University of Ibadan Appoints Prof. Olapegba as 14th Vice-Chancellor.

The Governing Council of the University of Ibadan has appointed Prof. Peter Olamakinde Olapegba as the institution's 14th Vice-Chancellor, following a selection process that considered eight candidates. The appointment was announced on Wednesday by Pro-Chancellor and Council Chairman, Adebisi Akande, shortly after the council approved the recommendation of the Joint Council-Senate Selection Board. Akande explained that the search for a new Vice-Chancellor began in line with the University Act, ahead of the current Vice-Chancellor's tenure expiring on November 1, 2026. Advertisements calling for applications were placed in three national newspapers in April 2026, drawing six applications. To ensure other qualified candidates who hadn't applied were considered, the council set up a Search Team as required by law, which identified two more candidates, bringing the total pool to eight. According to Akande, the council engaged with all eight candidates on Tuesday, July 21, scoring them independently against approved criteria. That process narrowed the field to five candidates, ranked in order of merit, for the final stage. He noted that two council members and two Senate-elected representatives sat on the Selection Board, which went on to interview the five shortlisted candidates on Wednesday before recommending Olapegba as the strongest choice. Describing the exercise as "thorough, transparent and highly competitive," Akande said the Governing Council unanimously endorsed the Selection Board's recommendation. "It is, therefore, my pleasure to present to you the 14th Vice-Chancellor of this great university, the University of Ibadan, Professor Peter Olamakinde Olapegba. We wish him success in his tenure," he said. Olapegba currently serves as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) and is a professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Ibadan. He is set to take over from the incumbent Vice-Chancellor when the latter's tenure ends on November 1, 2026.