Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, has made history with the appointment of Prof. Ebunoluwa Olufemi Oduwole as its first female Vice-Chancellor. The announcement was made in a statement released by the university’s Governing Council.
Prof. Oduwole, a seasoned academic with over 39 years of experience in the Nigerian university system, is set to take over from the outgoing Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Timothy Adebayo, whose tenure ends in a few months.
Her academic journey began at the University of Ibadan, where she earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Philosophy between 1983 and 2002. She went on to obtain a Master’s degree in Bioethics from a prestigious consortium of European universities—Katholieke University, Leuven (Belgium), Radboud University, Nijmegen (Netherlands), and the University of Padova (Italy)—and later completed her Ph.D. in Philosophy at the University of Ibadan.
Prof. Oduwole joined Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) in 1985, where she rose to become a Professor of African Philosophy with specialisations in Ethics, Bioethics, Philosophy of Religion, Gender Studies, and African Studies.
Her leadership portfolio is both broad and distinguished. She has held several administrative roles at OOU, including:
- Deputy Vice-Chancellor (2016–2018) overseeing both academic and administrative functions,
- Vice-Chancellor (Administration) from 2018 to 2020,
- Head of the Department of Philosophy (2003–2006),
- And later Dean of the Faculty of Arts.
Beyond OOU, Prof. Oduwole has served on academic and administrative committees at the University of Ibadan, University of Lagos, Lagos State University, and Osun State University. She is also a current member of the Governing Council of Ajayi Crowther University and sits on the Church of Nigeria Theological Accreditation and Regulatory Board.
Her appointment marks not just a significant personal achievement, but also a historic milestone for Ajayi Crowther University. With her impressive academic background and vast administrative experience, the university is poised for a new era of transformative leadership under Prof. Oduwole’s guidance.
