Professor Peter Olamakinde Olapegba has assumed office as the 14th Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan (UI), following the completion of the appointment process by the university’s Governing Council.
The appointment was announced in a statement issued by the university’s Registrar, G. O. Saliu, who said the Governing Council approved Olapegba’s appointment at its meeting held on July 22, 2026. His five-year tenure commenced on November 1, 2026.
Olapegba, a professor of Applied Social Psychology, previously served as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), a position he assumed on November 8, 2023.
He succeeds as the head of the 78-year-old institution with more than 25 years of academic and administrative experience, including 12 years as a full professor.
A graduate of the University of Ibadan, Olapegba obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology in 1997, Master’s degree in Social/Personality Psychology in 1999 and doctorate in Applied Social Psychology in 2008.
His academic and research interests span social, health and environmental psychology, with particular attention to health behaviour, family and marital violence, sexual harassment, victimisation and perceived quality of life.
The new Vice-Chancellor has published more than 130 scholarly works, comprising books, book chapters, monographs, journal articles and creative writings. His research has addressed issues such as HIV/AIDS, sexual behaviour, domestic violence and quality of life.
According to the statement, his research contributions include the development of culturally relevant and internationally accepted measurement scales for social psychology, providing practical tools for understanding human behaviour and promoting attitudinal change.
Before his appointment, Olapegba held several administrative positions at the university, including Undergraduate Coordinator, Postgraduate Coordinator, Examination Officer, Sub-Dean Postgraduate and Dean of the Faculty of the Social Sciences.
He also served as Director of the Office of Alumni Relations, Chairman of the UI@75 Anniversary Committee and was elected twice as a member of the university’s Governing Council.
Beyond the University of Ibadan, he has served on the governing councils and boards of several tertiary institutions and organisations, including Adeseun Ogundoyin Polytechnic, Eruwa, Pan African University Life and Earth Sciences Institute, and Precious Cornerstone University.
Olapegba has also supervised doctoral, master’s and undergraduate research projects and served as an external examiner, professorial assessor and consultant on academic promotion panels in universities within and outside Nigeria.
His research achievements include grants from the International Congress of Psychology Change Fellowship, University of Ibadan Senate Research Grant, Moment of Change Research Grant and Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Institutional-Based Research Grants.
The statement further disclosed that he attracted significant support to the university, including a N200 million scholarship fund and a N300 million building for the Faculty of the Social Sciences.
A fellow of the Social Science Academy of Nigeria, Nigerian Psychological Association, Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, and Society for Peace Studies and Practice, Olapegba has also undertaken postdoctoral research at North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, South Africa.
Born on January 26, 1970, in Ibadan, Oyo State, the new Vice-Chancellor hails from Igbole Quarters in Igboora, Oyo State.
He began his primary education at Anglican Church Primary School, Ilutitun, Ondo State, before transferring to St. Paul’s African Primary School, Lanlate, where he obtained his primary school leaving certificate in 1981.
He attended Lanlate High School between 1981 and 1986 before working as a sales clerk in Lagos. He later gained admission into the University of Ibadan to study Psychology.
He briefly worked as a Research Officer at the National Examinations Council (NECO) before joining the University of Ibadan as an Assistant Lecturer on June 1, 2000. He was promoted to the rank of professor on October 1, 2014.
Olapegba is a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God and is married with children.
