By Esther Sangodele
The immediate past Acting Vice-Chancellor of Achievers University, Owo, Ondo State, Professor Oyesoji Aremu, has said the institution recorded some of the most remarkable academic milestones in its history during his eight-month stewardship, despite navigating an admission fraud crisis inherited by his administration.
Reflecting on his tenure after handing over to the substantive Vice-Chancellor, Professor Omolola Irinoye, Professor Aremu said the university overcame the challenge without disrupting academic activities while recording significant progress in programme accreditation, staff development, research, governance and institutional reforms.
Among the achievements recorded during his tenure, Aremu said the Governing Council approved seven academic promotions, four to the rank of Associate Professor and three to Professor, which he described as unprecedented in the institution’s history. He added that seven additional promotion cases involving academic staff, alongside promotions for non-academic personnel, were already being processed.
He said his administration also introduced a merit-based promotion system for non-teaching staff, requiring competency assessments in addition to the conventional appraisal process, as part of efforts to strengthen meritocracy and institutional efficiency.
Other milestones, according to him, included the revival of the university’s inaugural lecture series after a three-year hiatus, the successful accreditation of seven academic programmes, improvements in postgraduate quality assurance, distance education, governance and strategic partnerships, as well as enhanced collaboration with the Federal Medical Centre, Owo.
Aremu described the approval of a 120-student admission quota for the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) as one of the administration’s landmark achievements.
“Many universities that have existed much longer received admission quotas of between 80 and 100 students, but Achievers University was approved for 120. That was a landmark achievement for us,” he said.
He added that the university strengthened its relationship with the host community through employment opportunities and environmental sustainability initiatives, including the planting of more than 130 trees across the campus under the Green Care Initiative.
Expressing gratitude for the opportunity to serve, Aremu attributed the achievements recorded during his stewardship to teamwork, dedication and divine grace.
“I can only thank God for His faithfulness throughout the journey,” he said.
His assessment came as the returning Vice-Chancellor, Professor Omolola Irinoye, and the Pro-Chancellor, Professor Bode Ayorinde, commended his stewardship and pledged to consolidate the reforms initiated during his administration.
Speaking at a cocktail reception organised to mark the completion of Aremu’s tenure, Irinoye described him as a leader of integrity whose calm disposition, consultative leadership and unwavering commitment ensured administrative stability and institutional continuity throughout her absence.
“I have worked closely with Professor Oyesoji Aremu for many years. Throughout the period I was away, we remained in close contact, and I had absolute confidence in his ability to provide effective leadership,” she said.
Ayorinde also described Aremu’s administration as transformational, saying his humility, creativity and commitment to excellence elevated the university’s profile.
“He has taken the university to greater heights,” the Pro-Chancellor said.
Tributes from senior academics and university officials portrayed Aremu as a principled, visionary and transformational administrator.
The Head of the Department of Mass Communication, Dr. Chike Duru, described him as an inspirational and fair-minded leader with exceptional listening skills, while former Dean of the Faculty of Education, Professor Taiwo Adenegan, hailed him as a trailblazer and exemplary mentor. The Director of Academic Planning and Quality Assurance, Dr. Olutosin Ilesanmi, praised his consultative leadership style, while Professor Nureni Adewole of the University of Ibadan, the University’s Bursar, Mrs. Oluwafunbi Ayodeji, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Social and Management Sciences, Dr. Kola Adegoke, and the Provost of the College of Postgraduate Studies, Professor Adetoyosi Daniels, also commended his contributions to academic excellence, staff development and institutional growth.
As part of activities marking the end of his tenure, the university inaugurated its Green Care Initiative through the planting of commemorative trees, held a Special Senate Session in his honour and witnessed the presentation of the Cred 360 Excellence in Educational Leadership Award to Aremu by Cred 360 Media Ltd in recognition of his outstanding contributions to higher education.
A renowned counselling psychologist and security scholar at the University of Ibadan, Aremu assumed office as Acting Vice-Chancellor following the extended leave of the substantive Vice-Chancellor. With Professor Irinoye’s return, he has resumed his substantive position as Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the university.
