The outgoing Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Dr Tunji Abayomi, has expressed satisfaction with the Council's contributions under his watch to the development of the University and affirmed that he is leaving the institution better than he met, it having recorded giant strides in all spheres of growth and development.
Dr Abayomi, whose two-term tenure of eight years ends on August 15, 2026, , highlighted what he described as significant achievements recorded by the institution in academic development, research, staff welfare, infrastructure and strategic partnerships.
He stated these on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, during his valedictory media briefing held to mark the completion of his eight years, tenure as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council.
Reflecting on his time, he noted that three Vice Chancellors namely, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun, Prof. Olugbenga Ige and the incumbent, Prof. Tomola Obamuyi, served during his tenure.
He said he maintained a cordial and productive relationship with all three in order to grow the institution, adding that he supervised the interview and recommendation processes that led to the appointments of Prof. Ige and Prof. Obamuyi as Vice Chancellors.
According to him, one of the notable achievements of the Council during his tenure was the maintenance of a relatively stable academic calendar, alongside an aggressive modernisation programme that resulted in the establishment of new faculties and academic departments.
He listed the newly established faculties as the Faculties of Administration and Management Sciences, Allied Health Sciences, Environmental Design and Management, and Computing.
He added that new departments were also created in areas including French, Architecture, Surveying and Geoinformatics, Urban and Regional Planning, Estate Management, Library and Information Science, Food Science and Technology, Medical Laboratory Science, Public Health, Nursing Science, Information and Communication Technology, Software Engineering, Cyber Security, Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, as well as Information Systems.
Dr Abayomi said the expansion of the University's academic offerings had strengthened its profile and created wider opportunities for students to pursue contemporary and specialised fields of study.
The outgoing Council Chairman also identified the University's accreditation record as another major achievement of his tenure.
He stated that AAUA attained 100 per cent accreditation status for its academic programmes from the National Universities Commission (NUC) over the last five years, while the resource verification exercise conducted by the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON) for the University's Architecture programme in February 2026 also produced what he described as an excellent outcome.
Speaking on research and innovation, Dr Abayomi said the University recorded remarkable accomplishments among both staff and students, noting that nine members of staff were recently ranked among the top two per cent of academic researchers worldwide in the 2024 Elsevier–Stanford Global Ranking of Top Scientists.
He also highlighted the achievement of the Dean of the Faculty of Computing, Prof. Sunday Olatunji, whom he said attained recognition as the Best Researcher in Artificial Intelligence in Nigeria.
Dr Abayomi further pointed to the sustained development of the University's academic culture through the Inaugural Lecture Series. He disclosed that over 50 Inaugural Lectures were delivered during his tenure, describing the series as an important component of the institution's academic tradition and intellectual development.
He also said the Council sustained staff training and professional development despite the University's funding challenges. According to him, staff members benefited from internal programmes, local and international conferences, and workshops and seminars aimed at strengthening their professional competencies.
On international partnership, the outgoing Pro-Chancellor identified strategic partnerships and collaborations as another area where the University made significant progress.
He listed collaborations with global institutions covering staff and student exchanges, infrastructural support and joint research initiatives.
He also mentioned the University's partnership with the International Cultural Communications Centre in Malaysia, which he said had facilitated cooperation in academia, cultural understanding and technological exchange.
According to him, the University's international collaboration network also extended to Europe through partnership with Ghent University in Belgium.
At the domestic level, he said the University established collaborations with the Ondo State Local Government Service Commission Training School, Itaogbolu, and the Public Service Training Institute, Ilara-Mokin, positing that the institution also established formal affiliations with reputable Colleges of Education across Nigeria thus bringing quality and affordable education to the doorsteps of many candidates.
On student welfare, Dr Abayomi said the Council made huge efforts to improve accommodation and support for students.
He disclosed that the provision of additional hall of residence had been advanced largely through voluntary contributions, donations and institutional goodwill from Council members, staff, students and other supporters of the University.
He further revealed that a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and a philanthropist, Chief Joseph Sanusi, had volunteered to construct a hall of residence for the University, with work already commenced at the allocated site.
The Council, he added, also pursued the completion of the OSOPADEC and NDDC halls of residence, which had remained under construction for several years.
Beyond accommodation, he said the University supported students through scholarships and its Work-Study Scheme, which provide students with opportunities to undertake two hours of daily on-campus employment and get paid at the end of each semester.
He added that an increase in the stipend payable to participants was recently approved.
Dr Abayomi maintained that the University recorded a series of capital developments through intervention programmes and structured institutional planning during his tenure.
In his words, “Among the projects were the completion of two wings of the Faculty of Social Sciences building, construction of the new Faculty of Science building, provision of offices for the Faculty of Agriculture, establishment of an Agricultural Farm House and Greenhouse, construction of modern sanitation facilities and the building and commissioning of an Agro Shop for the marketing of agricultural products.”
He said the University also invested in classroom furniture, office equipment and updated computer systems for computer-based tests, while the Moot Court in the Faculty of Law was renovated and the University Business School in Akure remodelled.
The outgoing Pro-Chancellor also highlighted developments in staff career progression.
He disclosed that about 83 academic staff were promoted to the rank of Reader, while approximately 78 attained professorial positions across various disciplines. In the non-teaching category, 13 Deputy Registrars and five Deputy Bursars were appointed.
He said the Council responded to recommendations of the Career Structure Committee by opening opportunities for members of the non-teaching staff who had acquired additional qualifications to convert to relevant cadres after spending considerable periods without promotion opportunities.
He also listed the implementation of the 2019 National Minimum Wage, the Federal Government's 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary increments, and the 2024 National Minimum Wage, including payment of outstanding arrears.
He added that the University had commenced the process of implementing the recent Federal Government/ASUU agreement in accordance with due process.
As he concluded his eight-year stewardship, Dr Abayomi expressed satisfaction with his contributions to the development of Adekunle Ajasin University, noting that he was leaving office with his head held high.
The Pro Chancellor expressed deep appreciation to the Members of the Governing Council for their cooperation and support during the eight-year tenure.
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