Prof. Eniola emerges JABU Acting Vice Chancellor

The President of Christ Apostolic Church, Nigeria and Overseas, Pastor Samuel Oladele, who is also the Visitor to Joseph Ayo Babalola University has ratified the appointment of Professor Kehinde Imisi Temitope Eniola as the Acting Vice-Chancellor to hold forth the reins of leadership of the university. This is coming after the demise of the third substantive Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kola Sonaike. 

According to a statement signed by Ag. Director, Public Relations and Marketing Unit, JABU, Dr. Ayodeji Aiyesimoju, Prof. Eniola, 52, is a Professor of Environmental and Public Health Microbiology. He started his academic career in 1997 at the Department of Biological Sciences, University of Ilorin. He joined the services of Joseph Ayo Babalola University as a Senior Lecturer on 1st April, 2008 and rose steadily to the rank of full professor on 1st April 2014. Since his appointment in JABU, he has been involved in innovative teaching and research. 

The Acting Vice Chancellor is a fellow of the Nigerian Society for Microbiology (NSM), the highest professional body for microbiologists in Nigeria. Eniola served as the society’s President between 2014 and 2018. He currently sits as a member of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the Society. Given his antecedents, pioneering and leadership efforts in the field of Microbiology, he was appointed Country Ambassador of the American Society of Microbiology (ASM) in 2018, a position he holds to date. He also holds the membership of the Society for Applied Microbiology, Society for Experimental Biology and the American Society for the Advancement of Science. 

He serves as external examiner to departments of Microbiology and cognate departments in the University of Lagos, University of Ilorin, Kwara State University, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ladoke Akintola University among several others. In addition to his teaching and research responsibilities in JABU, he has occupied various administrative positions including Head of Department, Director of Academic Planning, Director, Centre for Distance Learning, Dean, College of Natural Sciences and currently sits as Dean of the College of Postgraduate Studies. During his directorship at the Centre for Distance Learning, JABU became the first Private University to be granted approval by the National Universities’ Commission (NUC) to run online distance learning programmes. During his one-year sabbatical leave to Mountain Top University in 2016, he was appointed Dean of Students’ Affairs. He also served as the Chairman to the Academic Planning Committee, ICT Committee and Chapel Committee.

Eniola has served on, chaired and still chairs several committees in Joseph Ayo Babalola University. They include University Ceremonies Committee, Accreditation Committee, Publications Committee, Sports Committee, Research Committee, Committee on Online Teaching and Examination, Committee on Post Covid-19 School Resumption Strategies, Committee on University Ranking, and several ad-hoc committees and Task Forces. He serves as a reviewer to various nationally and internationally published scholarly journals. 

Acknowledging his service to the university, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of JABU’s Governing Council, Professor A.M.A Imevbore, commended Professor Eniola’s commitment to JABU and Christ Apostolic Church, noting that “he goes the extra mile in carrying out any assignment given to him as regards the progress of the university”. The Pro-Chancellor expressed unreserved confidence in Eniola’s capacity and suitability to provide excellent leadership to the university.