By Abuchi Obiora (Education Monitor)
With seventy four federal Universities (and still counting!) presently established across Nigeria and recognized by the National Universities Commission (NUC) as of January 2026, the bar has quite been raised for the many universities to exert competitive edges over and above themselves in pursuing academic excellence and graduating professionals and other skilled and competent people who will prove their mettles in contributing to the various developmental stages of Nigeria’s national economy and the economies of the countries where the graduates of these Universities may choose to operate in and vend their skills around the world.
In this high stake expectation, the onus for achieving excellence in these Universities therefore rests squarely on the shoulders of the Vice Chancellor of the University whose office is saddled with such major roles within the university community as:
To drive academic excellence within the university by providing strategic directions for that purpose and overseeing academic programs ensuring that high quality standards in line with national and international expectations are met.
Core administration functions of managing resources equitably including the management of staff, finance and infrastructure in the university.
Policy implementation of the decisions of the universities governing council to achieve expected and projected outcomes.
Representing the public face and symbol of the university through projecting, by their decisions and actions, academic and moral excellence.
Overseeing student welfare programs and packages to ensure conducive learning environment that will quality the expected quality of graduates.
Conducting the university in such ways as to attract funds from national and international community for research and innovations.
Developing partnership and strategic synergy with relevant stakeholders within the ambit of beneficial community engagement.
It is from these seven salient points which constitute the core academic and administrative functions expected of the Vice Chancellor of a Federal University in Nigeria that we will be examining, assessing and showcasing the success story of Prof. Olayemi Akinwunmi, the 3rd and out-going Vice Chancellor of Federal University, Lokoja.
The tenure of Prof. Olayemi Akinwunmi as the Vice Chancellor of Federal University Lokoja which runs to a total of 1825 days (he resumed office on 15th February, 2021) has not in any way been a mean feat. It has been action-packed all the way!
This much is articulated in the Prof’s diary tenaciously kept in the manner only a historian like him can record, a veritable piece of priceless and timeless document and memoir which he has authored with the title “Not A Walk In The Park: A Vice Chancellor Story”.
But we shall go beyond his memoir and collaborate it with reports by other people to access what is presently on ground at Federal University Lokoja, which represents the enduring legacy of this high performer in the office as the Vice Chancellor of Federal University, Lokoja.
“Writing in the forward to the book “Not A Walk In The Park: A Vice Chancellors Story”, Prof. Yakubu A. Ochefu, a professional colleague of Prof. Olayemi Akinwunmi and the immediate past Secretary-General of the committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities who also was a former President of Historical Society of Nigeria that handed over the presidency of that esteemed professional body to Prof. Olayemi Akinwunmi observed, “…the job of a Vice Chancellor in the Nigerian public University system is one of the most difficult administrative assignments in the country” adding that “….it requires the patience of Job, the wisdom of Solomon, the skin of a Rhinoceros, and the strategic agility of a military general”.
As the Chief Executive Officer of the Federal University Lokoja, Prof. Olayemi Akinwumi has etched his name deeply in gold in meeting up and possibly exceeding the vision and mission statement as articulated by the different layers of authorities who chose him for that job and reposed their confidence and trust on his capacity to completely deliver the mandate of able leadership during the years that he has been in the saddle.
We may not have enough space to write about the many achievements of this historian, scholar and administrator of immense acumen and capabilities in this limited citation but we will take a look, just a summary of the overall impacts of the Prof. in his capacity as the Vice Chancellor of Federal University, Lokoja within the perspective of the seven points mandate that constitute the core academic and administrative functions of the Vice Chancellor of a Nigerian Federal University.
Before we do this, let us quickly get a brief background knowledge of the man to whom we doff our caps for his exceptional delivery of the best that can be gotten from an office that he will most gloriously be vacating on the 13th of February, 2026.
A Professor of African History, Olayemi Akinwunmi was born on January 1964. He graduated from University of Ilorin with his first degree in history. He later earned his Masters and Ph.D Degrees in the same University.
