The University of Ibadan (UI) has appointed Mrs. Mariam Adetoun Zakariyah (née Adegbite), FCA, as its 10th Bursar, making her the first woman to head the institution’s Bursary Department in its 78-year history.
Zakariyah’s appointment, approved on July 9, 2026, marks a historic milestone for Nigeria’s premier university and ends decades of male leadership of the strategic office.

A product of the university staff community at Abadina, Zakariyah joined the University’s Bursary Department on August 29, 2000, as an officer in the Loans and Advances Unit.
Over the past 24 years, she rose through the ranks, serving in various capacities, including Senior Accountant, Finance Officer in faculties and the Postgraduate School, Chief Accountant and, most recently, Deputy Bursar in charge of Treasury.

Her career has been marked by several financial management reforms aimed at strengthening accountability and improving operational efficiency.
Among her notable achievements are the introduction of a merit-based receipt system that significantly reduced paper usage and blocked revenue leakages, the clearance of longstanding backlogs in financial statements and treasury tax compliance, and improved salary processing through effective monitoring of the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS).

She also played a key role in the university’s handling of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) refund process and contributed to the acquisition of the JOEL JEM 1400 Transmission Electron Microscope.
Reacting to the appointment, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Oyo State for the 2027 election, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, described it as a victory for merit, professionalism and gender inclusion.

In a statement by his campaign organisation, Alli congratulated Zakariyah on what he called a well-deserved elevation, saying her emergence demonstrated that hard work, integrity and competence still receive recognition in public institutions.
“This is a victory for merit, for women and for Oyo State. Her journey from Abadina to the headship of the Bursary proves that hard work still counts in our public institutions,” he said.

According to the senator, Zakariyah’s appointment extends beyond personal achievement, breaking a longstanding barrier in university administration while inspiring young female professionals in accounting, finance and public service.
As Bursar, Zakariyah will oversee the financial management of the University of Ibadan, including personnel costs, internally generated revenue, capital projects, grants and donor funds, while interfacing with key financial institutions and government platforms such as the Treasury Single Account (TSA), GIFMIS, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

Alli expressed confidence that her experience, integrity and commitment to accountability would strengthen the university’s financial management and enhance transparency during her tenure.