The Governing Council has approved the appointment of Professor Ayodeji Oludare Omole, as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) of the University of Ibadan.
His two year-tenure begins on 10 November, 2026.
Professor Ayodeji Oludare Omole was born into the family of Professor M. A. Lanre Omole of the Dagunmodo Ruling House on 06, March 1970 in Ogbagi Akoko, Ondo State Nigeria. He attended his primary and secondary schools in Ogbagi in Akoko North West and Ikare in Akoko North East Local Government Areas of Ondo State.
After his secondary school education, he proceeded to Federal University of Technology Akure, Nigeria, where he graduated with a Honours degree in Forestry and Wood Technology at the School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology in 1994.
He was posted to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja for the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme, where he served at the National Arboretum as the Project Manager in 1995. After his service, he proceeded to the Department of Agricultural Engineering, University of Ibadan for his M.Sc. and PhD degrees in Wood Products Engineering in 1997 and 2000, respectively.
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Professor Ayodeji Omole joined the services of the University of Ibadan in 1997, where he started his career as an Assistant Lecturer in the defunct Department of Forest Resources Management. He was promoted Lecturer II in 2000; Lecturer I in 2004; Senior Lecturer in 2009; Reader in 2012 and Professor of Forest/Timber Engineering from 01 October 2015 in the Department of Forest Resources Management. He was the first to be so promoted in that area of specialization in Nigeria.
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Professor Omole is one of the researchers who pioneered research in veneer lamination of wood cement board as well as the utilization of used engine oil as a wood preservative. As a dedicated researcher who is also actively involved in community service, Professor Omole has collaborated with other scholars to publish over 100 research articles in reputable peer review journals. He has taught as either adjunct or visiting scholar in many Nigerian Universities and in Sierra Leone. He has equally served as external examiner to many universities, within and outside Nigeria.
Professor Omole is a member of several professional associations within and outside Nigeria amongst which are Council on Forest Engineering (COFE, U.S.A.); Commonwealth Forestry Association (CFA, the U.K.); Society for Wood Science and Technology (SWST, U.S.A.); Forest Products Society (FPS, U.S.A.); Forest and Forest Products Society (FFPS, Nigeria).
He has served the University, the nation and humanity in various capacities some of which include: Congregation representative in Senate, University of Ibadan (1999-2005; 2007-2011; 2013-2015); full member of Senate (2015 to date); Head, Department of Forest Production and Products, University of Ibadan (2021 to 2025); Chairman, Senior Staff Housing Committee of University of Ibadan (2020 – to date); Project Coordinator, Awba Dam Rehabilitation and Restoration Project (2021 to date); Departmental Coordinator, Practical Year Training Programme (PYTP, 2012 – 2020); Faculty Chairman, Practical Year Training Programme (PYTP, 2019 – to date); and Operations Manager, Campus Tree Management Committee (now Biodiversity Management Committee), (2002 to date).
Professor Ayodeji Omole can be described as a revolutionist, who is always fighting for the emancipation of the masses through his activities with several groups such as Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU); where he has served (and is still serving) from 1998 till he became the Chairman from 2016 to 2020. As ASUU Chairman, he was reputed for his courage and fearless criticism of bad governance, maladministration, waste and corruption. Building on existing structure of the Union, as ASUU Chairman, his administration brought a lot of innovations into the activities of the Union both at the branch and National level amongst which was the construction of the ultra-modern secretariat for the University of Ibadan branch. He also initiated and established a special welfare scheme called ‘End-Well’ as part of a retirement plan for members of the Union.
In November 2019, Professor Omole was appointed the Chairman of Oyo State Negotiation Committee on the sole ownership of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho by His Excellency, Engineer Oluseyi Makinde, FNSE, the Executive Governor of Oyo State. A task he carried out with distinction. This feat was widely celebrated as the best thing to have happened to LAUTECH, since its establishment.
In 2022, Professor Omole was also appointed as the Chairman, Planning and Implementation Committee saddled with the responsibility of upgrading Emmanuel Alayande College of Education to a full-fledged University of Education. Professor Ayodeji Omole is currently serving as Pro Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Ogbomosho (2021 to date); Chairman, Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State Owned Universities (COPSUN) (2025 to date).
Professor Omole is a recipient of many awards amongst which are:
1. Award of Honour and Service; Academic Staff Union of Universities 2018
2. Award of Excellence from LAUTECH Alumni Association Worldwide 2020
3. Award of Honour and Meritorious Service; Oyo State Government 2021
4. Award of Honour and Meritorious Service; University of Ibadan Teachers Cooperative 2018
5. Award of Honour, Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State Owned Universities (COPSUN) 2022, 2024 and 2026
6. Award of Honour, Tree Club, University of Ibadan 2021
7. Distinguished Alumni Award by Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) Alumni Association 2023
8. Fellow, Nigerian Institute of Policy Management and Leadership Development 2023
9. Justice of Peace of Oyo State 2022
10. Fellow, Africa Forum, Scotland Centre for Policy Research and Development, Glasgow 2023
11. Fellow, Society for Peace Studies and Practice 2025
“Omo Egiri-Oke” as he is popularly called by friends, admirers and well-wishers is happily married and blessed with wonderful children.
He has assumed duty.
Thank you.
G. O. Saliu, JP, fspsp, FNIM, FCIML, MANUPA, MAUA
Registrar
