* Prof. Obamuyi seeks funding boost, expands research, infrastructure drive

…unveils ‘FIRST’ blueprint to reposition varsity for 21st-century competitiveness

The newly inaugurated seventh substantive Vice Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, Professor Tomola Obamuyi, has affirmed his commitment to advancing sustainable excellence in academics, research and innovation, with a vision to transform the institution into a global hub for knowledge production and human development.

Prof. Obamuyi made this known on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at the University Multipurpose Hall during his investiture ceremony, which formally marked the start of his five-year tenure.

Acknowledging challenges inherited from previous administrations, including funding gaps, infrastructural deficits and the need to expand internal revenue. He commended his predecessors for keeping the institution on a growth trajectory and producing graduates of national and global distinction.

Determined to build on this legacy, Prof. Obamuyi unveiled his vision through the ‘AAUA FIRST Strategy’, built on five interlocking pillars: Funding Opportunities, Infrastructural Development, Research and Academic Excellence, Service to Staff, Students, Partners and the Community and Technological Advancement.

He stressed that sustainable funding is critical to achieving these goals, stating, “No university can think freely if it cannot fund itself sustainably. The world has taught us that institutions which endure are those that refuse to depend on a single financial lifeline. They build endowments. They build enterprises.”

To bridge the fiscal gap between wage obligations and government subventions, the VC outlined a diversified revenue strategy. This includes engaging the Ondo State Government for an upward review of monthly subventions, while also targeting one thousand high-net-worth AAUA alumni to contribute a minimum of ₦25,000 monthly, generating ₦300 million annually for research and innovation. 

He also plans to expand commercial farms, restructure AAUA Ventures into KPI-driven business entities, and leverage the university’s location to become an agricultural innovation hub, renewable energy research centre, and entrepreneurial ecosystem.

On infrastructure, Prof. Obamuyi proposed the completion of stalled TETFUND projects, the construction of a 3,000-seat multipurpose auditorium, a state-of-the-art Information and Communications Technology Application Centre (ICTAC) and other capital projects through public-private partnerships.

In pursuit of academic excellence, he announced the creation of a Grantsmanship Task Force to secure high-value TETFUND and international grants, while strengthening global research collaborations. New academic programmes, including FinTech, Business Information Technology, Project Management Science, Digital Health and Health Informatics, and Capital Market Studies, will be introduced to meet growing global demand.

The VC also reaffirmed his commitment to staff and student welfare through industrial harmony, capacity building, merit-based promotions, regular union engagement via a Monthly Partnership Forum, improved working conditions, and an Annual Staff Excellence Awards Programme.

He thanked the Visitor to the University and Governor of Ondo State, His Excellency Lucky Aiyedatiwa, and the Governing Council for their confidence in his leadership, promising measurable results, transparent governance, and unwavering dedication to excellence. He called on staff, students, alumni and partners to embrace a shared purpose in building a globally competitive 21st-century university.

Earlier, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Dr. Tunji Abayomi, described Prof. Obamuyi’s appointment as the outcome of a rigorous, merit-based process. He commended the former Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, for his foundational contributions and assured the new VC of the Council’s strategic support.

 He urged him to uphold the university’s core values of learning, character, and service, while fostering peace, innovation, and collaboration.

In her remarks, the Registrar, Dr. Olubunmi Babalola, welcomed the new VC, describing the inauguration as the start of a new chapter in the university’s history. She expressed optimism about his ability to consolidate achievements, deepen scholarship, and position AAUA among the world’s foremost universities.

The immediate past Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, congratulated his successor and thanked staff and students for their support during his tenure.

He expressed confidence in Prof. Obamuyi’s capacity to provide purposeful leadership and called on the university community to extend even greater cooperation to him.

Professor Tomola Marshal Obamuyi will officially resume office as the seventh substantive Vice Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), on Wednesday, July 8, 2026.

The ceremony is scheduled for 10:00 am at the University Multipurpose Hall, where Professor Obamuyi will take over from the outgoing Vice Chancellor, Professor Olugbenga Ige, whose tenure concludes on July 7, 2026.

Professor Obamuyi’s appointment was approved by the Ondo State Governor and Visitor to the University, His Excellency, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, following a rigorous selection process. He emerged as the preferred candidate among 15 distinguished academics interviewed by the Joint Council and Senate Selection Board.

