The Faculty of Arts, University of Ibadan (UI), has announced new Heads of Departments for Communication and Language Arts, Classics and Theatre Arts following the completion of the tenure of the former office holders.

The appointments were unveiled as the Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Professor Rasheed Olaniyi, commended academic and non-academic staff as well as students for their contributions to advancing academic excellence, research and community service in the faculty.

Professor Babatunde Ojebuyi, an Applied Communication and Media Studies scholar, has emerged as the Head of the Department of Communication and Language Arts (CLA), succeeding Dr. Bisi Olawuyi, a Public Relations expert and speech communication scholar, who completed his two-year tenure as Acting Head of Department on July 30, 2026.

Also, Professor Monica Aneni has assumed office as the Head of the Department of Classics, taking over from Professor Emmanuel Taiwo, while Dr. Babatunde Awonsami has become the Acting Head of the Department of Theatre Arts, succeeding Dr Abimbola Stephen-Adesina.

Speaking during the leadership transition in Ibadan, Professor Olaniyi described the seamless handover in the three departments as a reflection of the faculty’s culture of collaboration and institutional stability.

“In the last one year, I have seen the departments in the faculty do well, and I am particularly impressed with the development and seamless transition that took place in the three departments.

“I have enjoyed the camaraderie of these departments long before I became the Dean of the Faculty and particularly in the last one year”, he said.

The Dean lauded the Department of Communication and Language Arts for its remarkable progress over the past two years, noting that the department had expanded learning resources, improved facilities and enhanced the learning environment through the support of alumni and the university administration.

He particularly commended the outgoing Acting Head of Department, Dr. Olawuyi, for his resourcefulness and commitment to transforming the department’s physical infrastructure.

“CLA has done well in the last two years. Now they have more resources for students as provided by the alumni and the University,” he said, urging alumni of the Faculty of Arts to continue supporting their alma mater.

“I also commend the resourcefulness of the outgoing Acting HOD, Dr. Bisi Olawuyi, who turned things around in terms of physical transformation and providing a very reliable learning environment for students. That’s heart-warming.”

Olaniyi also applauded the progress recorded by the Department of Classics, noting that its new Head, Professor Aneni, is among the faculty’s recently promoted professors, alongside Professor Ojebuyi.

“It is interesting that, although not in the same year, Prof Aneni, who is coming in as the HOD of Classical Studies, is a fresh professor just like Prof. Babatunde Ojebuyi of the Department of Communication and Language Arts,” he said.

He added that the Department of Theatre Arts had equally continued to make steady progress, describing the leadership changes as another milestone in the faculty’s development.

The Dean also expressed appreciation to the outgoing Sub-Dean (Postgraduate), Dr. Adams Akewula, and the outgoing Sub-Dean (General), Dr. Olugbemiro Berekiah, for their dedication to the growth of the faculty.

Their successors are Dr. Oluwatoyin Gbadamosi of the Department of Religious Studies as Sub-Dean (Postgraduate) and Dr. Francis Amenaghawon of the Department of Communication and Language Arts as Sub-Dean (General).

Professor Olaniyi expressed confidence that the new departmental heads and sub-deans would consolidate the achievements of their predecessors and further strengthen teaching, research and academic administration within the Faculty of Arts.