Following the appointment of Prof. Peter Olamakinde Olapegba by the Governing Council of the University at its meeting of Wednesday 22 July, 2026 as the 14th Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan.
The don begins his five year-tenure today, Sunday, 01 November, 2026.
Professor Peter Olapegba is a distinguished academic and researcher specializing in Applied Social Psychology. He has just served as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Administration at the University of Ibadan, a position he held since 08 November 2023.
With a career spanning over two and half decades (the last 12 years as a full Professor), he has made significant contributions to the fields of social, health, and environmental psychology, focusing on the health-behavior interface, family and marital violence, sexual harassment, victimization, and perceived quality of life.
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Professor Olapegba holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree in Psychology (1997), a Master of Science in Social/Personality Psychology (1999), and a Ph.D. in Applied Social Psychology (2008), all from the prestigious University of Ibadan. He has also earned professional qualifications, including an Academic Diploma in International Boundary and Borderlands Studies, Chartered Psychologist status and certifications in Mediation and Conciliation.
His research has led to the development of culturally relevant and globally accepted scales to measure constructs in social psychology, contributing to both theoretical foundations and practical applications.
He has published extensively, with over 130 scholarly works, including books, chapters in books, monographs, journal articles, and creative pieces. His work has addressed critical issues such as HIV/AIDS, sexual behavior, domestic violence, and quality of life, providing models for behavioral change and attitudinal improvement.
Professor Olapegba is an astute administrator who has held numerous leadership roles with sterling performances in all. These include but not limited to; Undergraduate Coordinator; Postgraduate Coordinator; Examination Officer; Deputy Postgraduate Coordinator (CEPACS); Postgraduate Coordinator (CEPACS); Sub Dean Postgraduate (Faculty of the Social Sciences); Dean, Faculty of the Social Sciences; Director, Office of Alumni Relations; Chairman of UI@75 Anniversary Committee; Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration; two-terms elected member of the University of Ibadan Governing Council; Member of the Governing Council of Adeseun Ogundoyin Polytechnic, Eruwa; member of the Governing Board of Pan African University Life and Earth Sciences Institute including Health and Agriculture; member of the Governing Council of Precious Cornerstone University; and member of various committees and sub-committees of Governing Councils. He has supervised many Ph.D. theses, MPhil dissertations, Master and Bachelor degrees projects furthering the development of psychology and social science principles and practice in Nigeria and beyond. Professor Olapegba is an external examiner, professorial cadre assessor, expert consultant on panels for professorial promotions, to several universities within and outside Nigeria.
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He was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the North West University (Mafikeng Campus), South Africa and as a researcher, he has demonstrated capacity in grantsmanship and fund generation with his winning of the International Congress of Psychology Change Fellowship Research Grant; UI Senate Research Grant; Moment of Change Research Grant; TETFund Institutional Based Research Grants; and a number of conference travel grants. He has attracted a number of benefactions to the university including a two hundred million naira scholarship fund, and a three hundred million naira building for the Faculty of the Social Sciences among others.
A Fellow of multiple prestigious organizations, including the Social Science Academy of Nigeria, Nigerian Psychological Association, Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, and Society for Peace Studies and Practice (SPSP), Professor Olapegba is committed to advancing psychology as a discipline and addressing societal challenges through research, teaching, and leadership.
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Professor Olapegba hails from Igbole Quarters in Igboora, Oyo State. He was born on 26 January 1970 in Ibadan, Oyo State.
He started elementary school at Anglican Church Primary School, Ilutitun in Ondo State and later transferred to St. Paul’s African Primary School, Lanlate where he obtained a Primary School Leaving Certificate in 1981. His secondary education was at Lanlate High School, Lanlate from 1981 to 1986. He worked as a Sales Clerk for some years in Lagos before gaining admission into the University of Ibadan to study Psychology.
Professor Olapegba worked briefly as a Research Officer with the National Examinations Council (NECO) from where he joined the services of the University of Ibadan on 01 June 2000 as an Assistant Lecturer. Through a dint of hard work, he rose to the position of a professor on 01 October 2014.
Professor Olapegba who becomes the 14th Vice-Chancellor of the 78-year old Premier University of Ibadan is a devout Christian, a Pastor of The Redeemed Christian Church of God and is happily married with children.
Credit: G. O. Saliu, JP, fspsp, FNIM, FCIML, MANUPA, MAUA
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