The announcement was made on Wednesday by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the university’s Governing Council, Adebisi Akande, after the council endorsed the recommendation of the Joint Council-Senate Selection Board, which conducted the final stage of the selection process.
Akande said the process was initiated in accordance with the provisions of the University Act ahead of the expiration of the tenure of the current Vice-Chancellor on November 1, 2026.
He explained that the university advertised the position in April 2026 through three national newspapers, leading to six applications from interested candidates. To ensure a wider and more inclusive search, the Governing Council constituted a Search Team, as required by law, to identify other qualified individuals who may not have submitted applications.
The search process produced two additional candidates, bringing the total number of applicants to eight.
According to Akande, all eight candidates were assessed by the Governing Council on Tuesday, July 21, with members independently evaluating their qualifications and suitability for the position based on approved criteria.
Following the assessment, five candidates were shortlisted according to merit for the final stage of the selection process.
The Pro-Chancellor disclosed that two members of the Governing Council were appointed to the Selection Board, while the University Senate had earlier selected two representatives to join the process.
The Joint Council-Senate Selection Board subsequently interviewed the five shortlisted candidates on Wednesday and recommended Prof. Olapegba as the most suitable candidate for the position.
Akande described the exercise as “thorough, transparent and highly competitive,” adding that the Governing Council unanimously endorsed the recommendation.
“It is, therefore, my pleasure to present to you the 14th Vice-Chancellor of this great university, the University of Ibadan, Professor Peter Olamakinde Olapegba. We wish him success in his tenure,” Akande said.
Prof. Olapegba, who currently serves as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) of the university, is a professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Ibadan.
He is expected to take over from the incumbent Vice-Chancellor when the current administration concludes its tenure on November 1, 2026.
The appointment places Olapegba at the helm of Nigeria’s premier university, as the institution continues to pursue academic excellence, research advancement, institutional development and global competitiveness.