Abdulrasaq Abubakar Toyin University (AATU) has appointed Professor Olayemi Mikail Olaniyi as its first substantive Vice-Chancellor. The 47-year-old Professor of Computer Engineering was appointed on September 4, 2026, and assumed duties the same day. The appointment was approved by the university's Board of Trustees. Olaniyi's appointment was carefully considered by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Professor Abdul-Rasheed Na'Allah.
According to Professor Na'Allah, Olaniyi's wealth of academic and administrative experience will be deployed to the management of AATU. The new Vice-Chancellor is expected to work with the Governing Council to improve efficiency and drive the university's development. Olaniyi has about two decades of experience in academia. His areas of expertise include computer security, intelligent and embedded systems, applied medical informatics, and open distance learning.
Born in Ibadan, Oyo State, Olaniyi obtained a National Diploma in Computer Technology from the Federal Polytechnic, Offa. He later earned a Bachelor of Technology and PhD in Computer Science and Engineering from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso. Olaniyi also holds a Master of Science degree in Electronic and Computer Engineering from Lagos State University, where he graduated with Distinction.
Olaniyi began his academic career at Bells University of Technology, Ota, and rose through the ranks before joining the Federal University of Technology, Minna. He became a Professor of Computer Engineering at FUT Minna in 2021. Over the years, he has occupied several administrative positions, including Deputy Dean of the School of Electrical and Electronics Engineering and Head of the Department of Computer Engineering at FUT Minna.
Before his latest appointment, Olaniyi was Dean of the Faculty of Computing at the National Open University of Nigeria. He has published more than 195 academic works and secured research grants worth over N350 million. Olaniyi is a member of several professional organisations, including the Nigerian Computer Society, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and Association for Computing Machinery (ACM).
The new Vice-Chancellor is also a registered Computer Engineer with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN). Olaniyi is married with children. AATU is a private, not-for-profit university licensed by the National Universities Commission in April 2025. The institution commenced its NUC-approved degree programmes in September 2025 at its campus in Oke-Ogba, Ganmo, Ilorin, Kwara State.
The Registrar of AATU, Emmanuel Dada Obafemi, signed the statement announcing Olaniyi's appointment. The university's Board of Trustees ratified the appointment at its third meeting held on September 4, 2026. With Olaniyi's appointment, AATU is expected to make significant progress in its development and growth.
Key points
- AATU appoints 47-year-old Prof. Olayemi Mikail Olaniyi as its first substantive Vice-Chancellor
- Olaniyi has about two decades of experience in academia and expertise in computer security, intelligent and embedded systems
- AATU is a private, not-for-profit university licensed by the National Universities Commission in April 2025
