Prof Kayode Adebowale’s five-year tenure as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan ended on Saturday, October 31, as the academic community, government officials, and other stakeholders gathered to celebrate his leadership and reflect on the institution’s future.
At a valedictory ceremony held at Trenchard Hall, the outgoing 13th Vice-Chancellor acknowledged that although his administration was leaving behind a strong institution, significant challenges, particularly funding and infrastructure development, remained.
The ceremony, themed “Celebrating Leadership, Legacy and Service”, also gave the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) an opportunity to outline its expectations for his successor, Prof Peter Olapegba, who assumed office as the university’s 14th Vice-Chancellor on Sunday, November 1, 2026.
In a goodwill message delivered by its Vice-Chairman, Dr Tayo Ajibade, the ASUU Chairman, Dr Adefemi Afolabi, commended Adebowale for his friendly disposition towards the welfare of union members.
He, however, urged Olapegba, a former ASUU executive member at the university, to make staff welfare a priority during his administration.
In his valedictory address, Adebowale emphasised the importance of people-centred leadership, arguing that an institution could not fulfil its mission without adequately caring for its workforce.
“Any organisation that does not care for its people cannot fulfil its mission,” he said.
Describing the university he was leaving behind as strong but imperfect, Adebowale acknowledged that more work was required to position the institution among the world’s leading universities.
He particularly identified sustainable funding and excellent infrastructure as critical requirements for achieving that ambition.
“Leadership is a burden. Every decision carries the weight of lives and destinies,” he said, explaining that his administration had relied on consultations, listened to members of the university community and upheld due process.
Adebowale also said he had defended the institution’s autonomy and governed with integrity.
He maintained that the University of Ibadan continued to attract outstanding students and reputable scholars, adding that partnerships with government agencies had helped ensure that its research addressed national development needs.
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Olumuyiwa Enitan, who chaired the ceremony, commended Adebowale for preserving the university’s heritage while building a resilient institution capable of responding to emerging challenges.
Enitan described the outgoing Vice-Chancellor’s leadership as consistent with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its emphasis on strong institutions and a knowledge-driven economy.
He also disclosed that the Federal Civil Service was undergoing reforms aimed at improving efficiency, productivity, integrity and citizen-centred service delivery.
According to him, the university system would benefit from the positive outcomes of the reforms.
Adebowale was announced as the university’s 13th Vice-Chancellor on October 14, 2021, and officially assumed office on November 1 of the same year.
His departure marks the end of a five-year administration, while Olapegba begins a new leadership chapter with expectations surrounding staff welfare, infrastructure development, sustainable funding and the continued advancement of the university’s academic reputation.
