UI professor appointed HOD — 38 years after admission as student

Adeola Adenikinju, a professor at the University of Ibadan (UI), has emerged as the head of the department (HOD) for Economics at the University of Ibadan (UI).

The lecturer, who broke the news in a post via his LinkedIn page, said the appointment comes 38 years after he was admitted to the varsity as a 100-level student.

“I assumed office as the 16th Nigerian Head of Department of Economics, the University of Ibadan on August 1, 2021. I assumed this office, 38 years after my admission to the Department as a 100-level student,” he wrote.

“27 years after joining as a faculty member, and 15 years after becoming a professor in the same department.

“The department, established in 1958 is the first, and arguably the best Department of Economics in Nigeria and one of the best in Africa.”

Adenikinju added that his vision as HOD is to make it “the foremost Department of Economics in Africa that is strong, relevant, and respected nationally and internationally.”

“I seek collaborations with worthy partners in related departments across the globe, alumni of the department, international development partners, public and private sector institutions as well as individuals,” he added.

“Possible areas of collaboration include, but not limited to research, consultancy, an exchange programme for staff and students, outreach programmes, capacity development, and infrastructure support for research/teaching.”

UI’s Economics department has, over the years, morphed into a faculty of Economics and Management Sciences.

It spun off other departments like Accounting, Banking and Finance, and the Department of Marketing.

The department is home to postgraduate programmes run by the African Economics Research Consortium (AERC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Past HODs are the late O. Aboyade, late Owodunni Teriba, and late Dotun Philips — all professors.

Others include professors such as Ademola Oyejide, Ibi Ajayi, Femi Kayode, Sam Olofin, Akin Iwayemi, Adedoyin Soyibo and Ademola Ariyo.

More recent HODs include Festus Egwaikhide; Kassey Garba, the first Nigerian female chief economic adviser to the president; and Olawale Ogunkola, Adenikinju’s immediate predecessor.