A Professor of Finance with over three decades of academic experience, Professor Obamuyi holds a Ph.D. in Management Science from the Federal University of Technology, Akure (2005), and a Certificate in Financial Technology from the New York University Stern School of Business (2019). He has supervised 34 M.Sc. and Ph.D. candidates to completion and served as External Examiner for 223 postgraduate oral examinations across Nigeria, South Africa, and India. He has also been External Assessor for 88 professorial appointments in various universities.

His administrative pedigree is equally impressive. A founding stakeholder of AAUA since its transition in December 1999, he has served as Acting Head, Department of Banking and Finance, and Director of Linkages and International Programmes at AAUA. He later became the first substantive Dean of the School of Management Technology at FUTA (2015–2019) and Director of the University Advancement Centre (2019–2022). He has also held Visiting Professorships at the University of Lagos, Lagos State University of Science and Technology, and Redeemer’s University, Ede.

Professor Obamuyi has attracted and executed numerous research grants, including TETFund National Research Fund projects, USAID-sponsored studies, and the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) commissioned by Babson College, USA. He is the author of over 80 scholarly publications and has presented papers at international conferences across 13 countries, including the UK, USA, Canada, Sweden, Finland, Ireland, Ethiopia, India, and Singapore.

His scholarly excellence has earned him the prestigious award of “Best Professor of Banking and Finance in Africa” by the Africa Education Leadership Awards in Mauritius (2015). In 2018, he delivered the 99th Inaugural Lecture at FUTA, titled “Finance, Entrepreneurship and Institutions: The Triple Helix for Nigeria’s Economic Growth.” A Festschrift was published in his honour in 2019.

Professor Obamuyi is a Fellow of the Association of Entrepreneurship Scholars (AES) and the Nigerian Society for Financial Research, and holds professional membership in the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (Honorary Senior Member), the Nigeria Institute of Management (Chartered), the Fintech Association of Nigeria, and other reputable bodies.

The University warmly welcomes Professor Obamuyi as a visionary scholar-administrator whose global exposure, research depth, and institutional memory are expected to further advance AAUA’s trajectory of excellence.

Members of the University community, alumni, stakeholders, and the general public are warmly invited to witness the ceremony.

Signed:

Victor A. Akinpelumi

Deputy Registrar, Information, Protocol and Public Relations

Head, Radio AAUA 90.3 FM

Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko 

* Don urges legal reforms, autonomous law clinics, stronger enforcement of environmental laws

* Prof. Ige presides over his last inaugural lecture as Vice-Chancellor, describes event as  major academic milestone

Prof. Olugbenga Oke-Samuel, a legal scholar at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, has underscored the role of government and universities in tackling environmental pollution and injustice. 

He emphasised that granting financial and administrative autonomy to law clinics is essential to sustaining legal justice.

He noted that such reforms would not only promote a faster and more accessible justice system but also produce legal practitioners with practical experience, ultimately improving the quality of law in the country.

Prof. Oke-Samuel made this assertion on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at the University Multipurpose Hall while delivering the 67th Inaugural Lecture, titled “Environmental Injustice: Redeeming the Time Through Environmental Law Clinics in Nigeria.”

He explained that the Earth is facing a host of environmental crises, including climate change, pollution, and biodiversity and ecosystem loss. He observed that many communities across the globe, particularly the most vulnerable, have suffered disproportionately from environmental catastrophes. 

This, he said, reveals the damaging consequences of industrial recklessness and negligence, unsustainable resource use, and weak environmental regulation worldwide.

The Don highlighted several sources of environmental injustice in Nigeria, including illegal and artisanal mining, solid waste and dump sites, electronic waste, dust pollution from cement and related industries, air and oil pollution, climate change, flooding, and desertification.

Prof. Oke-Samuel stressed that the United Nations’ advocacy for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) would remain unattainable without critical attention to the legal enforcement of environmental justice. He added that while the SDGs represent a global framework for a resilient future, environmental justice provides the indispensable ethical and legal backing necessary to ensure compliance with human rights.

According to him: “Broad developmental ambitions such as clean water (SDG 6), affordable energy (SDG 7), and sustainable communities (SDG 11) cannot materialise in an accountability void. True sustainability necessitates that legal frameworks transition from merely conserving nature to actively dismantling the interlocking socio-legal structures that enable environmental racism, unequal resource distribution, and the marginalisation of vulnerable populations.”

