FUOYE Names Professor Joshua Ogunwole as New Vice Chancellor

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By Johnson Folarin

The Governing Council of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), has approved the appointment of Professor Joshua Olalekan Ogunwole as the institution’s fifth substantive Vice Chancellor.

Announcing the decision at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, November 6, 2025, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, CON, OFR, SAN, said Professor Ogunwole would officially assume office on February 11, 2026, after the expiration of the tenure of the incumbent Vice Chancellor, Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina.

According to Senator Ndoma-Egba, the selection process was rigorous, transparent, and highly competitive — one of the most thorough in FUOYE’s history. Out of 83 applicants, including 64 who applied online and 19 nominated by the Search Team, only 30 candidates made the shortlist after meeting the stipulated criteria.

Following an evidence-based assessment of their credentials and professional achievements, three candidates emerged as the best performers. Professor Joshua Ogunwole topped the list with a remarkable score of 89.9 percent, followed by Professor Alonge Akindele Folarin and Professor Ajewole Moses Oludare, who came second and third respectively.

The Pro-Chancellor described Professor Ogunwole as an accomplished scholar and visionary leader whose outstanding record of service and innovation stood him out among others. “We are confident that Professor Ogunwole’s expertise, discipline, and forward-thinking approach will steer FUOYE to greater heights,” Ndoma-Egba said. “His appointment marks a new era of academic excellence, innovation, and institutional integrity.”

Senator Ndoma-Egba appealed to members of the university community to close ranks and support the new leadership. “The appointment of a new Vice Chancellor naturally comes with diverse interests and emotions,” he said. “Now that the process is concluded, I urge all stakeholders to unite and work together to build a stronger FUOYE.”

He also commended the outgoing Vice Chancellor, Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina, for what he called his transformational leadership and dedication to the university’s growth. “You are leaving office with your head held high,” the Council Chairman said. “Your tenure brought significant infrastructural development and academic stability. We commend your service and congratulate you for finishing well.”

Senator Ndoma-Egba further praised members of the Governing Council for their diligence, commitment, and fairness throughout the selection exercise, noting that the integrity of the process reflected FUOYE’s rising reputation as one of Nigeria’s leading federal universities.

Born on July 23, 1967, in Ibadan, Oyo State, Professor Joshua Olalekan Ogunwole is a distinguished soil scientist from Ogbomoso, Oyo State, with over three decades of academic and administrative experience. He obtained his B.Sc., M.Sc., and Ph.D. degrees in Soil Science from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, where he also began his academic career.

Over the years, Professor Ogunwole has served in several institutions, including ABU Zaria, Adamawa State University, Federal University Dutsin-Ma, and Bowen University. Between 2018 and 2023, he was the Vice Chancellor of Bowen University, Iwo, where he implemented reforms that improved financial management, enhanced staff and student welfare, and expanded research infrastructure.

Before his latest appointment, he served as FUOYE’s Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Strategic Partnerships, Research, Innovation, and Linkages — a role in which he promoted research collaborations and industry-driven innovations.

A recipient of multiple international fellowships, including the Fulbright (USA), TWAS (India/Sri Lanka), and Alexander von Humboldt (Germany), Professor Ogunwole is a Fellow of the African Scientific Institute (ASI) and the Soil Science Society of Nigeria (SSSN). He also serves on the Council of the Nigeria Institute of Soil Science (NISS).

Professor Ogunwole’s five-year tenure as FUOYE’s new Vice Chancellor will commence on February 11, 2026.