KWASU Elevates 45 Staff to Professorial Cadre

​MALETE – The Governing Council of Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, has announced the promotion of 45 academic staff members to the professorial cadre, marking a significant milestone in the institution’s commitment to academic excellence and staff development.

​The approval was ratified during the Council’s 78th regular meeting held on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. According to a statement released on Thursday by the acting Director of University Relations, Professor Saeedat Aliyu—who was notably among those elevated to full professorship—the exercise saw 20 staff members reach the rank of Professor, while 25 others were promoted to Associate Professor.

​New Full Professors

​The promotions spanned several disciplines, with the Faculty of Engineering and Technology producing the highest number of full professors (six). The new chairs include:

• ​Allied Health Sciences: Professor Henry Olawale Sawyerr (Environmental Health Toxicology).

• ​Agriculture: Professors Olayinka Jelil Yusuf (Agricultural Extension), Kayode Ayantoye (Agricultural Development), and Isaac Ade Afe (Agronomy).

• ​Arts: Professors Tajudeen Yusuf (Arabic Linguistics), Saeedat Bolajoko Aliyu (Environment and Gender), Reuben Kehinde Akano (African Literature), and Ayoola Oladunke Aransi (Yoruba Literature).

• ​Engineering: Professors Sikiru Ottan Abdulrahman, Kabiru Mustapha, Fadeyibi Adeshina, Adeniyi Ganiyu Adeogun, Samson Odeyemi, and Lambe Mutalub Adesina.

• ​Management & Social Sciences: Professors Shehu Usman Adam and Zekeri Abu.

• ​Pure and Applied Sciences: Professors Adeyinka Elizabeth Ajiboye, Majekodunmi Rachael Adedayo, Lukman Bola Abdulrauf, and Jimoh Ajadi.

​Associate Professorships

​The 25 newly minted Associate Professors include experts in emerging fields such as Artificial Intelligence and Renewable Energy.

​“The elevation of these scholars reflects the university’s rigorous appraisal system and our drive to remain a center for cutting-edge research and innovation,” the statement read.

​Among those promoted to Associate Professor are Dr. Jumoke Falilat Ajao, Dr. Abdulsalam Olaniyi Sulaiman, and Dr. Akinbowale Nathaniel Babatunde, all from the Faculty of ICT, specializing in Artificial Intelligence and Data Mining. Others include Dr. Wasiu Awoyale (Agriculture) and Dr. Morakinyo Wasiu Kareem (Engineering).

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​Institutional Impact

​This promotion exercise comes at a time when KWASU is expanding its research footprint. Earlier this year, the university signed a strategic partnership with CRC Credit Bureau to enhance data-driven finance research, a move led by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Shaykh-Luqman Alade Jimoh.

​The Governing Council noted that the promotions are retroactive, rewarding years of research output, teaching excellence, and community service. The university community has widely celebrated the announcement, viewing it as a boost to the institution’s accreditation standing and global academic ranking.