Adebowale ends tenure as UI vice-chancellor, flags funding as biggest hurdle

Professor Kayode Adebowale has closed out his run as the 13th Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan (UI), telling a farewell gathering that the school is in solid shape but still has ground to cover before it can call itself world-class.

The valedictory ceremony held at Trenchard Hall was themed “Celebrating Leadership, Legacy and Service.” It drew government officials, university administrators, union leaders, religious figures, security agencies and community leaders.

For ordinary Nigerians, the handover matters beyond the campus gates. UI is one of the country's flagship federal universities, and its leadership sets the tone for staff welfare, research funding and the quality of training thousands of students receive each year.

What Adebowale said

Adebowale said his administration put the welfare of staff and members of the university community first, arguing that no institution can deliver on its mandate without looking after its people. He described the job as heavy, saying every decision carries consequences for lives and futures.

He said he ran an open style of leadership, consulted widely, followed due process and defended the university's autonomy. He also said UI continues to attract strong students and academics, and that partnerships with government agencies have helped align its research with national needs.

His main worry, he said, is money. Adebowale called funding a persistent challenge and said sustained investment is needed to upgrade facilities and lift the university's standing internationally.

Speaking as chairman of the occasion, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr Olumuyiwa Enitan Caleb, praised Adebowale for protecting UI's heritage while making the institution more responsive to new challenges. He linked the outgoing vice-chancellor's approach to President Bola Tinubu's Renewed Hope agenda, especially its focus on strong institutions and a knowledge-driven economy.

Caleb also said the civil service is undergoing reforms aimed at efficiency, accountability and better service to citizens, and that universities stand to benefit.

Handover to the 14th vice-chancellor

The UI branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) added its voice through chairman Dr Adefemi Afolabi, who was represented by vice-chairman Dr Tayo Ajibade. Afolabi credited Adebowale with prioritising staff welfare and asked the incoming 14th vice-chancellor, Professor Olapegba, to keep that focus.

Olapegba is himself a former ASUU executive at the university.