Following a stringent recruitment exercise in line with the global practices of headhunting for strategic positions in higher educational institutions, Professor Jacinta Opara was recently appointed as the second substantive Vice Chancellor of Dominican University, Ibadan, Nigeria.

Opara was unveiled as the first female VC of the institution at the inauguration ceremony held on Monday, 1st July 2024, at the Tom and Carolyn Walker Hall of the University.

In her inaugural address at the ceremony titled “Our Future is Bright; the Sky is our Limit”, she promised to ensure the provision of quality education and academic excellence in the institution, stating her plans to build on the vision of the school, which is to provide quality education.

Prof. Opara assured her readiness to build a generation of leaders who will take the governance of Nigeria and the global community, promising that her administration will train leaders who will work and serve the common good of the nation and the world at large.

The first female VC of the institution disclosed that her goals will be achieved through the provision of a good working environment necessary to motivate both lecturers and students as well as create an opportunity to grow and improve talents. According to her, there will be creation of internal motivation among staff and students of the university to allow them work with integrity, discipline and godliness without pretense.

Being a leading international environmental scholar, scientist, educator, health researcher, consultant and development activist with the combined power of management and human rights, Opara promised to use her experience and connections both locally and internationally to move the institution to the next level. She highlighted her plans to ensure collaboration with international organizations to ensure the university becomes a center of excellence, stressing on expanding the academic programmes of the institution to accommodate more courses that will attract students both locally and internationally.

The new administration, she said, will also enhance students’ services including advice, counseling and career support, to the end of ensuring availability of resources needed to succeed, alongside extra-curricular activities such as sports.

Revealing her 5-point agenda as, ensuring excellence in learning, teaching, research, innovation and industrialization and commercialization, furthering that the heartbeat of her mission is the success and wellbeing of the students. The academic don also assured provision of a supportive and inclusive environment that foster personal and academic growth, saying her administration will produce students who are employable and ready to be self-employed.

Prof. Opara said with hardwork and perseverance, the institution will take challenges upon themselves and know that the future is bright, expressing her intentions to exceed the horizon of existing academic programs with the ability to integrate knowledge, professional skills and intellectual competence as well as resource management in a coordinated program. This, according to her, is to provide a holistic translating direction to the institution by playing resilience, championing intellectual skills, building critical thinking and constructive reasoning, resourcefulness, responsibility, accountability, transparency, integrity, excellence and development management.

While taking her oath of office, she also promised to uphold the laws and custom of Dominican University in accordance with the standard set by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and work in collaboration with the board of trustees, Governing Council, Senate and congregation of the University to pursue the vision and mission and uphold core values of the University.

Speaking on research funding, Prof. Opara said the university will collaborate with international partners through joint research project, telling the public that students association and social activities will be registered and monitored to foster discipline in the school.

In his welcome address, Proprietor and Chancelor of Dominican University, Ibadan, Reverend Father Modestus Ngwu pledged his support and that of the University community to the new Vice Chancellor, stating that her passion, dedication and perseverance will help her to succeed in the university especially in a male dominated community. He also promised to connect the Vice Chancellor with the network of Dominican University across the world to annex scholarship and collaboration.

Prof. Dokun Oyeshola, the acting Vice Chancellor of Dominican University in his handing over address, said the courage, strength and commitment of the new Vice Chancellor to her goals will lead to the achievements and success of her goals, advising the VC to have listening ears to the University Community.

The Archbishop Catholic Archdiocese of Ibadan, Most Rev Gabriel 'Leke Abegunrin, while speaking at the ceremony, also promised his support to the Vice Chancellor especially in the male dominated community, advising her to be a good listener, patient, not anxious in reacting to issues and be ready to accept blame. He expressed his belief that the new VC will succeed in raising godly students from the university.

The Immediate Past Vice Chancellor of University of Ibadan , Prof Abel Idowu Olayinka presented a paper tittled  ‘The Burden of Leadership in Driving University Vision and Mission.

The erudite Prof further advise the new VC to always ensure she  carry  everybody along in other to move the university forward.

The pioneering contributions of the immediate past Vice Chancellor of the University, Rev'd Father Anthony Alaba Akinwale were acknowledged.

Present at the occasion are; University Registrar, Rev'd Father Samuel Onyiba; Acting Dean of Faculty of Science, Dr Juliet Adamma Shenge; Admission Officer, Mrs Titilayo Abijo; Reverend Fathers, among others.