President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Professor Samuel Odewumi, former Dean of the School of Transport and Logistics at the Lagos State University (LASU) Ojo as the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Uyo (UNIUYO).

Odewunmi’s appointment takes immediate effect and to last till when a substantive vice chancellor is appointed for the university.

The appointment was conveyed in a letter dated 15th December, 2025 and signed by the Registrar and Secretary to Council of the institution, Mrs Blossom Okorie.

According to the letter, “Further to the approval of the Visitor to the University, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as communicated by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, I write on behalf of the Chairman of the Governing Council of the University to convey your appointment as the Acting Vice-Chancellor, University of Uyo, Nigeria.”

“This appointment shall remain in force pending the completion of the process for the appointment of a substantive Vice-Chancellor.”

Reacting to the development, LASU’S Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, expressed happiness over the appointment, describing it as a recognition of Odewunmi’s “distinguished academic career, administrative competence, and outstanding contributions to scholarship as a Professor of Transport Planning and Policy.

She said she is optimistic that Odewunmi’s wealth of experience would help him to contribute significantly to the growth, stability, and advancement of UNIUYO.

She however, wished him “a successful and impactful tenure.”

Odewumi, an alumnus of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, is a renowned Professor of Transport Planning and Policy.

He is a multiple award-winning scholar and has served in many capacities including as Director-Centre for Planning Studies, Chairman Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU-LASU; Member of the Planning and Implementation committee and Pioneer Director of Development of Osun State University, Osogbo; Senior Research Fellow at the National Universities Commission (NUC).

Similarly, Before now, he was the Chairman-Director Linkage and Corporate Affairs Eko- UNIMED (on Sabbatical), Commercial Ventures Committee LASU; Director of Research at Open and Distant Learning & Research Institute of LASU.

He is also a Research Project Coordinator: Volvo Education and Research Foundation (VREF, Germany) on E-Hailing Transport Study in Lagos, Nairobi and Johannesburg.

He is equally a member of Governing Council of LASU College of Medicine; Eko University of Medicine, Corona College of Education, Lagos as well as The Polytechnic, Ibadan and so forth. (TRIBUNE)