Venite University, Iloro-Ekiti has appointed Professor Olabisi Idowu Aina, FSSAN, as the Chairman of the Governing Council, effective September 5, 2023.
Professor Aina is a distinguished Professor of Sociology and Gender Studies, a Fellow of the Social Science Academy of Nigeria, and former President of Nigeria Anthropological and Sociology Association Practitioners. She holds BSc/MPhil/PhD degrees in Sociology/Anthropology from the Obafemi Awolowo University and a Certificate in Gender Policy and Planning from the University College London.
According to a press statement released to dejoymedia.online on Sunday evening, Professor Aina has built an impeccable reputation as an outstanding scholar and administrator in her career in academia spanning over three decades. She started her academic career at the Obafemi Awolowo University as an Assistant Lecturer in 1987 and rose to the position of Professor in October 2000. Her academic career is enriched with several honors and awards, including the Ford Foundation Scholarship Award for Postgraduate Studies, and CODESRIA Ph.D. Thesis Writing Award, CIDA Fellowship Award in Women’s Studies at Mount Saint Vincent University and the University of Dalhousie, both in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada in 1990 – 1991, Fellowship award under the OAU-Wisconsin Linkage Program in African-American Studies at the University of Wisconsin – Parkside, Kenosha, Wisconsin (USA); British Chevening Scholarship for a Certificate Course in Gender Policy and Planning, Development Planning Unit, University College London, England in 1996 among others.
Professor Aina brings a wealth of administrative and academic experience to her new position as Chairman of the Council, having served the university system in Nigeria and elsewhere in various capacities. At the Obafemi Awolowo University, she served in various leadership and academic positions, including a 5-year term as Head of, the Department of Sociology/Anthropology; Director of, the Centre for Gender and Social Policy Studies (2004 – 2006); and Dean, of Faculty of Social Sciences, 2011 to 2013. Also, she served in other Nigerian Universities in various capacities including Ag. Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Lagos State University in 2009; the Foundation Director, Centre for Gender and Development Studies, Ekiti State University, 2014 – 2015; and the Pioneer Director, Centre for Gender, Humanitarian and Development Studies, at the Redeemer’s University (2019 – 2022).
At the national level, Professor Aina recorded landmark achievements for her commitment to transformative national development through her contributions to the development of national, state, and institutional Gender and Social Inclusion Policies and Programs. Currently, she is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Legislative Advocacy Coalition on Violence against Women (LACVAW) and a member of the National Research Fund Screening and Monitoring Committee of TETFUND.
Professor Aina continues to work closely with CSOs, Governments, and Development Partners in reshaping the gender and social development agenda in Nigeria and within the African region. Her scholarly research, with over 150 publications in learned journals, books, and technical reports has been translated into guiding frames for development practice, in the fields of education, institutional governance, social development, peacebuilding, and humanitarian studies.
As Chairman of the Council, Professor Aina will leverage her vast academic and administrative experience in guiding the University’s strategic direction towards excellence in education, research, and community engagements, and enhance the overall academic experience for our students.
Venite University is thrilled to welcome Professor Aina as the Chairman of the Venite University Governing Council, We remain confident that her leadership will help Venite University emerge as a promising institution of higher learning dedicated to academic excellence, research, and community engagement and a University committed to nurturing the next generation of leaders and scholars with renewed value for positive impact on the society.
