Professor Cecilia Olufunke Akintayo has been appointed Provost of the College of Science at the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), marking a significant milestone in the institution’s academic leadership.
The Professor Akintayo Provost FUOYE College of Science appointment places one of Nigeria’s most distinguished industrial chemists at the helm of a college comprising the Faculties of Computing, Life Sciences and Physical Sciences.
THE APPOINTMENT
The appointment was announced as part of FUOYE’s transition to a near-collegiate system, a structural reform aimed at strengthening academic administration and research coordination across the university.
The approved colleges and their respective provosts include Professor C. O. Akintayo for the College of Science.
ACADEMIC BACKGROUND
Professor Akintayo is an accomplished academic and distinguished scholar renowned for her expertise in Industrial Chemistry, particularly in the use of plant oils as renewable resources for the development of value-added polymers.
Her ORCID profile confirms her position as Professor of Industrial Chemistry at FUOYE since June 2012, with a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Ibadan.
With a career spanning over two decades, she has demonstrated a sustained commitment to excellence in teaching, research, academic leadership, and community engagement.
CAREER JOURNEY
Professor Akintayo began her academic career at the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, in 1997 as an Assistant Lecturer and rose through the ranks to become a Lecturer I in 2008.
In June of the same year, she joined Ekiti State University before moving to FUOYE in June 2012.
In 2019, she made history at FUOYE by delivering the University’s first inaugural lecture following her attainment of professorial rank, marking a significant milestone in the institution’s academic history.
RESEARCH AND RECOGNITION
A prolific researcher, Professor Akintayo has earned national and international recognition for her outstanding contributions to science and technology.
Her research achievements have attracted prestigious grants and fellowships, including the International Foundation for Science, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (AvH), the Schlumberger Foundation’s Faculty for the Future (FFF) programme, TWAS, and TETFund.
More recently, her research activities received a significant boost through the award of a Seedling Lab grant valued at approximately US$200,000, further strengthening her capacity for advanced scientific research.
ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE
Beyond her research and teaching accomplishments, Professor Akintayo has demonstrated considerable administrative experience and leadership across higher education institutions.
At FUOYE, she served as Acting Head of the Department of Industrial Chemistry from 2014 to 2016 and as Director of the Academic Planning Unit from 2018 to 2021.
She has also served as a Senate representative on the Appointments and Promotions Committee.From 2022 to 2023, she served as Provost of the College of Postgraduate Studies at Bowen University, Iwo.
She is currently the pioneer Dean of the Faculty of Physical Sciences at FUOYE, a position in which she has contributed to the development and advancement of the University’s academic programmes.
MENTORSHIP AND SERVICE
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Professor Akintayo is equally committed to mentorship, postgraduate training, and the development of future generations of researchers.
She has supervised numerous postgraduate students and served as an external examiner and professorial assessor for several universities in Nigeria and abroad.
Her contributions to academic assessment, scholarly development, and institutional advancement reflect her dedication to strengthening higher education and scientific research.
WHY IT MATTERS
Professor Akintayo’s appointment is significant for FUOYE’s academic trajectory. Her combination of research excellence, administrative experience, and commitment to mentorship positions her to lead the College of Science through a period of structural transformation.
The appointment also reflects FUOYE’s broader shift toward a collegiate system designed to improve coordination across faculties and strengthen the university’s research output.
ValidViewNetwork congratulates Professor Cecilia Olufunke Akintayo on this well-deserved appointment.