The Board of Regents (BOR), the apex decision-making body of Covenant University, has appointed Professor Abiodun Humphrey Adebayo as the 7th Vice-Chancellor of the 18-year-old institution.
Professor Adebayo replaces Professor Akan Williams, who had been the Ag. Vice-Chancellor since the expiration of tenure and exit from office of the 5th Vice-Chancellor, Professor AAA. Atayero.
Professor Abiodun Humphrey Adebayo obtained a B.Sc (Honours) degree in Biochemistry from the University of Calabar in 2000. He later proceeded to the University of Jos in 2003 and was awarded an M.Sc degree in Biochemistry (Distinction grade) in 2005.
Professor Adebayo, who joined the services of Covenant University in 2005, was awarded a PhD degree in Biochemistry by the University in 2009. He undertook a postdoctoral study at the Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2012-2013. He specialized in Plant Biochemistry and has been actively involved in the sustainable use of indigenous medicinal plants with some collaborations with local and international industries.
His main research focus is on phytochemical, biochemical and toxicity studies of medicinal plants. His research on medicinal plants involves the purification, isolation and characterization of active compounds from plants; these compounds are in turn screened for anticancer, antiviral, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Professor Adebayo is also involved in the safety evaluation of locally used medicinal plants using biochemical, haematological and histopathological indices of toxicity.
Professor Adebayo, who is a recipient of the prestigious Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (TWAS) Fellowship awards, has published in reputable local and international journals. His astuteness has earned him three times prize of Covenant University High Impact Journal publication awards for the years 2010, 2011 and 2012. He also won research equipment grant worth $25, 000 from the Ministry of Science and Technology, China and a Phytochemistry Laboratory has been set up which is fully functional. His research group won the 2014 TWAS Research grant of about $60, 000 USD for carrying out a study on the “Preclinical evaluation of novel computational-aided designed compounds as antimalarial drug candidates”. The fund also made provision for the award of scholarship to MSc Students.
Professor Adebayo reviews for some high impact journals and also listed on the editorial board of some international journals. He is a grant reviewer with international organizations, such as the Medical Research Council, UK. He is a fellow of the Nigerian Young Academy (NYA) and a Sectional Editor of Annals of Science and Technology, the Academy’s official journal. He has won several travel grants and awards.
Professor Adebayo’s biography is listed and published in the 30th edition of Marquis Who’s Who in the World in the United States. He is a member of some national and international learned societies. He had served in different University Committees and Boards at different times.
Professor Adebayo was the former Deputy Chaplain of the University and Chaired the Community Development Impact Initiative Committee for four years. He was also the Chair of the Covenant University Farm Board for almost five years. Professor Adebayo rose through the academics ranks and was appointed a Full Professor of Biochemistry on January 1st, 2018. He was appointed into the office of the Sub-Dean, School of Postgraduate Studies for two years and was later appointed as the Dean of the School of Postgraduate Studies, the position he held until his appointment as Vice-Chancellor.
He is a member of the accreditation panel of the National Universities Commission (NUC) where he visited and accredited Biochemistry programme in some Private, State and Federal Universities in Nigeria. He is also on the NUC Resource Verification Team for Postgraduate Programme in Biochemistry.
Professor Adebayo serves as an external examiner to some Universities in Nigeria. He is an ordained Pastor at the Living Faith Church (Faith Tabernacle), Canaanland, Ota. He is happily married with children.