The Management of Kola Daisi University, Ibadan, has announced the appointment of Professor Olajumoke Abimbola Morenikeji as Vice-Chancellor-Designate of the institution.
The appointment follows a rigorous and transparent selection process and was duly approved by the Board of Trustees in accordance with the provisions of the KolaDaisi University Law (2016).
It was subsequently ratified at the 33rd Statutory Meeting of the Governing Council held on Thursday, 30 April 2026, with Council members commending the integrity and openness of the process. Professor Morenikeji is expected to assume office on 3 August 2026.
Professor Morenikeji obtained her B.Sc. in Zoology from the University of Ibadan, where she also earned her M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Zoology (Parasitology). Her doctoral research made a significant contribution to the control of guinea worm transmission, leading to the successful eradication of the disease across fifteen study communities.
Following her doctoral studies, she was awarded prestigious international fellowships, including the MIM/TDR Postdoctoral Fellowship at the National Institute for Medical Research, London, and the TWAS-DBT Fellowship at the National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi, India. She was at the Harvard School of Public Health, United States, where she obtained a Certificate in International Health Research Ethics.
She rose through the academic ranks to become a Professor of Parasitology at the University of Ibadan in 2016. Her research focuses on the epidemiology, transmission, and control of tropical parasitic diseases – including malaria, schistosomiasis, helminth infections, and guinea worm – integrating advanced tools such as Geographic Information Systems, remote sensing, and nanotechnology.
Professor Morenikeji has an extensive and distinguished research portfolio, with over 120 peer-reviewed publications and seven scholarly books.
She has attracted funding, fellowships, and research support from numerous national and international organisations, including TETFund, the National Universities Commission (NUC), UNICEF, the World Health Organization (MIM/TDR), the United States Government, Harvard School of Public Health, National Geographic, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), among others.
A highly regarded scholar and thought leader, she has presented at several local and international conferences and delivered keynote addresses, including at the Chicago Zoological Society/Brookfield Zoo, USA.
She has also participated in high-level leadership programmes, notably the Executive Programme on Empowering Women in Higher Education at Oxford University, UK and the DIES LEADx Programme in Potsdam, Germany.
Professor Morenikeji has demonstrated a sustained commitment to student development, having supervised and mentored numerous undergraduate and postgraduate students. She has also served as External Examiner to several universities and contributed significantly to academic quality assurance and programme development.
Her leadership extends beyond academia into environmental sustainability and biodiversity conservation. As Director of the University of Ibadan Zoological Garden (2010–2016), she led a landmark transformation of the facility- the first of its kind since its establishment in 1948 – enhancing animal welfare, strengthening conservation and research programmes, upgrading/building infrastructure, and expanding community engagement.
Her efforts earned institutional recognition and several awards. She continues to contribute to conservation initiatives nationally and internationally.
Professor Morenikeji is an alumna of the prestigious International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) of the United States Department of State and a Fellow of the Zoological Society of Nigeria (FZSN). She is the Pioneer President of the Nigerian Association of Zoological Gardens and Wildlife Parks, Chair of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library Wildlife Park, and Founder/Chair of the Pangolin Conservation Guild Nigeria. She also serves as Regional Chair (West Africa) of the IUCN Species Survival Commission Pangolin Specialist Group.
She has represented Nigeria at high-level international forums, including the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES CoP19) in Panama, and contributed to the development of Nigeria’s National Strategy to Combat Wildlife and Forest Crime (2022–2026).
At KolaDaisi University, Professor Morenikeji has provided exemplary academic and administrative leadership. She has served as Head of Department, Dean of the Faculty of Applied Sciences, and pioneer Editor-in-Chief of the KDU Journal of Applied Sciences. She convened the University’s first international science conference and first science exhibition competition, significantly enhancing research visibility and global engagement.
She has also chaired key institutional committees, including Accreditation, first Inaugural Lecture, and Senate Business Committee, and served as pioneer Deputy Vice-Chancellor, where she played a central role in strengthening governance, quality assurance, and institutional development.
Professor Morenikeji is widely recognised as a results-driven and reform-oriented academic leader, with a clear vision and proven capacity to build systems, mobilise stakeholders, and deliver measurable institutional progress.
Her appointment as Vice-Chancellor-Designate marks a significant step in the continued advancement of KolaDaisi University’s mission of academic excellence, innovation, and societal impact.
Packaged by Lanre Olabisi
