The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Dr Tunji Abayomi, has bowed out of office after eight years, declaring that he is leaving the institution stronger and better positioned for further development.
Abayomi, whose two-term tenure ended on August 15, 2026, made the declaration during his valedictory media briefing held on Tuesday, August 11, where he reviewed the council’s achievements in academics, research, infrastructure, staff welfare and strategic partnerships.
The outgoing council chairman said three Vice-Chancellors—Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun, Prof. Olugbenga Ige and the incumbent, Prof. Tomola Obamuyi—served during his tenure. He said he maintained a productive relationship with each of them and supervised the processes that culminated in the appointments of Ige and Obamuyi.
Abayomi identified the expansion of the university’s academic programmes and its accreditation record as major achievements, saying four faculties and several departments were established during his tenure. He added that AAUA maintained 100 per cent accreditation for its programmes from the National Universities Commission over the past five years.
He said, “The expansion of the University’s academic offerings has strengthened its profile and created wider opportunities for students to pursue contemporary and specialised fields of study.”
On research, the former council chairman said nine AAUA academics were recently listed among the world’s top two per cent researchers in the 2024 Elsevier-Stanford ranking. He also highlighted the recognition of the Dean of the Faculty of Computing, Prof. Sunday Olatunji, as Nigeria’s Best Researcher in Artificial Intelligence.
Abayomi further listed infrastructural projects, staff promotions, student welfare initiatives and international collaborations among the council’s achievements. He said the university expanded student accommodation through various interventions, while philanthropist and former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Chief Joseph Sanusi, commenced construction of a new students’ hall.
The outgoing Pro-Chancellor said the council also facilitated the promotion of about 83 academics to Reader and 78 to professorial ranks, while 13 Deputy Registrars and five Deputy Bursars were appointed. He added that the council implemented various wage adjustments and commenced processes for the implementation of the latest Federal Government-ASUU agreement.
“Among the projects were the completion of two wings of the Faculty of Social Sciences building, construction of the new Faculty of Science building, provision of offices for the Faculty of Agriculture, establishment of an Agricultural Farm House and Greenhouse, construction of modern sanitation facilities and the building and commissioning of an Agro Shop,” he stated.
Abayomi expressed appreciation to members of the governing council and other stakeholders for their support throughout his eight-year tenure, saying he was leaving office satisfied with the institution’s progress and confident that the university had been placed on a stronger footing for the future.:::