Nigeria’s premier university, the University of Ibadan (UI), has appointed Professor Kayode Adebowale as its 13th vice-chancellor.

The new VC is a Professor of Chemistry.

Announcing on Thursday was the pro-chancellor and chairman of Council, Chief John E. K. Odigie-Oyegun (CON).

Oyegun, a former chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Edo state governor, indicated that the appointment ended a 10-month search that began with the previous council, but was aborted when the Visitor, President Muhammadu Buhari, dissolved that body and formed the incumbent one.

Before his new role, Adebowale was the deputy vice-chancellor (DVC). He is also the first indigene of Ibadan, the school’s location, to occupy the office in UI’s 73-year history.

He beat 15 other candidates, including the Acting VC, Professor Adebola Ekanola, to clinch the substantive position vacated by Professor Abel Idowu Olayinka, whose tenure ended on November 30, 2020.

Adebowale will supervise affairs over a staff strength of 5,339, and a student population of 41,000.

Oyegun said: “The post of the Vice-Chancellor of University of Ibadan became vacant on December 1, 2020, and following the provisions of the extant rules, the last Governing Council initiated the process of the appointment.

“However, the process was aborted by the Visitor due to the circumstances beyond control, which led to the dissolution of the Council at that time. A new Governing Council was inaugurated in April this year and it decided in its wisdom to start the process afresh. A new advert was placed in July this year and after the expiration of the advert, fourteen (14) candidates applied for the position.