From Jude Owuamanam, Jos
An alumnus of the University of Jos, Professor Adewale Banjo, has been appointed the acting Vice Chancellor of Havilla University in Cross River, State Nigeria.
Banjo, a Lagos-born scholar, is a native of Isiu in Ikorodu North LCDA and currently based in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The acting VC a is a distinguished academic with a background in Political Science and International Development Consulting.
Banjo, a UNESCO Laureate, a U.S Fulbright Alumnus, a British Commonwealth Institute and CEU-George Soros Fellow, has held prestigious positions and received recognitions throughout his career, including being a former NRF-rated Associate Executive Dean in South Africa.
In addition to his academic achievements, Professor Banjo has contributed to various institutions, serving as an Adjunct Professor at Walter Sisulu University in South Africa, and the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN). He has also previously lectured at institutions such as LASU, UniVen, Zululand University, and UNiSA.
Furthermore, he has held Adjunct Faculty roles at prominent South African institutions like the South African National Defence College (SANDC), South African National War College (SANWarC), South African Diplomatic Academy (SADA), and Public Service Institute of Nigeria.
Havilla University anticipates benefiting greatly from Professor Adewale Banjo’s extensive academic and managerial experience.
His global networks, combined with his exposure to ethical governance, organisational re-engineering, and performance management aligned with the university’s mission, make him a valuable addition to the institution and a promoter of global best practices.
His classmates in the 1985-98 set at the University of Jos, both at home and in the Diaspora have said they received the news with excitement.
Director,Center for Open and Distance Learning, Benue State University,Makurdi, .Peter Terfa Ortese, said he was not surprised at Banjo’s meteoric rise in his profession.
He said, “During our undergraduate days, what first drew my attention to him was the manner in which he used to take lectures. He had no time for shorthand as most of us did. He was fast at it and could even record the lecturer’s sneezes and hisses
“But only him could easily understand his handwriting.I, who was very good at class absenteeism used to find it hard copying Banjo’s lecture notes.
“Secondly,Banjo was not afraid of work overload. He could register maximum courses per semester. A decade after,I ran into Banjo at University of Ibadan Postgraduate School where I went to register for my Ph.D in January 2001. Dr Banjo (who graduated in 2000) told me he had come to collect his PhD statement of result. I wasn’t surprised because we all started calling him ” Prof” ever since.”