Professor Michael Olufisayo Ologunde of the department of food science and engineering has emerged as the substantive replacement for the outgoing Vice Chancellor of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH, Prof. Adeniyi Sulaiman Gbadegesin whose tenure expires in February 2019.
With the appointment, he became the first homegrown VC of the 28-year old institution. Professors Olusegun Oke, Late Akinola Salau, Benjamin Adeleke, Moshood Nasir and Suleiman Gbadegesin were all external administrators that have managed as sole administrators or vice chancellors.
Only few days ago, OYO INSIGHT exclusively reported how the native of Ajagunlase in Ola-Oluwa local government, came first during the screening. The duo of Professors Timothy Adebayo and Idowu Adetunji, both of the institution’s department of distant second and third respectively. This was after eleven candidates have applied and contested for the position.
According to Amiloaded.com, the process that led to the emergence of Ologunde was through a painstaking selection mechanism that involves declaration of intention, collection of form, submission of curriculum vitae and proposed vision for the university, computer-based test and oral interview which was conducted within the premises of the University of Ibadan to avoid undue interference by various pressure groups.
Among the panel selected to conduct the interview were members of the governing council professors and academic administrators from within and neighboring universities, ASUU, NASU, SSANU, alumni association. In all, Ologunde emerged overall best in all the stages.
Going by the joint ownership of the institution by both Oyo and Osun States, the post of the VC is rotational.
Outgoing VC, Gbadegesin, a professor of urban and regional planning, is a native of Oyo town in Oyo state is rounding up his tenure as the representative of Oyo while Ologunde will fill the Osun gap for the next five years. Governor Abiola Ajimobi will now act as the visitor to the university.
According to tradition, the governing council of LAUTECH forwarded the names of the best three candidates for both governors for approval. Ajimobi and Governor Gboyega Oyetola were said to have approved the name of Ologunde, with a directive for immediate announcement of the newly elected VC by the university management.