Prof. Olayemi Akinwunmi started his lecturing job in the same university where he rose to become a Senior Lecturer in 1996. He was a visiting Professor at the Institute for Ethnologie, Freie Universitate, Berlin, Germany from 1994 to 2004. He joined Nasarawa State University, Keffi in the same year and rose to hold various positions including Head of Department, Dean of Faculty, and Deputy Vice Chancellor. From his Deputy Vice Chancellorship position in Federal University Keffi, Nasarawa State, he eventually, not by dint of luck only, but also with his pedigree as a good university administrator as shown in his activities in Nasarawa state University, Keffi, was appointed as the Vice Chancellor of Federal University Lokoja.
In establishing Federal Universities in Nigeria, the aim of the Nigerian government according to government papers “Was to not only accelerate equitable access to higher education in Nigeria but also build institutions that can support Nigerian’s drive for rapid development through the availability of quality manpower and a knowledge base to drive competitiveness”.
Pursuant to this goal, the government of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan founded the Federal University Lokoja on February 16th 2011 and the University began operation having been granted immediate approval by the National Universities Commission with that agency of government giving directives for the intake of the first set of students in 2012 for resumption of lectures in two approved facilities (campuses) of the University.
With the two campuses in the early and various stages of development in terms of infrastructure, Prof. Abdulmumini Hassan Rafindadi became the pioneer Vice Chancellor with his tenure spanning between 2011-2016.
With its establishment, the University has already stepped onto the march to greatness when Prof. Angela Freeman whose Vice Chancellorship tenure lasted between 2016 to 2021, took up position as the second VC of the University.
The march onto greatness of Federal University, Lokoja was to be steeped up and accelerated with the coming of Prof. Olayemi Durotimi Akinwunmi Ph.D, AVHF, FHSN, FNAL, FSPSP, as the Vice Chancellor of the University from his Deputy Vice Chancellorship (Academics) position in the Nasarawa State University, Keffi.
From this time onwards, so many things changed in the Federal University, Lokoja. In taking over, Prof. Olayemi Akinwunmi who has already been exposed severally in the academics and other core administrative duties of Universities both here and overseas took a bold working attitude of what may be called declaring “State of Emergency” on the infrastructural development of the University wherefore the campuses either got enlarged or were added unto to befit the status of a Federal University as well as reflect the high standard envisioned by the Governing Council of the University.
Apart from accelerating infrastructural development in Federal University, Lokoja Prof. Olayemi Akinwunmi has initiated many other institutions to improve the University.
The greatest challenge any Vice Chancellor of a Nigerian Federal University could face on the assumption of office is funding his vision to achieve targets and set goals.
This was the first problem which Prof. Olayemi Akinwunmi confronted and effectively solved. He did this by thinking out of the box and initiating some novel methods and models to achieve his targets and set goals.
Worth mentioning is the manner Prof. Olayemi Akinwunmi accelerated infrastructural development almost eradicating the deficit in infrastructure that hitherto existed in the university before he assumed the Chancellorship position at the Federal University, Lokoja is his creative, business-like, businessman’s approach to solving problems that needed urgent solution. His great acumen in creativity accessed him the novel use of Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) and Public Private Partnership (PPP) models to fast-track the infrastructural development and building facilities urgently needed for the complete, smooth and unhindered operation of the university.
This perhaps is his magic wand. In order to put ourselves fully in the picture to understand the conditions and circumstances that shaped up the ‘magic’ which Prof. Olayemii Akinwunmi performed during his tenure as the Vice Chancellor at Federal University, Lokoja, we must take some readings from his ‘Challenge’ ‘Distractions’ and Relationship with the Governing Council” which constitute Chapters 12, 13, and 14 respectively in is memoir “Not A Walk In The Park: A Vice Chancellor Stay”
Another rare but bold step which Prof. Olayemi Akinwunmi, the Businessman-Professor did to enhance financial accruements to Federal University, Lokoja as he judiciously made use of the stipends that come as subventions from the funding organs established by government to take care of the financial side of running Federal Universities, is to initiate businesses for the benefit of the University.
These businesses include:
The University printing press
Block Industry and cement shop.
An integrated agricultural farm including a poultry section to supply protein to the University community.
A consultancy and business ventures company to register and handle logistics for companies who may be interested in opening up shops within the University Community.
