added that the Joint Council-Senate Selection Board, made up of representatives of the council and the university senate, interviewed the five shortlisted candidates before recommending Olapegba for the position.

Professor Olapegba, who currently serves as deputy vice-chancellor (Administration), is a professor in the Department of Psychology. He will succeed the incumbent vice-chancellor whose tenure ends on November 1, 2026.