Blaming political compromise, underfunding, and systemic weakness, the jurist bemoaned the failure of the Nigerian justice system to punish violators of environmental laws. He stated that this had forced affected communities, particularly in oil-related pollution cases, to pursue legal action overseas at enormous personal and financial cost.

Citing the environmental conditions in the Niger Delta, Prof. Oke-Samuel noted that although the country’s economy relies heavily on the region’s oil resources, the area has remained impoverished and severely affected by environmental degradation over the years. 

He listed the consequences for residents, including oil spillage, gas flaring, blowouts, oil pipeline fires, vandalism, militant agitations, and other disastrous health effects caused by water and food contamination, as well as increased rates of respiratory diseases.

While urging the government to utilise environmental law clinics in achieving the SDGs in Nigeria, the legal scholar highlighted the role of these university-based clinics in helping exposed individuals and communities secure justice against environmental crimes. 

He noted that environmental law clinics operate as specialised units, describing them as “desirable in a country like Nigeria where there is inadequate access to environmental lawyers, particularly for local communities and those at greater risk of environmental harm.”

Prof. Oke-Samuel further stated that environmental law clinics have a social responsibility to provide pro bono legal services to individuals and communities affected by environmental pollution, while also promoting environmental legal literacy, advocacy, and regulatory accountability.

To achieve these objectives, he called on the government to prioritise investment and funding for environmental law clinics, as well as the formalisation of collaborations with the Federal Ministry of Environment, State Ministries of Environment, and the Legal Aid Council.

 He also recommended the formal involvement of environmental law clinics in environmental impact assessments, audits, and community development agreements, among other measures aimed at strengthening environmental justice in Nigeria.

He further proposed a reform of the judiciary system through constitutional amendments to establish green courts or tribunals in Nigeria, and to provide legal aid to victims of environmental injustice.

On the academic front, Prof. Oke-Samuel recommended the integration of clinical legal education into the Nigerian university curriculum, describing it as a more intensive teaching and learning approach that prepares future legal practitioners to meet the demands of legal service consumers. He added that the approach would equip and train lawyers to act in the public interest and demand justice, rather than merely serve those in power.

Introducing the inaugural lecturer earlier, the Vice-Chancellor and Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, characterised the edition as a significant scholarly milestone for the university. 

He added that it marked the last inaugural lecture he would preside over before the end of his tenure. 

Prof. Ige commended Prof. Oke-Samuel for his selfless service and invaluable contributions to the university’s academic community, the legal profession and the nation’s justice system.

The Governing Council of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State, has officially confirmed the appointment of Mr. Bamidele Olukoju as the University’s 5th substantive Bursar. 

The landmark decision was reached during an emergency meeting of the Council held on Thursday, June 25, 2026.

Olukoju is a distinguished Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) and a Registered Member of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRCN),.

Olukoju’s emergence followed the recommendation of the joint Council/Senate Selection Board, which identified him as the standout candidate among three shortlisted contenders vying for the position of the University’s Chief Accounting Officer. His impressive performance during the competitive interview process underscored his deep technical expertise, administrative acumen and unwavering commitment to institutional integrity.

A scholar-practitioner with a robust academic foundation, Olukoju earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Abuja in 2006 and later obtained a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Business Administration from the National Open University of Nigeria in 2017. He is currently a doctoral candidate pursuing a Ph.D. in Accounting at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, a testament to his dedication to continuous learning and academic excellence.

The new Bursar brings over two decades of rich professional experience spanning the banking sector, financial consultancy, and higher education administration. Prior to joining AAUA in 2017, he held key positions across multiple organisations, including Senior Banking Officer at Pinnacle Microfinance Bank, Senior Associate at J. Walter Udoeyop & Co. (Chartered Accountants), Part-Time Lecturer at Sky Associate Tutors Ltd., Accountant at Essential Healthcare Ltd., Chief Financial Officer at Olive Pearls Ltd., and Financial Analyst at SAOK Consults.

Within the AAUA system, he has steadily risen through the ranks, beginning as Head of the Loans and Advances Unit before progressing to Supervisor of Accounting Services and Treasury Services, Divisional Head of Management Services, and ultimately, Chief Accountant.

 His footprint in the broader university system also includes a distinguished stint at the Federal University Oye-Ekiti, where he served as Head of the Budget, Controls and Expenditure Unit between 2011 and 2015 and was promoted to the rank of Principal Accountant in 2015. He has also demonstrated leadership as Acting Head of the Bursary Unit at the university’s Ikole Campus.