Introduction of Part-Time, Diploma and Pre-Degree courses for the University both for the reason of financial benefit and for championing mass literacy across Kogi State and the environs.
The establishment of a University Guest House with a corresponding catering services arm of the Guest House.
Other challenges which Prof. Olayemi Akinwunmi inherited from his predecessors and surmounted by changing the narratives for effective administration of the University which gave us the reason and impetus to write so eloquently about him in this citation include:
Unskilled and incapable hands to execute his vision and mission statement
Insecurity, an albatross presently working against the safety of lives and properties across Nigeria.
His bold decision to relocate the University to the permanent site at the height of grave insecurity in the northern part of Nigeria, not excepting Kogi State, was effectively supported by corresponding actions.
Apart from engaging local hunters to secure the permanent site which is at the outskirts of the city, he secured the services of all the security agencies in Nigeria to guide the permanent site as well as do periodical patrol within the vicinity.
But most surprisingly, this wise man in the calibre of Solomon as observed by his professional colleague in the FORWARD of the memoir by Prof. Olayemi Akinwunmi, was to stagger the lecture time to the hours of the day he deemed to be safe to ensure safety of students and staff from kidnapping by marauding bandits and terrorists.
There are other internal challenges which he faced and surmounted and they include:
Student and staff indiscipline
Staff strike actions and student unrest.
Lack of certificate of occupancy by the university for its landed properties etc, etc.
In his memoir, Prof. Olayemi Akinwunmi observed that the distractions he faced were equally as daunting as the challenges he encountered and all of them were humungous enough to have thrown his efforts overboard if he was not careful in handling them.
Some of these distractions included the normal Nigerian civil service drills that accompany the grapevine stories emanating from the lack-luster attitude of unserious competitors and rivals who will always want to constitute clogs in the wheel of progress being recorded by great achievers like Prof. Olayemi Akinwunmi.
The usual consequences of these diversionary salvos are that the attention of and watchdog organs of government were drawn to the university. But Prof. Olayemi Akinwunmi in the manner of Solomon handled the diversions wisely.
The internal distractions as recorded in his memoir were some minor, unpleasant skirmishes and disgruntled activities from some uninformed or less informed members of the student union government. But in his Solomonic wisdom again, the Prof. handled all the distractions wisely not losing focus of his vision and mission, but making good out of them all.
The crowning point of the Solomanic wisdom of Prof. Olayemi Akinwunmi was the very cordial and smooth relationship he had with the Governing Council of the university while his tenure as the Vice Chancellor lasted.
In the manner of Solomon, he used the cunning of the serpent, ferociousness of the lion and the tack and exactness of the bull to navigate the usual uncertain waters of boardroom politics and subtle diplomacy that often characterize the meetings and brain-storming sessions of great minds as those twelve illustrious gentlemen and three distinguished ladies of honour who joined him as members of the governing council and the decision-making body of Federal University, Lokoja.
The end result of that cordial relationship was that he navigated the coast well and dogged many a turbulence and rippled waters that torpedoed the concerted efforts of some Vice Chancellors to meet their set targets. In so doing, he has, not surprisingly, berthed the ship of his tenure in safe waters after a successful voyage.
In general, the initiatives of Prof. Olayemi Akinwunmi covers the following areas:
Overseeing the accreditation of new programs, expansion of academic structures, etc.
Securing funding for a 1.721 MWp-4MWh Hybrid Solar electrification system which ensures 24-hour non-stop off-grid power supply to the university.
Introduction of new faculties in the university including Faculties of Medicine and Surgery, Engineering and Law. He also oversaw the introduction of 32 new academic programs with more than 50 gaining accreditation.
Enhanced research and partnerships through national and international collaborations to attract necessary grants and funding.
Increment during his tenure of inaugural lectures from just two to thirty seven and organized 19 distinguished public lectures in order to promote excellence and celebrate human intellect within the university.
In student welfare, Prof. Olayemi Akinwunmi introduced various scholarships and affordable fees for the students and encouraged dialogue with the student union government thereby enhancing amity, peace and unity within the university campuses and hostels.
The Vice Chancellorship tenure of Prof. Olayemi Akinwunmi witnessed a 19% growth in faculty strength and a 400% increase in student population in addition to initiating thriving research culture and an ICT-based learning system in a peaceful harmonious University community environment.
