In a bold move to strengthen its academic leadership and promote excellence in teaching and research, the Governing Council of Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, has approved the promotion of 28 academic staff to higher ranks. This includes the elevation of three distinguished scholars to full professorship and 25 others to the rank of associate professor.
The landmark decision was ratified during the Council’s 73rd statutory meeting held on Thursday. According to a statement issued by Dr. Saeedat Aliyu, the Acting Director of University Relations, the promotions span across several faculties, reflecting the university’s commitment to broad-based academic development.
The three newly promoted full professors are celebrated experts in their respective disciplines. They include:
Professor Shehu Salau, a leading authority in Agricultural Production Economics,
Professor Moshood Zakariyah, a renowned scholar in Sociolinguistics,
Professor Olayiwola Olorisade, who specializes in Educational Administration.
These elevations are seen as a testament to KWASU’s dedication to rewarding academic excellence, fostering research innovation, and boosting the morale of its teaching staff.
Cross-Faculty Excellence in Associate Professorship
The list of 25 newly promoted associate professors is diverse, cutting across eight faculties—Agriculture, Arts, Education, Engineering and Technology, Information and Communication Technology, Law, Management and Social Sciences, and Pure and Applied Sciences.
Faculty of Agriculture
Promotions include:
Dr. Latifat Olatinwo (Agric Extension and Rural Development)
Dr. Felicia Olooto (Agric Extension and Rural Development)
Dr. Olarinke Adeniyi (Aquaculture Management)
Dr. Adebayo Ojo (Entomology)
Dr. Akeem Raji (Food Processing Technology)
Faculty of Arts
Promoted scholars include:
Dr. Yahya Muritala (Arabic Syntax, Modern Arabic Linguistics & Translation)
Dr. Yunusa Jamiu (Modern Arabic Literature)
Dr. Oluwatayo Adeoti (Pragmatics and Discourse Studies)
Dr. Sherifat Hussain-Abubakar (Islamic Family Law and Gender Studies)
Dr. Khalid Bello (Islamic Economics)
Faculty of Engineering and Technology
New associate professors are:
Dr. Olalekan Ogunbiyi (Power System and Automatic Control Engineering)
Dr. Rasheed Amao Busari (Farm Power and Machinery)
Dr. Olufemi Oladosu (Production and Renewable Energy)
Faculty of Education and ICT
Dr. Usman Saadu (Educational Psychology)
Dr. Ronke Babatunde (Machine Learning and AI)
Faculty of Law
Dr. Olariyike Akintoye (Property and Business Law)
Dr. Abdullahi Ishola (Islamic Law)
Faculty of Management and Social Sciences
Dr. Abdullahi Alabi (Comparative Politics and Administration)
Dr. Idris Mohammed (Development Studies and Local Government Administration)
Dr. Ibrahim Salawu (Public Policy and Governance)
Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences
Promoted specialists include:
Dr. Anyachukwu Irondi (Food and Nutritional Biochemistry)
Dr. Abdulazeez Jimoh (Numerical Analysis and Computational Mathematics)
Dr. Kazeem Issa (Numerical Analysis)
Dr. Wasiu Yahya (Theoretical and Computational Physics)
Dr. Abiodun Obembe (Entomology)
In the statement, Dr. Saeedat Aliyu emphasized that the promotions were based on rigorous assessments of the lecturers’ research output, teaching effectiveness, community service, and academic leadership. The move is part of KWASU’s broader goal to elevate its academic profile nationally and internationally.
This wave of promotions also aligns with the institution’s vision to attract and retain top-tier academic talent, as well as to bolster its competitive standing among Nigerian and global universities.
Under the leadership of Vice-Chancellor Prof. Shaykh Luqman Jimoh, KWASU has intensified efforts to support research, improve faculty development, and expand academic programs. The university has in recent times invested heavily in infrastructural development, digital transformation, and international collaborations aimed at enhancing the student experience and academic quality.
With these new promotions, KWASU continues to chart a path of academic distinction and institutional advancement, positioning itself as a hub of innovation, knowledge, and scholarly impact in Nigeria’s higher education landscape.