Beyond his core financial responsibilities, Mr. Olukoju has been an active contributor to institutional development. He has chaired several key committees, including the Bursary Committee on Revenue Records Update and the Committee on the Implementation of the E-Payment System within the Bursary Department. He also played a pivotal role in coordinating the preparation and auditing of the University’s financial accounts for the 2012–2016 fiscal years.

His influence extends into the academic sphere, where he has enriched the Department of Accounting through his teaching in the Part-Time Programmes. He is also a regular participant and presenter at numerous local and international conferences and workshops, contributing scholarly papers that reflect his research interests and thought leadership in finance and public sector accounting.

A highly regarded professional, Mr. Olukoju is an active member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), where he served as Financial Secretary of the Akoko and District Society between 2022 and 2023. His registration with the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria further underscores his commitment to the highest standards of financial reporting and corporate governance. His peers describe him as an accomplished, meticulous and principled financial steward whose reputation precedes him.

 Olukoju’s appointment takes effect from July 1, 2026. He succeeds Dr. Tobi Orina, whose five-year tenure concluded on June 30, 2026. In a statement issued following the Council meeting, the University Administration expressed full confidence in Mr. Olukoju’s capacity to provide sound, transparent and visionary financial leadership, expressing optimism that his wealth of experience and unassailable integrity would usher in a new era of fiscal prudence and institutional growth.

The entire AAUA community congratulates him on this well-deserved elevation and wishes him a successful tenure as he assumes this critical responsibility at the helm of the University’s financial affairs.

Victor A. Akinpelumi

Deputy RegistrarInformation, Protocol and Public Relations / Head, Radio AAUA 90.3 FM, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko

Information, Protocol and Public Relations / Head, Radio AAUA 90.3 FM, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko

…As institution plans week-long activities to honour outgoing VC

The Valedictory programme of the 6th substantive Vice Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, has been announced.

The Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration) and Chairman, Committee on the End Tenure, Prof. Adebisi Daramola, in a statement, described the celebration as a tribute to a legacy of purposeful leadership and lasting impact.

The farewell activities will commence on Monday, June 29, with a Valedictory Lecture hosted by the Faculty of Science in honour of the Vice Chancellor. The lecture, titled “Management Has a Few Things to Learn From Science,” will be delivered by Prof. Victor Olumekun at the Nelson Mandela Hall by 2pm.

On Wednesday, July 1, the programmes will begin with a Special Monthly Prayer Meeting by 9am at the University Multipurpose Hall. At 12pm, a Valedictory Senate Meeting and Presentation of Tenure Report will be held at the Senate Chamber. The day will conclude by 4pm with an AAUA Students’ Praise Fiesta in honour of Prof. Ige at the University Multipurpose Hall.

On Thursday, July 2, the University’s Academic Staff Union will host a Colloquium in Honour of the Vice Chancellor at the University Multipurpose Hall by 10am. Later that day, a Friendly Match will take place at the Sports Centre by 4pm.

Friday, July 3 will serve as an Open Day for the Vice Chancellor, with reception of goodwill messages at the Vice Chancellor’s Office by 9am. At 1pm, there will be a Special Jumat Service at the University Central Mosque, followed by a Command Performance by Ajasin ‘Varsity Theatre (AVT) at 3pm at the University Multipurpose Hall.

Monday, July 6 will feature a series of activities. A highlight of the celebration is the commissioning of the Vice Chancellor’s Legacy Project — an 80-capacity Hall of Residence — scheduled for 10am at the project site, opposite the University Health Centre. Immediately after, at 11am, the Vice Chancellor’s Valedictory Speech will be delivered at the Multipurpose Hall. The Chairman and Chief Launcher for the day is Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde, Executive Director, Corporate Services, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Other activities scheduled for the day include the Unveiling of the Vice Chancellor’s Milestones Magazine and the Launching of a Book of Essays in Honour of the Legacy of Prof. Ige.

In the spirit of gratitude, an End-of-Tenure Thanksgiving Service for exemplary stewardship will be held at Saint James’ Anglican Church, Ita Ogbolu, by 10am on Sunday, July 12, bringing the celebration to a close.

Prof. Olugbenga Ige, a visionary leader whose legacy has left an indelible mark on the institution and the larger academic community, was appointed as the 6th substantive Vice Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, on July 7, 2021.

