The University of Ibadan has appointed Professor Peter Olamakinde Olapegba as its 14th substantive Vice-Chancellor after a two-day selection process that saw eight professors compete for the institution’s top academic office.
The appointment was approved on Wednesday, July 22, by the University’s Governing Council after it accepted the recommendation of the Joint Council-Senate Selection Board, which adjudged Olapegba the best candidate following the final round of interviews.
The announcement was made in a statement issued by the University’s Directorate of Public Communication after the conclusion of the Governing Council’s meeting.
Professor Olapegba, the current Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), will succeed the outgoing Vice-Chancellor when the office becomes vacant on November 1, 2026.
The selection process began in April when the Governing Council advertised the vacancy in three national newspapers and the university’s official bulletin, in line with the provisions of the University Act. Six professors initially applied for the position.
To widen the search, the Council constituted a Search Team, which identified two additional qualified candidates, bringing the total number of contenders to eight.
The Governing Council interviewed all eight candidates on Tuesday, July 21, and assessed them using approved guidelines. At the end of the exercise, the five highest-ranked candidates were shortlisted for the final stage.
The Joint Council-Senate Selection Board, made up of representatives of both governing bodies as stipulated by law, conducted the final interviews on Wednesday before recommending Professor Olapegba for appointment.
The Council subsequently ratified the recommendation, describing the selection exercise as transparent, competitive and merit-driven.
Professor Olapegba is a distinguished psychologist and academic administrator. He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Psychological Association (FNPA), Fellow of the Society for Peace Studies and Practice (fspsp), a Chartered Psychologist (C.Psych), and a Fellow of the Sports Science Association of Nigeria (FSSAN).
