Prof. Peter Olapegba has been appointed the next Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan (UI), succeeding Prof. Kayode Adebowale, whose tenure ends in November 2026.

Olapegba, a professor of Applied Social Psychology, currently serves as the university’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), a position he has held since November 2023.

With more than 25 years of academic experience, including over 12 years as a full professor, Olapegba has built a career spanning scholarship, research and university administration.

A graduate of the University of Ibadan, he earned his B.Sc. in Psychology in 1997, M.Sc. in Social/Personality Psychology in 1999 and PhD in Applied Social Psychology in 2008.

His research interests cover social, health and environmental psychology, with particular focus on health behaviour, family and marital violence, sexual harassment, victimisation and quality of life. He has published more than 130 scholarly works and contributed to the development of culturally relevant measurement scales in social psychology.

Olapegba has also held several key administrative positions at the university, including Dean of the Faculty of the Social Sciences, Director of the Office of Alumni Relations and Chairman of the UI@75 Anniversary Committee. He served two terms as an elected member of the University of Ibadan Governing Council before he was appointed Deputy Vice-Chancellor.

His administrative experience extends beyond UI, having served on the governing councils and boards of institutions including Adeseun Ogundoyin Polytechnic, Eruwa; the Pan African University Institute of Life and Earth Sciences; and Precious Cornerstone University.

He has supervised doctoral and postgraduate research and served as an external examiner and assessor for professorial promotions at universities in Nigeria and abroad. He was also a postdoctoral fellow at North-West University, South Africa.

Olapegba has demonstrated strong capacity in research funding and institutional resource mobilisation, securing grants from TETFund, the University of Ibadan and international organisations. He has also attracted major philanthropic support to the university, including a N200 million scholarship fund and N300 million building project for the Faculty of the Social Sciences.

A fellow of several professional bodies, including the Social Science Academy of Nigeria and the Nigerian Psychological Association, Olapegba is expected to bring his combination of academic scholarship, research experience and institutional leadership to the leadership of the University of Ibadan.