* Prof. Oke-Samuel delivers 67th inaugural lecture on role of law clinics in advancing environmental justice

Prof. Olugbenga Oke-Samuel, a distinguished legal scholar and Professor of Law in the Faculty of Law at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State, will deliver the institution’s 67th inaugural lecture on Tuesday, June 30, 2026. 

The lecture, which promises to be a seminal contribution to legal discourse, will examine the pressing issue of environmental injustice and the transformative potential of environmental law clinics in Nigeria.

Scheduled to hold at the University’s Multipurpose Hall, the event will see the erudite professor present his lecture entitled: “Environmental Injustice: Redeeming the Time Through Environmental Law Clinics in Nigeria.”

 Prof. Oke-Samuel, whose expertise spans Environmental Law and Clinical Legal Education, will explore the role of community-based legal interventions in addressing systemic environmental harm and advancing the cause of environmental justice in the Nigerian context.

According to a statement issued by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration) and Chairman of the Ceremonies Committee, Prof. Adebisi Daramola, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, will preside over the occasion. Guests are expected to be seated by 1.30 pm, with proceedings commencing at 2.00 pm.

Prof. Oke-Samuel’s academic trajectory is marked by a distinguished record of scholarship and institutional service. He began his legal education at Lagos State University, Ojo, where he obtained his Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree in 1992. He subsequently earned a Master of Laws (LLM) in Environment from the same university in 2002. In 2014, he was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Law from the University of Zululand, South Africa, under the sponsorship of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

His academic career at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko commenced in 2001 when he joined the Department of Jurisprudence and International Law as a Lecturer II. Over the years, he has risen steadily through the academic ranks, attaining the status of Professor in 2022. A consummate administrator, he has held several key leadership positions within the university, including Acting Head of the Jurisprudence and International Law Department, Acting Head of the Private Law Department, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Law, Coordinator of the Akungba Law Clinic, and Director of the AAUA Quality Assurance Unit.

Beyond his administrative acumen, Prof. Oke-Samuel is a prolific researcher and scholar. His substantial academic output includes four authored books, four book chapters, the edited volume Trends in Nigerian Law, and twenty-three peer-reviewed research articles. He has also presented scholarly papers at thirty-six conferences and workshops across the globe, with engagements in the United States, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, Australia, Belgium, Malaysia, and Nepal.

His international academic footprint extends beyond research to teaching and institutional capacity building. He has served as a Senior Lecturer and Law Clinic Founder/Coordinator at Kampala International University, Uganda; a Visiting Scholar at the City Law Clinic, City University of Mogadishu, Somalia; an Adjunct/Visiting Scholar at Edo State University, Uzaire; and a Visiting Professor at Thomas Adewunmi University, Oko. He is also the Founder of the Heartfelt Community Legal Centre, Akure, and the Founding Coordinator of the Kampala International University Law Clinic, Uganda.

Prof. Oke-Samuel’s outstanding scholarly career has been recognised through several prestigious awards and grants, including a TETFund Sponsorship for his doctoral studies at the University of Zululand (2009); an International Bar Association Travel Grant for the ICC Moot Competition in The Hague (2023); a Community University Partnership Project Grant to attend the IUCN Environmental Law Conference at the University of Waikato, New Zealand (2013); and a Legal Writing Institute Scholarship/Travel Grant for the 13th Biennial Conference at Indiana University School of Law, USA (2008).

An active member of the legal and academic community, he belongs to several professional bodies, including the Board of Trustees of the Association of Energy and Petroleum Law Researchers in Nigeria (AEPLRN), the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the International Network for Environmental Compliance and Enforcement (INECE), the Global Alliance for Justice Education (GAJE), the National Association of Law Teachers (NALT), and the Nigeria Environmental Society (NES).

The 67th inaugural lecture promises to be a landmark academic event, drawing scholars, legal practitioners, students, and members of the public to a discourse that bridges legal theory and practical advocacy for environmental justice in Nigeria.

…Urges NUC to establish AI-cloud studies department

Professor Alaba Akingbesote, a scholar specialising in Artificial Intelligence and e-market services, has called for enhanced digital literacy and broader access to digital tools to ensure that Africa, and particularly Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) in rural areas, can fully benefit from the globalisation of e-marketplaces. 

He observed that many of these enterprises remain excluded from emerging digital trade systems, even as traditional markets gradually evolve into bidirectional AI-cloud e-marketplaces.

