… Egbewole hails appointment
By Abubakar Imam
The rank of erudite Unilorites heading various universities in the country and the Diaspora further expanded last Wednesday (July 2, 2025) as the Governing Council of Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, named a former Assistant National Secretary of the University of Ilorin Alumni Association, Prof. Lateef Folorunso Oladimeji, the new Vice Chancellor of the faith-based university.
Prof. Oladimeji, who is a former Deputy Vice Chancellor of Al-Hikmah University, will succeed another Unilorite, Prof. Noah Yusuf, whose five-year tenure expires on July 14, 2025.
The Vice Chancellor designate, who is an alumnus of the Faculty of Arts, University of Ilorin, was the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of the faith-based University, which he joined as one of its foundation staff 20 years ago.
Prof. Oladimeji, who received all his degrees from the University of Ilorin, is the 6th Vice Chabcellor of Al-Hikmah University and the 5th Unilorite to hold the position.
His predecessors, who are fellow Unilorites, are Prof. Emeritus Musbau Akanji, Prof. Deremi Abubakre, Prof. Sulyman Abdulkareem, and the incumbent, Prof. Yusuf.
Meanwhile, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, has congratulated Prof. Oladimeji on his appointment.
In a statement issued by the University’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr Kunle Akogun, the Vice Chancellor said that the appointment of Prof. Oladimeji is well-deserved, considering his qualifications, experiences and commitment to the growth of the faith-based institution since its establishment.
Prof. Egbewole, who is the Chairman of the Consortium, of Kwara Universities (KU8+}, of which Al-Hikmah is a key member, described Prof. Oladimeji as a hardworking, resourceful and pious scholar and administrator.
The Vice Chancellor thanked the authorities of Al-Hikmah University for appointing Prof. Oladimeji to head the University, saying that the nation’s most sought-after University is not only delighted with the fact that it mentored the faith-based University to its present enviable status, but has also had the privilege of producing nearly all those who have served as its chief executives since its establishment as the second Kwara State-based University.
The renowned legal luminary urged Prof. Oladimeji to deploy all his God-given talents and characteristic innovative tendencies in his new role in order to take the University to the next level.
Prof. Egbewole, who is also the Secretary-General of the Association of West African Universities (AWAU), wished Prof. Oladimeji a very successful tenure.
Prof. Oladimeji, an indigene of Oko-Ode in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, was born in Lagos on April 9, 1963.
He attended Lagos Secondary Commercial Academy (LASCA), Obanikoro, Lagos, from where he earned his West African School Certificate (WASC) in 1981. He was subsequently admitted to the University of Ilorin in 1983 from where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree (B.A. Hons.) with Second Class Honours (Upper Division) in Islamic Studies. He was the best graduating student in Islamic Studies in the 1987 set, thus earning the Islamic Publications Bureau Award for the year. He subsequently did his mandatory national youth service at the Department of Religions, University of Ilorin between 1987 and 1988.
The new Vice Chancellor successfully completed his Master of Arts degree (M.A.) in Islamic Studies at the same University in 1989. He also obtained his Master degree in Public Administration (MPA) degree from the University of Ilorin in 1995.
In addition, he successfully completed his Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) in 2000. Prof. Oladimeji capped his academic credentials with the Doctor of Philosophy degree (Ph.D.) in Islamic Studies in 2005 also from the same University.
The Vice Chancellor designate began his exciting teaching career at Crescent Nursery and Primary School, Victoria Island, Lagos in 1981 as a Junior Staff, teaching Arabic and Islamic Studies. After his university education, Prof. Oladimeji worked briefly with the People’s Bank of Nigeria as a Field Officer before joining the services of the Kwara State College of Education, Oro, as an Assistant Lecturer in 1992. He rose to the position of Principal Lecturer and Head of the Department of Islamic Studies at the College and was there up till 2006 when he voluntarily withdrew his services from the College to join the services of the newly established Al-Hikmah University as a Lecturer I.
Prof. Oladimeji was one of the pioneer staff and members of the Senate of the University since its inception. He rose through the ranks to become a Professor of Islamic Studies in 2018, thus becoming one of the home-grown Professors of Al-Hikmah University and the first to be appointed as its Vice Chancellor.
