A former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Abel Idowu Olayinka, is to deliver the institution’s 47th University Lecture series, focusing on repositioning the Nigerian university system for sustainable national development.
The lecture, scheduled for November 5, 19 and 26, 2026, will be delivered in three parts at Trenchard Hall of the university, by 3.00 p.m. on each day.
Titled: “Repositioning the Nigerian University System: Basis for Sustainable National Development,” the series will examine the historical context of the university system, strategies for mitigating its crises, and an agenda for its future.
The first part, “Historical Context,” will hold on November 5, while the second, “Mitigating Crises,” is scheduled for November 19. The final session, “Setting an Agenda for the Future,” will take place on November 26.
Olayinka, a professor of Applied Geophysics in the Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, University of Ibadan, is a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science and several professional bodies.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kayode Adebowale, is inviting members of the public to the lecture series.
In a statement announcing the event, Olayinka recalled that the University of Ibadan Senate established the University Lecture Series on March 9, 1971.
He said the founding vision was for lecturers to make significant and original contributions to their fields while presenting scholarly work in a manner accessible to a wider audience.
The former VC said the university would strive to sustain that vision through the forthcoming lectures.
The series is expected to provide a platform for examining the challenges confronting Nigerian universities and discussing possible approaches to strengthening their contribution to national development.
A virtual participation link is expected to be shared a few days before each session. A post-lecture cocktail is also scheduled to be held at the Trenchard Hall courtyard.
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