The Board of Trustees (BOT) and Council of Afe Bbabalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), has appointed Prof. Michael O. Ajisafe, as the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the four-year old university with effect from January 5, 2014.
This is consequent upon the expiration of the four-year tenure of the pioneer Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Sidi Osho, on January 4, 2014.
Prof. Osho’s release for a four-year tenure as Vice-Chancellor was negotiated with former Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, which was agreeable to all parties.
Ajisafe, the first Professor of Sports in Africa who has worked in many universities in Nigeria, until his new appointment doubled as Deputy Vice Chancellor and the Provost, College of Sciences.
The former Director of the National Institute of Sports, Lagos, who has since assumed duty, will remain in office until a substantive Vice Chancellor is appointed.
After obtaining a Doctorate Degree in Sports Science from Temple University in Philadelphia, U.S.A, Ajisafe returned to Nigeria and joined the University of Ife (Adeyemi College of Education) where he pioneered the establishment of the Department of Sports Science. He was Head of the Sports Science Department from 1973 to 1975 when he left for the University of Ibadan where he and two other colleagues founded the Sports Science Department of that University.
He taught in the University of Ibadan from 1975 to 1977 before he left for the University of Benin where he pioneered the establishment of the Sports Science Department and was Head of Department and Dean of Education in that University for six and three years respectively. For five years, he was Director for the National Institute of Sports Lagos.
Notable among his achievements in all his years of University assignments are: the formulation of a standardized curriculum of Sports Science for Secondary Schools in Nigeria for the West African Examination Council and the initiation of the linkage agreement between the University of Benin and Temple University, Philadelphia thus bringing Temple’s M.Ed Degree Programmes to UNIBEN. He was also the Chef – de – Mission to the Nigerian contingent in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics Games, the best Olympics outing for Nigeria thus far.
He was inducted a member of Donald D. Anthony Achievement Hall of fame (1993) by his alma mater, Central State University, Ohio, U.S.A. He was elected Regional Director of Africa, International Council of Sports Science and Physical Education, (ICSSPE). He was for 12 years a Consultant in Youth and Sports Affairs in the State of Qatar. He is FIRST in many things including being the first Professor of Sports Science in Nigeria.
Ajisafe is a member of very distinguished Academic and Professional Associations in Sports Science across the globe.
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Signed
Tunde Olofintila
Head, Public Relations.