Professor Joshua Olalekan Ogunwole’s assumption of office as the fifth Vice Chancellor of the Federal University Oye Ekiti (FUOYE) on February 11, 2026,is, no doubt, a conscious fulfillment of faith, especially as a man who professes God’s undiluted power and authority to create and make things happen in His own time, own way.

Ogunwole has demonstrated this inherent character on many occasions both in his way to leadership and in discharging leadership when confronted with the storm of life and challenges.

Born on July 23, 1967 in Ibadan, Oyo State, Ogunwoleis a man of fate and destiny. It is no wonder that the power of fate in name, especially the unseen prophetic power in the tongue has today come to play a definitely significant role in the affairs of being lifted to the exalted seat of the Vice Chancellor of this exceptionally great centre of excellence.

There may be the necessity to consult with his aged mother for the purpose of interrogating the choice of the name given to him at birth. Olalekan (wealth/honourincreases by one), which the honour of becoming the new VC of FUOYE unmistakably evidenced, taking into account his first missionary journey to Bowen University Iwo, Osun State, where he was the helmsman from 2018 to 2023.

As it was in the Bible, it was God and only God, not even his parent knew that the famous Joshua who took over from Moses and led the Israelites to the Promised Land from birth had been anointed future leader, the same divine script is surely playing out today as Ogunwole’s Joshua had also been long anointed by God to lead His people in FUOYE to “the land that flows with milk and honey”. Indeed, the power in the tongue and the destiny in name are at work!

It is not in contention that faith, fate and destiny played a major role in the continued successes and ascendancy of the new VC now on the flight to the altitude, it is also a factor for a complete fulfillment of this triangular catalyst that a man must position himself strategically through all round self development requisite for catalyst to activate.

Like the Biblical Joshua, Prof Ogunwole from relative obscurity has been able to discover what the catalyst of his life requires to activate and turn his dream to testimonies evidenced by his crystallizing and sterling background and his distinguished and mercurial academic pedigree, which has made him a citizen of academic world without boundary. A brief insight and foray into his formidable academic and scholarly feat will suffice.

Prof Ogunwole holds a B.Sc in Agriculture, M.Sc., and Ph.D in Soil Science from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, where he began his illustrious academic career. Over the years, he has served in various capacities across institutions, including Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Adamawa State University, Federal University Dutsinma, Bowen University, Iwo and Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), contributing significantly to institutional growth, staff development, and student success.

Until his current appointment, he served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Strategic Partnerships, Research, Innovation and Linkages, SPRIL) at Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), where he leveraged his vast international experience to foster impactful collaborations, strengthen research productivity, and promote innovative solutions across disciplines.

His tenure as the substantive Vice-Chancellor of Bowen University was marked by huge infrastructural developments, an exceptional academic outlook, high-level capacity building, and improved staff and student’s welfare, coupled with a zero tolerance for low-performance work ethics.

Under his leadership, Bowen University experienced a remarkable financial turnaround, as he grew the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), by multiples of billions, cleared all inherited deficits, and left behind several millions of naira in surplus at the end of his tenure. His administration remains celebrated for its emphasis on transparency, discipline, and sustainable development.

Going by his unparalleled and intimidating performance and achievements in Bowen, which without sounding immodest is difficult to beat and which has indisputably proven that the Baptist Church faithful indeed possesses a Midas touch and magic wand that make what proves to be impossible task to others an easy task in his hand.

Under his five years of purposeful and innovative leadership in Bowen, the university is repleted with innumerable infrastructure and ancillary features of growth and development in all ramifications.

At this point, it is germane to recall one or two of such magic-like feats to buttress our claim. He successfully put Bowen on the map of milk producers with the establishment of Bowen Dairy Farm stocked with special cow breed from Netherland, which supports the projects and other logistics; one of the result of his linkages. The milk is sold to West African Milk Company in Ibadan.

In 2022, the eminent scholar put the ice on the cake of his achievement when he brought an Aero-space station (code-named Niger-BEAR), the only centre in Nigeria and in the Equatorial world, to Bowen. It was commissioned by the then Vice President Prof Yemi Osinbajo.

For the Fulbright scholar, his ascendancy to the glamorous but tasky office offers a study in blending experiences and background in both private and public university administration, especially in creating resources, funds generation and funds management, which expectedly, FUOYE is the beneficiary and winner.

The Pro-Chancellor of Bowen, Joan Olatoyosi Ayo in her remarks during the inauguration probably captures the benefits awaiting FUOYE from the Ogunwole’s dual experience and background when she said “Bowen’s loss is FUOYE’s gain.” And in what appears a veil third term opportunity for Ogunwole, the Pro-Chancellor said, “FUOYE must value the asset Ogunwole is, if they don’t we are still on the radar for him.”