BREAKING: OAU Announces New VC

The Governing Council of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife has announced Professor Adebayo Simeon Bamire, a professor of Agricultural Economics from the Faculty of Agriculture as the new Vice-Chancellor of the institution.

Prof. Bamire's appointment was announced by the Chairman of the University's Governing Council, Owelle Oscar Udoji at a press conference held at the institution's Africa Centre of Excellence In Software Engineering on Thursday.

Addressing newsmen at the conference, Owelle noted that Bamire's appointment whose tenure takes effect from 7 June 2022 was based on a thorough selection process where he defeated 19 other applicants for the position.

"Council, at its meeting held on 7th December 2021 flagged off the processes for the appointment of a new Vice-Chancellor who is expected to assume duties on 7th June, 2022.

"In line with the approval of the Council, the vacancy was widely advertised in compliance with relevant Statutes and Acts guiding appointment to the position.

"At a Special Meeting of 14th February 2022, the Council perused the Curriculum Vitae of all the twenty (20) applicants who indicated an interest in the position. At the end of the exercise, sixteen (16) of them were shortlisted, having met the advertised criteria.

"The interaction with the candidates began on Monday, 14th March 2022 and ended on Wednesday, 16th March 2022. All the sixteen candidates appeared before the Joint Council and Senate Selection Board, with fifteen of them present physically and one, at his request, virtually.

"The Selection Board painstakingly examined the Curriculum Vitae and interacted with each candidate, and scored them accordingly to stipulated criteria. The three highest-scoring candidates were presented to the Council for further consideration as provided by the law.

"The entire exercise of the Joint Selection Board was witnessed by the representatives of the Federal Character Commission who have confirmed the exercise was fair and transparent and carried out in full compliance with the provisions of the Federal Character Commission Act.

“In line with the provisions of the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Act as amended, the report of the Selection Board was considered by the Council which, after a careful and dispassionate review of the report, decided to appoint Professor Adebayo Simeon Bamire, Professor of Agricultural Economics from the Faculty of Agriculture, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, as the Vice-Chancellor of the University with effect from June 7, 2022, The decision of the Council shall be communicated to the Visitor to the University, His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari through the Hon. Minister of Education”, Owelle noted.

By his appointment, Prof. Bamire becomes the 12th substantive Vice-Chancellor of the prestigious institution, succeeding Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede whose 5-Year tenure expires on 6 June, 2022. 

A native of Oyan in Odo-Otin LGA of Osun State, Bamire Adebayo Simeon was born on 18th January, 1959. He started his educational life in Datus Preparatory School, Accra, Ghana and then had his secondary school education in St. Charles’ Grammar School, Osogbo in the 1972/76 period.

He was admitted into the then University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife) to read Agricultural Economics in the Faculty of Agriculture where he completed his first, second and third degrees; Bachelor of Agriculture in 1985, M.Phil., in 1992, and Ph.D. in 1999.