The University Senate has elected Prof. Olatundun Abosede Oderinde as the new Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, for the next two years. Prof. Oderinde, who is a Professor of New Testament Studies and Theology from the Department of Religious Studies, Faculty of Arts, was unanimously elected at the 413th meeting of the University Senate held on Thursday, 10th November, 2022. She succeeded Prof. Ayodeji Agboola who served for two consecutive terms of four years before his recent appointment as the new Vice-Chancellor of the University.
Also at the Senate meeting, Prof. Charles Olufemi Adekoya was re-elected for another term of two years as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration. The two appointments took effect from 18th November, 2022. Born on 26th November, 1972 in Imasayi, Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State, Prof. Oderinde had her first degree in Religious Studies and graduated with a First Class (Honours) from Ogun State University (now Olabisi Onabanjo University), Ago-Iwoye in 1995. She obtained her Master’s Degree from University of Ibadan in 2000 and bagged her Ph.D from Lagos State University, Ojo in 2007. She joined the services of the University on 2nd December, 1996 as a Graduate Assistant and with dint of hard work, dedication and commitment rose through the ranks to become a Professor on 1st October, 2020.
At various times, Prof. Oderinde has served the University in many capacities at Departmental, Faculty and University levels and currently sits on the Council of the University as Representative of Senate. Specifically, she had been Departmental Examination Officer, Departmental Coordinator for Postgraduate programme, Congregation Representative in Senate, Sub-Dean Postgraduate, Faculty of Arts and Acting Head of the Department of Religious Studies. Prof. Oderinde was also Chairperson, Students Disciplinary Committee (SDC); Chairperson, Faculty Accreditation Committee; Member, Faculty of Arts Projects Committee and Member, Governing Council. This erudite scholar has over 25 years of teaching and research experience in the University. Her research interest is centred on women in the New Testament and the role of the Church as an agent of positive change in the society. She teaches various courses in New Testament Studies and Christian Theology both at Undergraduate and Postgraduate levels.
Between 2012 and 2017, Prof. Oderinde served as General Secretary, Nigerian Association for Biblical Studies (NABIS Western Zone) and she is currently the Vice-Chairman of the association in the same zone. The new DVC Academic holds the membership of several professional bodies, including National Association for the Promotion of Studies in Arts and Social Science (NAPSASS), National Association for the Study of Religions (NASR), Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians (CIRCLE) and Institute for Biblical Scholarship in Africa (IBSA) –West Africa. As a distinguished academic, Prof. Oderinde has attended and presented papers at academic conferences and workshops in Nigeria and foreign countries.
She is well published in reputable International and Local Journals with about 40 publications to her credit and has received many awards from within and outside the University. She is happily married and blessed with children. In the same vein, the newly re-elected Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration holds a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B. Degree) from Ogun State University (now Olabisi Onabanjo University) Ago-Iwoye, a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from University of Lagos and a Doctorate Degree in Law from University of Ghent, Belgium.
Prof. Adekoya, who was born on 20th April, 1964 in Okitipupa, Ondo State, joined the services of the University as Lecturer II in 2001 and rose to the position of a Professor in 2016 after passing through the ranks in the University. He has served the University meritoriously in many capacities since 2002. These include Assistant Coordinator (Academic) of the Diploma in Law Programme, 2002-2005; Sub-Dean, Postgraduate, 2009-2014; Acting Head, Department of Jurisprudence and International Law, 2014-2018; and Chairman, Centre for Continuing Education Staff Disciplinary Committee, as a Representative of the Vice-Chancellor.
Prof Adekoya was also Chairman Senate Committee; the Postgraduate School Committee on Academic Integrity; Member, Staff Professional Ethics and Discipline Committee (SPEDC); Member, Special Security Committee constituted by the Vice-Chancellor in 2010; Member, Examinations and Time Table Committee of the Postgraduate School; and Member of the Students Disciplinary Committee (as faculty Representative). Prof. Adekoya, who was one-time Dean of Law, has been a member of the OOU Governing Council since 2017 till date and he is equally a member of the Committee of Council on Labour Relations.
He had at various times worked in law firms and corporate organisations in Nigeria, including occupying the position of Company Secretary/Legal Adviser before joining the academia. His research interests are human rights – poverty and deprivations, access to justice, legal empowerment, rights to property, human security; clinical legal education and research methodology.
A Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators (ICMC, Nigeria), this distinguished scholar had also served meritoriously as Examiner in Business Law for the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) for five years. As a result of his expertise in Clinical Legal Education, Prof. Adekoya was appointed as a resource person in 2018 by Network of University Legal Aid Institutions (NULAI, Nigeria), a non-governmental organisation which pioneered the introduction and propagation of clinical legal education in Nigerian Faculties of Law.
He has served as External Examiner to Departments and Faculties of Law in Nigeria and foreign Universities. He has also attended many local and international conferences, workshops, dialogues and colloquia, where he presented well researched papers and facilitated some sessions.
Prof. Adekoya serves on the Editorial Board of reputable Journals. He has authored several articles and contributed to books and loose-leafs as well as co-edited many publications. The newly re-elected Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Prof. Charles Olufemi Adekoya, is a recipient of many awards from within and outside the University.