The professor made these remarks on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, while delivering the 66th inaugural lecture of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, titled “From Traditional Markets to Bidirectional AI-Cloud E-Marketplaces: Emergence, Challenges and Expectations.”

Tracing the evolution of e-marketplaces, Prof. Akingbesote explained that traditional marketplaces were constrained by weak marketing strategies, limited global reach, slow adoption of cashless payment systems and high risks associated with product movement and distribution. 

He further described cloud-based e-marketplaces as platforms that enable the publication and transaction of cloud services, allowing providers to advertise their offerings while consumers browse and evaluate available options. 

However, he noted that this model is hindered by limited intelligence, manual monitoring, low automation, and weak location awareness and mobility support, leading to the emergence of ad-hoc mobile cloud markets designed to improve adaptability, efficiency and service delivery.

According to the don, cloud computing serves as the foundational catalyst for Artificial Intelligence by providing the massive infrastructure and computing power required to train and deploy models. Conversely, AI acts as a catalyst for the evolution of cloud computing by optimising, automating and driving increased demand for smarter, more efficient cloud services.

 He described the integration of AI and cloud marketplaces as a symbiotic relationship in which both technologies function as co-catalysts for modern digital innovation.

Prof. Akingbesote, however, highlighted several challenges associated with this technological innovation, including system compatibility, data management, security, cost optimisation, talent gaps and over-reliance on single providers. 

He stressed that for businesses, organisations, and individuals to realise the full potential of AI-cloud e-marketplaces, these challenges must be addressed through standardised protocols, robust security measures and strategic management.

Looking ahead, he said: “Come 2027 and beyond, we are expecting bidirectional AI-cloud e-marketplaces that will not just execute tasks, but learn, adapt, and grow smarter over time based on real-world experience and feedback. Rather than being fixed tools, these agents can expand their own capabilities by generating new tools on demand, optimising their workflows and refining their strategies to tackle increasingly complex challenges.”

To this end, the AI and e-market expert urged the government to increase funding for research and innovation in universities, particularly in AI-cloud technologies, to create opportunities for indigenous researchers to contribute to the emerging vision of AI-cloud e-marketplaces beyond 2027. 

He also called on the National Universities Commission (NUC) to establish a dedicated department for AI-cloud studies, aimed at integrating artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and other advanced computing applications into university curricula. 

In addition, he advocated for a review of the single-authorship policy in academic staff promotions at some universities, noting that research in the “beyond 2027 AI-cloud e-marketplaces” era demands collaborative efforts among researchers across different disciplines and regions.

Prof. Akingbesote further urged the Nigerian government and universities to adopt bidirectional AI-cloud e-marketplaces to transform teaching, research and administration, explaining that this would reduce reliance on hardware-heavy infrastructure and transition institutions into more flexible, cost-effective digital environments that support personalised learning, efficient operations and advanced research. 

He added that organisations and business communities stand to benefit significantly from the technology, as it reshapes marketing strategies through improved decision-making, rapid predictions, cost efficiency and the transformation of traditional systems into intelligent, data-driven frameworks.

To ensure inclusivity, he encouraged small communities, schools, and military bases, particularly those with limited or no infrastructure or those requiring secure communication, to adopt ad-hoc mobile e-marketplaces, which can provide temporary, flexible digital services in areas with poor or unavailable infrastructure.

Earlier in his opening address, the Vice Chancellor and Chairman of the Occasion, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, commended Prof. Akingbesote for his contributions to teaching, research and community service, noting that the theme of the 66th inaugural lecture reflects the university’s commitment to innovation and societal development.

…Prof. Oluwasuji advocates diversification into agriculture, manufacturing, technology

Olawole Oluwasuji, a professor at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, has advocated the diversification of Nigeria’s economy through sustained investment in agriculture, manufacturing and the creative industries.

 He warned that a nation heavily reliant on oil exports and imported technology cannot claim full autonomy, as its sovereignty remains constrained by the conditions of external markets.

Prof. Oluwasuji, a scholar of Political Science and Public Administration, made the recommendation on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, while delivering the institution’s 65th inaugural lecture titled, “Nigeria’s Fragile Economy: Removing the Contours and Roadblocks to Sustainable Development.”

Describing a monolithic economy—where a country’s earnings depend heavily on a single sector—as regressive, he cited insecurity in the Niger Delta region, where most onshore oil production takes place.

