Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has approved the appointment of the Executive Director of the Central Office of Research of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Prof. Ebunoluwa Adejuyigbe, as the new Vice Chancellor of the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo.

Adejuyigbe, a Consultant Paediatrician at OAU, was appointed ahead of the expiration of the tenure of the incumbent Vice Chancellor, Prof. Adesegun Fatusi, on March 9, 2025.

However, the governor also constituted a visitation panel for the institution, with its report to be submitted within six weeks, after which the new vice-chancellor will resume.

According to the statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Ebenezer Adeniyan, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration and Clinical Services, Prof. Adolphus Loto, will take charge as the Acting Vice Chancellor pending the assumption of Prof. Adejuyigbe.

He said: “The Governor of Ondo State and the Visitor to the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, Dr. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has constituted a visitation panel for the institution.

“The panel will be chaired by Prof. Gbenga Olumekun. Other members of the panel are Elder Idowu Benjamin, Mr. Olumide Ogidan, Mr. Anthony Akala and Mr. Richard Adeyinka Arifalo (secretary).

“The terms and references of the panel include examining the state of compliance of the university statutes and approved programmes of study, examining the financial management of the university, including the subvention, grants, loans, and internally generated revenues (IGRs), and determining their compliance with appropriate regulations.

“To examine the adequacy of staff and staff development programmes of the university, to examine industrial relations amongst management, staff, and students and recommend ways to achieve lasting peace and harmony, and to examine the state of landed properties and other assets of the university.

“To determine the level of compliance with recommendations of the prior Visitation Panel Government’s White Paper, to recommend measures and actions to reposition the university for optimal performance. The panel has six weeks to submit its report.

“Meanwhile, following the expiration of the tenure of Prof. Adesegun Fatusi as the Vice Chancellor of the university, Governor Aiyedatiwa has approved the appointment of Prof. Ebuoluwa Aderonke Adejuyigbe as the new VC. The appointment of Prof. Adejuyigbe followed the recommendation of the Governing Council of the institution.

“A Professor of Paediatrics, Adejuyigbe, who hails from the Akoko North East local government area of the State, is the current Executive Director of the Central Office of Research of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, and a Consultant Paediatrician at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital.

“She is a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Medicine, former Dean of the Faculty of Clinical Sciences, OAU, and is the Vice President of the African Society of Paediatric Infectious Diseases and Co-Chair of the National Child Health Technical Working Committee. Prof. Adejuyigbe will assume office as the VC after the submission of the report of the Visitation Panel.”