By Sola Alabadan
Arrangements have been concluded to inaugurate Professor Joseph Babatola Ayodele as the 9th Vice Chancellor of Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti on August 20, 2024 as his appointment takes effect from that day.
The inauguration programme is scheduled to hold at the university auditorium in Ado Ekiti, Ife Oluwole, Registrar and Secretary to the governing council said.
Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji approved the appointment of Prof. Ayodele as the substantive vice chancellor recently.
Ayodele, a Professor of Education Management, was until the appointment, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) of the University.
He will be succeeding Prof, Edward Olanipekun, whose tenure as Vice Chancellor of the University ends on August 19, 2024.
Prof Joseph Babatola 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. He 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.
Prof Ayodele 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.
He had served the University 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.
Governor Oyebanji, who is the Visitor to the University, has urged the incoming Vice Chancellor 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.
