Former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Abel Idowu Olayinka has emphasized the need for concerted efforts to achieve greatness in Nigerian universities.

He made this statement during his speech at the inauguration ceremony of the first female Vice Chancellor of Dominican University, Prof. Jacinta Opara in Ibadan, on Monday.

While speaking on the topic “The Burden of Leadership in Driving University Vision and Mission”, Prof Olayinka noted that the pursuit and implementation of the mission and vision statements of every university requires the concerted efforts of all the stakeholders.

“The Vice-Chancellor is expected to be a magician who will always make things to happen. Nonetheless, with the cooperation of all the stakeholders, a lot can be achieved despite all the internal and external constraints,” he said.

Speaking on the roles of a university Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olayinka said, “the university Vice Chancellor is the Chief Academic officer, the Chief Administrative officer, the Chief Accounting officer, the chief fundraiser, and the chief image maker of the institution. He/she is the academic leader of the institution. The leader has the onerous responsibility to manage the vision and dreams of the institution and set the agenda for development.”

According to the former University of Ibadan VC, “as the Chairman of Senate, the Vice Chancellor provides leadership in articulating and determining the academic standards of the University and in ensuring the welfare of the staff and students. In specific terms, he/she is to provide leadership, strategic vision and direction to enhance the academic program of the institution in terms of teaching, learning, research and research uptake, improve the educational and research opportunities, define and execute strategic plans, budget and evaluate performance to maximize impact, lead resource mobilization and fund-raising efforts, guide and motivate faculty, staff and students to be their best.”

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, he furthered that “the leadership skills expected of a Vice Chancellor includes innovativeness and harnessing innovation throughout the institution, competence, ability to simultaneously 'own' issues/stories and still give credit to those who did the hard work, internal and external networking, ability to think and act strategically, humility, compassion and never losing sight of the bigger picture.”

Prof. Olayinka therefore advised the new Dominican University VC to be “prepared to be misunderstood, misrepresented and maliciously maligned for political gains. There could be a lot of conspiracy theories against her. She should respect the main institution of governance in the university most especially the Senate, the Council and Board of Trustees.”

Prof. Abel Idowu Olayinka is Nigerian Professor of Applied geophysics. He was a former deputy Vice Chancellor and former Vice Chancellor at the University of Ibadan. He is also the President of the West African Research and Innovation Management Association.

In 2012, he was elected as Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science, the apex academic organization in Nigeria. He was inducted into the academy, along with the 11th substantive Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Isaac Folorunso Adewole; a Nigerian professor of computer science at the University of Lagos, Professor Mojeed Olayide Abass, and the President of the West African College of Surgeons and former provost of the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Professor Akinyinka Omigbodun.

In September 2015, Olayinka was appointed as the 12th substantive Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan and completed his tenure on 30 November 2020.