Having mentioned the initiatives in the vision of Prof. Olayemi Akinwunmi at Federal University Lokoja it will be a disservice to him if we fail to be specific and enumerate the projects which he implemented for the records.
Those facilities included but are not limited to:
The University Senate Building
Faculty of Agriculture Building
The University Mini Stadium and Recreation Centre.
Security Office Blocks
Assembly Hall
Internal Road network and solar powered street lights.
Faculty to Engineering Building
Faculty of Law Building
Lecture Rooms for Students
Directorate of Entrepreneurship Studies and Skills Acquisition Building
University Clinic
Lecture theater for the Faculty of Arts, etc, etc.
As we contemplate the fact that these facilities are presently on ground within the campuses of Federal University, Lokoja, we also remember that some government officials in Nigeria with huge budgetary allocations at their disposal have severally been called ‘Mr. Projects’. But the truth is that in Prof. Olayemi Akinwunmi, a careful, scrupulous and tenacious planner and prudent manager of scarce resources allocated to him in the manner funds are released to other Federal Universities, we find a practical ‘Mr. Project’ unequivocally merited, offering him a leeway for consideration for future and greater assignments both in Nigeria and across the boarders of Nigeria as he vacates his Vice Chancellorship position at the Federal University, Lokoja.
Additionally, it is important to mention here that this shrewd businessman donned in his professional academic gown, yet competing effectively with the best businessmen in town attracted donations from different people on behalf of the University. These donations include but are not limited to:
Faculty of Pharmacy Complex
Memorial Lecture Hall
Central Laboratory
Agribusiness Building
Lawn tennis Court
Other internal road networks different from the one he worked out to be funded directly by the University
An art gallery to showcase African arts, fabric and furniture.
The stuff which the Prof. is made of may have been noticed earlier than us by people who had the privilege and honour to have worked with him. No wonder the recognitions garnered from around the world by him.
Prof. Olayemi Akinwunmi has over the years been endowed with many prestigious Awards by several international organizations and academic institutions who honoured him respectively in those areas where he has excelled and greatly contributed in the advancement of the body of knowledge available to human beings.
These awards include:
Ali Mazrul Award for Academic Excellence
Stellenbosch Institute of Advanced Studies Award
Alexdander von Humboldt Award
Universitat Zurich Nord-Sud-Kooperation Award.
European Research Award
Institute of Common-Wealth Studies Award etc, etc.
Perhaps, it is important to chip in some words here about the type of Awards which the intellectual erudition of Prof. Olayemi Akinwunmi attracts to him.
Let us do this by saying something about Ali Mazrui whose name one of his Awards carries as an epitome of academic excellence.
Ali Mazrui, a renowned Kenyan-born American scholar, academic, professor and political writer on African and Islamic studies and North-South Relations, was born on 24th February, 1933 in Mombasa, Kenya, then a colony at Britain.
One of the most successful works he did on North-South relations/dialogue, a TV documentary “The Africans: A Triple heritage” a nine part serial which was produced by the BBC and PBS in association with the Nigerian Television authority featured in 1986 became a hit drawing many viewers around the world. The documentary was later transformed into a best-seller book with the same title.
“The Africans: A Triple heritage” argues that Africa’s unique blend of traditions has shaped it’s past, present and future and offers a nuanced perspective on African place in the world, explaining out the reason for the difficulties Africa presently experience in her politics, economics, arts and spirituality as off-shots of the impact of colonization, western civilization (Christianity) and Islam on Africans’ ancient civilization. These are what he called the triple heritage.
Having a passionate interest in English Language, literature and history even at that time, yours sincerely, myself, made sure that I was always glued to the television set as I hooked on to the NTA network services watching and listening to Prof. Ali Mazrui’s informed expose and analysis of African history and the negative impacts of the superimposition of an alien civilization on the civilization of a people that were the earliest civilized members of homo sapiens.
