Professor Olajumoke Abimbola Morenikeji, a renowned academic leader, has been appointed as the Vice Chancellor of Koladaisi University, Ibadan. She is a University of Ibadan alumnus and Professor of Zoology and Parasitology with an impressive research portfolio, including over 120 peer-reviewed publications and seven scholarly books. Her extensive experience and distinguished career make her a highly reputed result-driven and reform-oriented academic leader.
As the first female Vice Chancellor of Koladaisi University, Professor Morenikeji's appointment is seen as a significant step in the institution's continued advancement. She has a proven capacity to build systems, mobilize stakeholders, and deliver measurable institutional progress. Her vision for the university focuses on academic excellence, teaching excellence, and student formation, ensuring that graduates are equipped with entrepreneurial skills.
Professor Morenikeji emphasizes that leadership has nothing to do with gender, stating that work is work, and one just has to do it to the best of their ability. She believes that women have the ability to multitask and handle several things at the same time, which can be beneficial in the workplace. Her approach to leadership is centered on doing things normally, focusing on being the best version of herself, and ensuring that everything she does reflects excellence.
The new Vice Chancellor's vision for Koladaisi University includes staff development, good governance, and ensuring that the university positively affects the community around it. She wants the institution to be a place where students can acquire skills, build enterprises, and explore opportunities. Professor Morenikeji also emphasizes the importance of research that solves problems and impacts society, rather than just doing research for research's sake.
Professor Morenikeji has attracted funding, fellowships, and research support from numerous national and international organizations. She holds several prestigious fellowships, including the MIM/TDR Postdoctoral Fellowship of the National Institute for Medical Research, London, and the TWAS-DBT Fellowship at the National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi, India. Her research focuses on solving problems within the local environment and has a purpose beyond just academic standards.
Koladaisi University aims to produce graduates who can fit into society and do well. The institution recently organized a career fair where industries and companies interacted with students, providing them with opportunities to interface with potential employers. Professor Morenikeji's leadership is expected to take the university to greater heights, fostering academic excellence, innovation, and societal impact.
Key points
- Professor Morenikeji's appointment as the first female Vice Chancellor of Koladaisi University marks a significant milestone in the institution's history.
- Her vision for the university focuses on academic excellence, teaching excellence, and student formation.
- Professor Morenikeji emphasizes that leadership has nothing to do with gender, focusing on doing things to the best of one's ability.