 He noted that the unrest has resulted in significant production losses since the 2000s, saying: “It is more hazardous as the nation’s oil output is the worst hit, with the loss of 600,000 barrels of crude oil per day. Nigeria’s daily oil revenue loss for 2006 was a whopping $700,000,000.”

The don also lamented Nigeria’s dependence on the global economy, citing the impact of the global recession and the COVID-19 pandemic on the local economy. He explained that the pandemic led to a 55 per cent decline in oil prices between the last quarter of 2019 and April 2020.

According to him, this compelled the Federal Government to review its earlier projected revenue collection of N8.24 trillion, which was based on an oil price benchmark of $57 per barrel and a production target of 2.2 million barrels per day.

“This COVID-19-induced liquidity squeeze has certainly undermined the capacity of the federal and state governments to implement policies and programmes designed to reduce poverty and promote inclusive growth and development,” he added.

Prof. Oluwasuji further highlighted several factors hindering Nigeria’s self-reliance, including corruption, insecurity, policy instability, nepotism, youth agitation, ineffective past policies, lack of continuity in government programmes, human capital deficits, weak institutional frameworks and policy inconsistency.

 He noted that these internal fragilities create external vulnerability, arguing that when fiscal or energy systems depend on external inputs, political autonomy becomes negotiable.

Proposing sustainable development as the surest path to national independence, the inaugural lecturer stated: “Nigeria possesses a combination of human resources, natural endowments and geopolitical weight that can, if effectively harnessed, translate into sustainable autonomy. Achieving this goal, however, requires coherent policies, disciplined leadership and strategic foresight.”

In this context, Prof. Oluwasuji recommended repositioning Nigeria’s economy through the productive diversification of export commodities and a focus on the manufacture of local intermediate goods such as textiles, pharmaceuticals and electronics to reduce dependence on imports. 

He also emphasised the need to prioritise investment in science, research and innovation, as well as the development of indigenous technological capacity to enhance Nigeria’s autonomy.

According to him, these objectives can be achieved by strengthening research institutions such as the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and universities through predictable funding and merit-based governance. 

He added that Nigeria must invest in data protection, satellite surveillance and artificial intelligence to enhance national security and promote self-reliance.

Prof. Oluwasuji further advocated granting anti-corruption agencies such as the EFCC and ICPC greater autonomy from political interference to strengthen transparency and accountability and restore public trust. He also called for the introduction of capital punishment for corruption, arguing that existing anti-corruption measures have proved ineffective in addressing the menace.

The don stressed the importance of engaging Nigeria’s youth population, noting that exclusion, unemployment and poor education limit the country’s capacity to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. He suggested that the education system should be restructured and adequately funded to align with national industrial and technological needs.

To prevent skilled professionals from migrating in search of greener pastures, Prof. Oluwasuji urged the government to create conditions that reward merit and provide opportunities for young people.

Earlier, while introducing the inaugural lecturer, the Vice-Chancellor and Chairman of the Occasion, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, described inaugural lectures as the university’s contribution to human and national development. 

He commended Prof. Oluwasuji for advancing this institutional mandate through his scholarly work and commitment to development.

Professor Alaba Akingbesote, a distinguished expert in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and e-market services, is set to deliver the 66th Inaugural Lecture at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) on Tuesday, 16 June 2026. The lecture, titled “From Traditional Markets to Bidirectional AI-Cloud E-Marketplaces: Emergence, Challenges and Expectations,” will examine the profound global shift from conventional physical trading environments to sophisticated, AI-driven digital economies.

According to a statement released by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration) and Chairman of the Ceremonies Committee, Professor Adebisi Daramola, the event will take place at the University Multipurpose Hall at 2:00 pm. The Vice Chancellor, Prof.  Olugbenga Ige, will chair the historic occasion.

Prof. Akingbesote boasts an illustrious academic career spanning over three decades. He began his journey in higher education at Ogun State University, Ago-Iwoye, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science (Hons) degree in Computer Science in 1994. He went on to earn a Master of Technology degree in Computer Science from the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) in 2004, before securing his Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science from the University of Zululand, South Africa, in 2015.

His long-standing relationship with Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko,  began in 1995 when he joined the institution, then known as Ondo State University, Ado-Ekiti, as a Graduate Assistant. Through a steadfast commitment to research and teaching excellence, he steadily climbed the academic ranks over the next twenty-five years, culminating in his promotion to full Professor in 2020.