The reason why I have decided to tell a little story about the eminent personality of Prof. Ali Mazrui on whose name and possible academic attainments one of the awards-received by Prof. Olayemi Akinwunmi was founded is to recognize the fact that it must not be a mean record for Prof. Olayemi Akinwunmi, himself a historian, to be noticed and crowned by an international body founded on the ideals, tenets and achievements of evidently one of the greatest historians that has ever lived the world, in African history and ancient values.
Apart from the academic awards, Prof. Olayemi Akinwunmi has gotten over 70 publications to his credit in national and international journals and have also authorized two professional books, notably; “Conflicts and Cases in Nigeria: A political History Since 1960” and “Colonial Contest for the Nigerian Region: A History of the German Participation”.
These two professional books, of course, are apart from some other general interest books written by him, which includes his memoir (already mentioned) recently published in 2026.
At this point and before we conclude this citation for a man who have worked himself up to be a model case study for prospective aspirants in Nigeria to the office of the Vice Chancellor of a University, it is important to learn something about how he handled the challenges, obstacles and distractions that he encountered on the road to success and how he surmounted them before he could attain the respect and recognition which The Education Monitor Newspaper Group and other stake holders in the Nigerian education subsector and around the world, give him.
With his track record and antecedents in academic and financial administration, it is therefore no surprise that Prof. Olayemi Akinwunmi had blazed a trial in Federal University, Lokoja, distinguishing himself as someone with immense capabilities amongst his peers.
With these lofty and yet-to-be equaled achievements in Federal University, Lokoja, Prof. Olayemi Akinwunmi will, for many years to come remain a symbol of astounding successes deeply etched in gold, and worthy of emulation by future Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities who may be called upon to start “from the scratch” and put the Universities that they may be entrusted with in the world map as has just been done by Prof. Olayemi Akinwunmi within the 1825 days he has been in the saddle and at the driving seat directing the affairs in the wheel of progress and expansion at the Federal University, Lokoja.
Reflecting on the targets he set for himself on the assumption of office, and the fact that he completely succeeded in all his assignments during his stewardship as the Vice Chancellor of Federal University Lokoja, we can confidently say that Prof. Olayemi Akinwunmi is made of the complex stuff to withstand all obstacles on his way to great achievements which stuff can only be found in the Patience of Job, the Wisdom of Solomon, the skin of a Rhinoceros, and the strategic agility of a military general all combined.
To this great achiever, we wish more fruitful years in the service of Nigeria and the world in whichever office he will next operate.
As we end this citation for him, we are emotionally touched to do it the Nigerian way as we usually do to herald and acknowledge great accomplishments of our people by offering three loud ‘Gbosaas’ to the most distinguished and exceptionally accomplished Prof….. “Gbosaa…! Gbosaa…!! Gbosaa…!!!
THE IN-COMING 4TH VICE CHANCELLOR OF FEDERAL UNIVERSITY LOKOJA,
PROF. GBENGA S. IBILEYE: THE MAN, HIS PRIORITIES, HIS VISION
Though we are aware and understand that the stakes are high because the bar has been raised higher up by the standard set by the out-going Vice Chancellor of Federal University, Lokoja, yet we are much enamored and encouraged by the appointment of yet another high-flyer, the in-coming Vice Chancellor of Federal University, Lokoja, in no less another seasoned academic and administrator, Prof. Gbenga S. Ibileye.
Articulating the action plan for his Vice Chancellorship tenure in Federal University, Lokoja, the in-coming Vice Chancellor was clear in his vision and mission in FUL between the years 2026 and 2031 as his tenure endures.
In his own words, Prof. Gbenga S. Ibileye who will serve as the 4th Vice Chancellor of Federal University, Lokoja taking over on the exit of Prof. Olayemi Akinwunmi summed up what he intends to do while in office in the following words “This strategic plan is designed to transform Federal University, Lokoja into a world class institution by aligning immediate actions with long-term goals. It offers not only a vision but also measurable steps, clear responsibilities and risk-mitigating strategies…”
This is really a very ambitious projection for himself especially given the very high standard already set by his predecessor who brazed the trail breaking all odds to soar like the eagle over and above challenges and obstacles he met in a Federal University that was only existing on the map with very little empirical things to show for its existence on the ground.
