Ajayi Crowther University Appoints First Female Vice-Chancellor

The governing council of Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, has appointed Prof. Ebunoluwa Olufemi Oduwole as the first female vice-chancellor of the institution.

Prof. Oduwole brings to the role an exceptional wealth of experience in university administration, spanning over 39 years of service in the Nigerian university system.

She is set to succeed Prof. Timothy Adebayo, the current Vice-Chancellor, whose five-year tenure concludes in a few months.

Between 1983 and 2002, Prof. Oduwole obtained a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in Philosophy from the University of Ibadan; a Master of Science in Bioethics from a consortium of three European universities; Katholieke University, Leuven (Belgium), Radboud University, Nijmegen (Netherlands), and the University of Padova (Italy); and later earned her Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Ibadan.

She joined Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) in 1985 and rose through the ranks to become a Professor of African Philosophy, with specialisation in Ethics, Bioethics, Philosophy of Religion, Gender Studies, and African Studies.

Prof. Oduwole’s administrative track record is both rich and impactful. She has held numerous leadership positions at OOU.

Between 2016 and 2018, she served as the only Deputy Vice-Chancellor to simultaneously oversee both academic and administrative portfolios of the university.

Between 2018 and 2020, Prof Oduwole served as the Vice-Chancellor, Administration of the university. In 2003, she was appointed Head of the Department of Philosophy, OOU, a position she occupied until 2006 when she rose to the position of Dean of the Faculty of Arts.

In addition, she is an active member of the Senate and Governing Council of Olabisi Onabanjo University and has served on several strategic committees within the university system. Her administrative influence extends beyond OOU, having served on various committees at the University of Ibadan, University of Lagos, Lagos State University, and Osun State University.

She is also a member of the Governing Council of Ajayi Crowther University and sits on the Church of Nigeria Theological Accreditation and Regulatory Board.

With a vast academic and administrative knowledge in university management, her appointment as Vice-Chancellor of ACU promises a new chapter of visionary leadership and a historic milestone for the University.