Beyond his core teaching and research responsibilities, Prof.  Akingbesote has held several key administrative positions within the university. He has previously served as the Acting Director of the Centre for Distance Learning, and has lent his leadership skills to his home department as the Acting Head of Department, Departmental Staff Adviser, and Departmental Examination Officer.

As a prolific scholar, Prof. Akingbesote has authored two introductory academic textbooks and published 34 articles in reputable peer-reviewed journals. His research footprint extends far beyond Nigeria, having presented papers at more than 20 local and international conferences across the United Kingdom, Ghana, South Africa, Mauritius, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Tunisia, and the United Arab Emirates.

His contributions to the global computing community have also earned him significant international accolades. Notably, he received the Best Paper Presenter Award for Cloud Computing at the IEEE 6th International Conference on Adaptive Science and Technology in Nigeria in 2014. This followed his success in 2012, where he was awarded the second prize for Best PhD Oral Presentation at the 7th Annual Faculty of Science and Agriculture Symposium at the University of Zululand.

Outside his home university, Prof. Akingbesote has shared his expertise as an Adjunct Lecturer at Achievers University in Owo, and as an External Examiner for the Department of Software Engineering at FUTA. 

He maintains an active membership with the prestigious Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), using the global platform to advocate for technological innovations that drive human development.

The highly anticipated lecture promises to provide vital insights into the regulatory challenges, economic opportunities, and future expectations surrounding AI-cloud integration in modern commerce. The event is scheduled to begin promptly at 2:00 pm, and guests are respectfully requested to be seated by 1:30 pm.

Preparations have been concluded for the 65th inaugural lecture of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State, as Prof. Olawole Oluwasuji, a distinguished scholar in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration, prepares to deliver the landmark lecture on Tuesday, June 9, 2026.

Prof. Oluwasuji, whose academic specialisation lies in Political Economy and Development Studies, will speak on the thought-provoking topic: “Nigeria’s Fragile Economy: Removing the Contours and Roadblocks to Sustainable Development.” 

The lecture promises to dissect the structural vulnerabilities of the Nigerian economy, exploring policy inconsistencies, institutional weaknesses, and developmental bottlenecks, while proffering actionable pathways toward resilience and long-term growth.

He obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from the then Ondo State University, Ado-Ekiti (now Ekiti State University) in 1997. He proceeded to the University of Ibadan, where he earned a Master of Science degree in Political Science with a focus on Public Administration in 2002. 

He later capped his formal education with a PhD in Political Science (specialising in Political Economy and Development Studies) from Kogi State University, Anyigba, in 2017.

Prof. Oluwasuji joined Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, in 2003 as an Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Public Administration. Through dedication and scholarly output, he steadily climbed the academic ladder, earning promotion to the rank of Prof. in 2024.

Over the years, he has served the university in various capacities, including Acting Head of the Department of Public Administration, Chairman of the Faculty of Administration and Management Sciences Project Committee, Chairman of the Faculty of Education’s Investigation Panel on Examination Misconduct, and Postgraduate School Representative for his faculty.

A prolific researcher and author, Prof. Oluwasuji has made significant contributions to knowledge. He has co-authored two books, authored 32 journal articles, and contributed chapters to 13 edited academic volumes. His research spans political economy, governance, public sector reforms, and sustainable development.

 He is also an active participant in local and international academic conferences. Notably, he presented a paper at the Second Outstanding African Thinkers Conference held in Abomey-Calavi, Republic of Benin, where his work received commendation from peers.

Beyond the walls of his home institution, Prof. Oluwasuji has served as a Postgraduate External Examiner at Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti. He has also held visiting academic positions, including Visiting Prof. at Achievers University, Owo, Ondo State, and Visiting Reader at both Landmark University, Omu-Aran, and Precious Cornerstone University, Ibadan. These cross-institutional roles have enriched his pedagogical approach and broadened his scholarly network. He maintains active membership in the National Association of Political Science (NAPS) and doubles as a facilitator with the Association of Public Administration Researchers (ASPAR), where he regularly mentors emerging scholars and contributes to policy dialogue.

In a statement released by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Adebisi Daramola, it was confirmed that the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, will chair the occasion.

The inaugural lecture is scheduled to hold at the University Multipurpose Hall, with guests expected to be seated by 1:30 pm. The main lecture will commence promptly at 2:00 pm.