But before we find out how Prof. Gbenga S. Ibileye intends to sail through the already turbo-charged environment of popular expectation that will demand the best of his efforts to assuage as the Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chancellor of Federal University and hopefully illuminate the achievement scape brighter than his predecessor did, let us delve into his background, academic and administrative, to find out if really a square peg has been found for a square hole.
Gbenga S. Ibileye, being what Nigerians will call “Son of the Soil” in the place where providence has placed him for his career has been specially prepared for the job he will soon assumed having grown through the mills of academic and administrative engagements within the confines of the University where he has gotten the trust and privilege to be its Chief Executive Officer.
A distinguished Nigerian academic and renowned scholar with a wealth of experience both in academia and leadership roles in administration, Prof. Gbenga S. Ibileye holds a Ph.D in English language from the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University Zaria (2002) and post-Graduate Diploma in Education from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).
He has done many researches and participated with other scholars across multi-disciplinary endeavours on wide and varied subject-matters which include Discourse Analysis, Pragmatics, Legal Linguistics, Forensic Linguistics, Applied Linguistics with specialization in Political Discourse, Media Analysis, Constitutional Language and Communication in Leadership.
As for his experience which prepared him for the special role as the ‘numero un’ in a University where he has firmly found his feet deeply on ground having played the various roles of the acting Vice Chancellor of the University; Provost, College of Post Graduate Studies (2021-2025); Chairman, Strategic Planning Committee; Pioneer Director, General Studies; Head, Department of English and Literary Studies (2015-2017); and Head, Department of Theatre Arts (2021-2025).
Amongst the Awards so far received by this seasoned scholar and administrator long hidden within the environment of Kogi hills but just discovered as a perfect replacement to take the relay baton securely gripped by his predecessors ready to be transferred to him as the new Vice Chancellor of Federal University, Lokoja are:
• Distinguished Pragmatic Award (2025).
• Noble (not Nobel) Prize for Education (2024).
• Hall of Fame Induction (2023).
• In-house Awards from Federal University, Lokoja, for excellence in teaching and administration.
With the above information about the Prof. in view, we will want to say in our own Nigerian parlance, our special Nigerian ‘Linguistics’, that Prof. Gbenga S. Ibileye has paid his dues for which reason he is well ‘loaded’ for the great task he has just been given as the Vice Chancellor of Federal University, Lokoja.
In his application for the esteemed office of the VC of FUL, Prof. Gbenga S. Ibileye openly admitted that he will raise the bar of academic, financial, staff and student administration even higher than he is receiving it from his predecessor through equaling it or even surpassing the efforts of his predecessor.
The way he intends to do this is what he sums up as his ‘Goals’ to be “Consolidation, Innovation and Sustainability for Institutional Resilience, 2026-2031”.
Amongst the five goals which he wants to achieve through expanding on what is presently on the ground or initiating new ones are:
Strategic governance in leadership and institutional stability.
Providing a conducive environment to achieve academic and learning excellence for staff and students.
Emphasis on research, innovation and global partnership.
Enhancement of infrastructure, ICT and community engagement and sustenance of cordial external relations with stakeholders in the university.
Improving on staff and students welfare programs and securing continuation of what is presently on ground as the operational mode in university/staff relations.
It is important to observe here that Prof. Gbenga S. Ibileye has already articulated and submitted these action plans with a complete time-bound and measurable index for their achievement and delivered it to his employers so with his immense wealth of exposure and experience in human resources, materials and financial management, we at the Education Monitor Group of Newspapers have no doubt that a square peg has actually found itself securely plugged into a square hole.
As his tenure as the Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive officer of Federal University, Lokoja endures, we shall be here to monitor his progress and access the level of achievement for the goals he set for himself as we also hope that he will work tirelessly and assiduously to deliver on his promises.
It shall be our duty also to inform our teeming readership, the Nigerian University communities particularly and the Nigerian education sector generally about the successes which we, no doubt, expect that he will record during his tenure as the Vice Chancellor of Federal University, Lokoja Kogi State, Nigeria.
To you, sir, our most distinguished and eminent Prof. of English language, Gbenga S. Ibileye, we say, Congratulations Sir, on your new appointment as we also wish you an event-packed tenure trailed with great successes firmly fixed on the marble of time.
Below is The Vision Template Plan