CU
appoints new VC
The Board of Regents, Covenant
University’s apex governing body has approved the appointment of Professor
Aderemi Aaron-Anthony Atayero, as the fourth substantive Vice-Chancellor of the
University.
Secretary
of the Board of Regents, Pastor Chioma Okwuanyi, on behalf of the Chairman of
the Board and Chancellor of Covenant University, Dr. David Oyedepo, made the
announcement on Friday July 15, 2016 at a special meeting of Principal
Officers, Deans, Directors and Heads of Departments.
Professor
Atayero replaces Professor Charles Ayo, whose tenure elapsed last month.
Speaking
on how the Board of Regents arrived on its choice of Professor Atayero, Pastor
Okwuanyi said the Board, at a recent meeting to consider a number of eminent
professors from Covenant University, decided to limit the choice to the
products of the university in order to allow for continuity; somebody who has
been in the system who knows where Professor Ayo stopped, and start building from
that foundation.
The
announcement was greeted with a thunderous applause from the audience including
Professor Ayo, who described the day as symbolic in the annals of history of
the university. It would have been disheartening, he said, if the university had
to look elsewhere to pick his successor
He acknowledged the contributions
of all present, while expressing satisfaction that he has bequeathed a
university where faculty, staff and students can walk with their heads held
high across the continent of Africa.
“I
congratulate the incoming Vice-Chancellor. Actually, we started the journey
together… I therefore have no doubt whatsoever that Professor Atayero will be
able to move the university forward at a faster rate having been part and
parcel of the Vision,” said Professor Ayo.
He
subsequently presented his handover note titled, ‘On the Wings of a Prophetic
Verdict: Vision 10:2022’ to Professor Atayero, and prayed that God will give
the new Vice-Chancellor the wisdom and the grace to take the university to a
greater height.
Professor
Atayero, in his acceptance speech, thanked the Board of Regents for the
confidence reposed in him to carry the mantle of leadership of the institution
from where Professor Ayo stopped.
While
acknowledging that the task before him is not an easy one, the Vice-Chancellor
is optimistic that victory would be achieved.
“When I
was made the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), when I was writing my
acceptance letter then, one of the things I noted was I’m fully persuaded that
this can only be done exclusively by the leading of the Holy Spirit. It is
pleasing that I’m currently on the mountain, and one of the scriptures I read
on the mountain is Romans 9:28: ‘For He will finish the work, and cut it short
in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth’.
“I am
convinced that victory would be achieved even before the last lap as set by our
indefatigable Chancellor. Another good reason is that we are standing on a very
sound foundation. It is only a privilege for us and the team coming in to be
able to carry this mantle forward and we make bold to say that by His grace we
shall not disappoint.”
Curtains
were drawn on the unveiling ceremony with Pastor Okwuanyi asking all present to
pray that God gives Professor Atayero the grace to accomplish the task before
him.
Professor
Atayero and Professor Ayo later met in the Vice-Chancellor’s Office at the
Senate Building, where members of staff led by the Director, Vice-Chancellor’s
Office, Dr. Akan Williams, were introduced to the new helmsman.
Atayero,
a professor of Communication Engineering at Covenant University, who was the
pioneer Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) of the institution, had also served
as Coordinator School of Engineering, and twice as Head of Department of Electrical
and Information Engineering of the university. He joined the faculty of
Covenant University as a pioneer faculty in 2002.
Professor
Atayero has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Radio Engineering and a Master of
Science Degree in Satellite Communication Systems in 1992 and 1994 respectively
from the Moscow Institute of Technology, Moscow, Russian Federation. He earned
his Ph.D from the Moscow State Technical University of Civil Aviation (MSTUCA)
in 2000.
Atayero
is a member of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN)
and member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) and
other professional bodies.
He has a
number of scientific papers in reputable International peer-reviewed journals
and proceedings to his credit. He is on the editorial board of the Covenant
Journal of Science and Technology and of several other International Journals.
The new
Vice-Chancellor is a recipient of various awards and scholarships including the
‘2009 Ford Foundation Teaching Innovation Award’. His current research
interests are in various aspects of Communication Engineering, including (but
not limited to): Wireless Sensor Networks, Wireless (Mobile) Communications,
Internet of Things (IoT), Smart Cities.
He was
until his appointment Head, Covenant University Internet of Things-Enabled
Smart and Connected Communities (SmartCU) Cluster.
Professor
Atayero is happily married and the marriage is blessed with three children.