8 Things To Know About UI’s Newly Appointed Vice Chancellor

The Governing Council of the University of Ibadan has approved the appointment of Professor Peter Olamakinde Olapegba as the institution’s 14th Vice-Chancellor following a competitive selection process involving eight candidates.

According to Ireporter Online, the announcement was made on Wednesday by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Adebisi Akande, who said the appointment followed the recommendation of the Joint Council-Senate Selection Board after a rigorous assessment.

Akande explained that the process to appoint a new Vice-Chancellor commenced in line with the provisions of the University Act ahead of the expiration of the tenure of the incumbent Vice-Chancellor on November 1, 2026.

He disclosed that advertisements for the position were published in three national newspapers in April 2026, attracting six applications. To broaden the pool of candidates, the Governing Council constituted a Search Team, which identified two additional qualified applicants, bringing the total number of contenders to eight.

The council subsequently assessed all eight candidates during interviews held on July 21, with members independently scoring each applicant based on approved guidelines. The exercise produced five top-ranked candidates who advanced to the final stage.

According to Akande, the Joint Council-Senate Selection Board later interviewed the five shortlisted candidates before recommending Professor Olapegba as the most suitable candidate for the position, a recommendation unanimously endorsed by the Governing Council.

He described the selection exercise as transparent, competitive and thorough, expressing confidence in Olapegba’s ability to lead the institution.

Professor Olapegba will succeed the outgoing Vice-Chancellor upon the expiration of the current administration’s tenure on November 1, 2026.

Before his appointment, Olapegba served as the University’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) and is a Professor of Psychology in the institution’s Department of Psychology.

Born on January 26, 1970, in Ibadan, Oyo State, he hails from Igbole Quarters in Igboora. He began his primary education at Anglican Church Primary School, Ilutitun, before completing it at St. Paul’s African Primary School, Lanlate, and later attended Lanlate High School for his secondary education.

He obtained his Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Psychology from the University of Ibadan and joined the institution as an Assistant Lecturer in 2000, rising through the ranks to become a Professor of Psychology in 2014.

Throughout his academic career, Olapegba has held several leadership positions, including Dean of the Faculty of the Social Sciences, Director of Alumni Relations and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration).

He has also distinguished himself in research, securing multiple grants and fellowships, authoring three books, publishing more than 110 scholarly articles and supervising numerous undergraduate and postgraduate students. He serves on the editorial boards of several academic journals and is a Fellow of the Nigerian Psychological Association.

A devout Christian, Professor Olapegba is married with children and now assumes leadership of Nigeria’s premier university as its 14th Vice-Chancellor.