Meet our new DVC (MS), Prof. Lere Adeyemi By Abubakar Imam Prof. Olalere Adeyemi, a distinguished scholar of Yoruba Studies and versatile administrator, is the new Deputy Vice Chancellor (Management Services) University of Ilorin. Prof. Adeyemi, who replaces Prof. Adegboyega Adisa ft Fawole following his recent election by the University Senate, was born on July 31, 1959 in Erinmope, Ekiti State. The new Deputy Vice Chancellor, who is also a distinguished alumnus of the Better by far University, attended the Divisional Teacher College, Oye-Ekiti, from 1976 to 1979 for his Grade II Teacher Certificate programme. He was also trained at the then Ondo (now Ekiti) State College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti, between 1980 and 1983 where he earned his Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE). He was the first to obtain a distinction from his course of study at the famous teacher training institution. Prof. Adeyemi, thereafter, proceeded to the University of Ilorin for his higher education. He obtained his Bachelor degree in Yoruba and Education in 1988, Master of Arts in Language Education with specialisation in Yoruba in 1993. He also received his Master in Public Administration (MPA) degree in 1996. He capped his alluring academic qualifications with a doctorate degree in Yoruba Literature from the same University in 2003. A teacher of teachers, Prof. Adeyemi commenced his professional career as a teacher in 1979 when he taught at St. Michael’s Primary School, Osi-Ekiti, Ekiti State. He also taught at Oluyole High School, Ibadan, as an NYSC teacher from 1983 to 1984. Upon the completion of his mandatory youth service programme, Prof. Adeyemi was employed as a secondary school tutor by the then Ondo State Government. He was subsequently posted to Ayebode High School, Ayebode-Ekiti, where he taught and served as role-model to his pupils from 1984 to 1989. Prof. Adeyemi subsequently joined the services of his alma mater, the University of Ilorin. He initially taught at the University Secondary School, Ilorin, from 1989 to 1994 before his appointment as an Assistant Lecturer. He consequently rose through the ranks and was ultimately elevated to the pinnacle of his career as a Professor at the Department of Linguistics and Nigerian Languages on October 1, 2014. Apart from teaching and research, Prof. Adeyemi also served the University in several capacities. He served twice as the Head of the Department of Linguistics and Nigerian Languages from 2005 to 2006 and between 2008 and 2009. He also served as the Dean of the Faculty of Arts from 2023 to 2025. His tenure at the Faculty would be remembered for many positive episodes and remarkable achievements. Aside from teaching at the University of Ilorin, Prof. Adeyemi has also made significant contributions to the growth of other institutions in Nigeria and beyond as an external examiner. These include the University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; and the Kwara State University, Malete, among several others. The new Deputy Vice Chancellor also served on several accreditation panels constituted by the National Universities Commission (NUC) to several universities. These institutions include Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, the University of Lagos, The Federal University, Dutsinma, the University of Ibadan, Osun State University, Osogbo; Lagos State University, Ojoo and the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN). Prof. Adeyemi has also produced many other dons and linguists who are also propelling the nation’s human resources development. He has supervised seven doctoral theses and no fewer than 24 Master degree dissertations. These are in addition to the innumerable number of undergraduate projects that were completed and submitted to the University of Ilorin under his watchful eyes. He was also a resource person to several broadcasting outfits. These stations include the Nigerian Television Authority, Ilorin and the Kwara State Television Service. He had been found to be most useful in the production and airing of the Yoruba personality interview programmes of these stations. Prof. Adeyemi, who has about 100 often consulted publications to his credit in addition to other numerous intellectual interventions in form of projects and attendance of innumerable conferences, seminars and workshops, delivered the 172nd Inaugural Lecture of the University, titled “Yoruba Literary Criticism: Theories and Theorising in Nativism” on August 10, 2017. The new Deputy Vice Chancellor also belongs to several professional bodies. These include the Literary Scholars Association, the African Literature Association and the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR). Others include Egbe Igbimo Ede Yoruba, Linguistics Association of Nigeria, the West African Linguistics Society, the Yoruba Studies Association of Nigeria (YSAN), and the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria. This foremost scholar and administrator is also well-honoured. He was a winner of the Oyo State NYSC Award for good performance in 1984. He also earned the University Scholarship Award for excellent academic performance from the University of Ilorin as well as prizes for good performance in the course of his degree examinations from both the Faculty of Education and Department of Linguistics and Nigerian Languages during his studentship. Prof. Adeyemi, who is happily married and blessed with children, has since assumed the strategic position where he is expected to work with other Principal Officers of the University by bringing his expertise to bear in ensuring that the University becomes the first in Nigeria, one of the best ten in Nigeria and among the topmost 500 ivory towers across the world. Until his appointment, Prof. Adeyemi is the Chairman of the University Environmental Maintenance Committee.
Meet our new DVC (MS), Prof. Lere Adeyemi By Abubakar Imam Prof. Olalere Adeyemi, a distinguished scholar of Yoruba Studies and versatile administrator, is the new Deputy Vice Chancellor (Management
Muqtadir Yunus
April 12, 2026
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