Prof.Akinwunmi Enters Omo Atata Hall Of Fame In Giant Stride.

Olayemi Akinwumi, a professor of history and the first indigenous

Vice Chancellor of
Federal University, Lokoja, Nigeria, will this weekend be decorated with one of the highest community honour in his country home.

The erudite scholar, will be ushered, by induction into the prestigious Omo Atata Hall of Fame in Ekinrin Adde during the 27th Ekinrin Adde Cultural Day Celebration, June 18/19, 2021.

It would be recalled that, December 18, 2020, Professor Olayemi Durotimi Akinwumi Ph.D., FHSN, AvHF., MNAL made history when he has emerged as the 3rd Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Lokoja out of 81 candidates that applied for the job.

He became the first indigenous Vice Chancellor of the University and the Second Okun man to be a Vice Chancellor of a federal university in Nigeria.

He assumed office on the 15th January, 2021.

Professor Olayemi Akinwumi is a Distinguished Professor of History since 2005. He is the first son of late Pa Moses Akinwumi Aiyegbiroju of the Odo Akodi, a sub section of Abudo clan and late Mama Grace Akinwumi Aiyegbiroju of Oke Aofin, Otun Adde. He began his primary education in Lokoja and ended it in Ilorin.

He had his secondary education at OGS Omupo and C&S College, Ilorin. He was also at the Federal Government College, Ilorin for his Higher School Certificate.

He had his higher education at the University of Ilorin where he obtained his Bachelor’s degree in 1985 followed by Master’s and PhD degrees in History in the same university. He is a Fellow of the Historical Society of Nigeria (HSN), and former President of the Historical Society, the first Academic Society in Nigeria.
Professor Olayemi Akinwumi began his academic career at the University of Ilorin, Nigeria and rose to become a senior Lecturer in 1996. He was at the Institut fur Ethonogie, Freie Universitat, Berlin from 1999 to 2004. He had been in the services of the Nasarawa State University, Keffi until 2021 when he became the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University Lokoja.
He has won many international and national academic awards. Among the awards are the Prof Ali Mazrui academic awards for Academic Excellence in Kenya, the Stellenbosch Institute of Advanced Study Award (South Africa), the prestigious German Alexander von Humboldt award, Universitat Zurich (Switzerland) Nord-Sud-Kooperation Award, Europe Research Award (in University College, London) the Institute of Commonwealth Studies award (University of London), the American Rockefeller and the German Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdiendt (DAAD), UNESCO Scholar (Committee for the Pedagogical Use of the General History of African Project in 2011). He also had the Bayo kuku award by the Nigeria Academy of Letters.
Professor Akinwumi was in various Universities in Europe, America and Africa as research and visiting scholar. Some of these included: Freie Universitat Berlin in Germany, Universitat Bayreuth in Germany, Humboldt Universitat, Berlin, Germany, Universitat Frankfurt, Germany, Universitat Zurich in Switzerland, University College London in UK, Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London, University of Texas in Austin, USA, the Centre for Military and Strategic Studies, University of Calgary, Canada, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Mallorca, Spain, Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey, and Stellenbosch University in South Africa and Africa International University, Nairobi, Kenya.
Professor Akinwumi has served in various capacities in the University. He was the first substantive HOD history (2004-2007). He was the Deputy Dean of Arts (2004-2006). He was the Dean of Arts (2006-2010). In 2009, he was elected the Chairman, Committee of Deans and Directors. The same year, he was elected Senate representative in the Governing Council where he served in many committees.
In 2017, he was appointed as the Director of Institute of Governance and Development Studies In 2018, became the Dean, School of Postgraduate Studies and in 2019, he was appointed for the second time, the Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors. In the same year, he became the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics). A position he held until he became the Vice Chancellor.
He is an erudite scholar with over 70 publications in national and international journals. Two of his major works are Conflict and Crises in Nigeria: A Political history since 1960 and the Colonial Contest for the Nigerian Region: A History of the German Participation. Both books were published in Germany. He has attended conferences in over 30 countries in the world.
Professor Akinwumi is gradually turning the fortune of the Federal University of Lokoja around. Within his first 100 days in office, the University Senate under his watch has approved the establishment of College of Medicine and Faculty of Engineering. Most importantly, ICT is currently driving to University.