Caleb varsity appoints new vice-chancellor
Caleb University, Imota, Lagos, has announced the appointment of Prof. Olalekan Asikhia as its new Vice-Chancellor.
He succeeds Prof. Nosa Owens-Ibie, who has completed his two terms in office.
Prof. Asikhia, a globally recognised scholar and Professor of Business Administration, brings over three decades of experience as an academic, researcher, institutional leader, management consultant, and entrepreneur.
According to a statement made available to PUNCH Online on Wednesday and signed by the institution’s Information, Media and Publication Specialist, Olawale Adekoya, the appointment marks “a new dawn of academic brilliance and visionary leadership” at the university.
Asikhia began his leadership journey at Caleb University in 2021 as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research, Innovation, Strategy, and Administration).
During his tenure, he led the implementation of the 2022–2026 Strategic Plan, which achieved 71.2% success by 2024. His efforts also helped raise the institution’s national ranking from 66th to 18th, with a 57% increase in visibility.
A two-time recipient of the SME and Poverty Alleviation Grant from the University of South Africa, Asikhia is recognised for influencing national and international policy with his research
According to the statement, he has positioned Caleb University on the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings and is ranked among the top 3% of Nigerian researchers in Business Administration by the AD Scientific Index.
Asikhia’s academic qualifications include degrees in Biochemistry, Economics, Marketing, Development Economics, and Business Administration. He holds two doctoral degrees: a PhD in Management from the University of KwaZulu Natal and a Doctor of Business Leadership from the University of South Africa.
His career spans consultancy roles with Shell Petroleum, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, the Nigeria National Assembly, and the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), alongside academic leadership positions at Ogun State University, Covenant University, and Babcock University.
He has supervised 95 doctoral students, including seven who have become professors, and has authored 157 peer-reviewed publications and 10 books. He is also a former National President of the All Nigerian Conference of Evangelical Drama Ministers and a teacher of the Christian faith.
Prof. Asikhia is married to Prof. Busayo Asikhia of Lagos State University of Education, and they have two children.
Speaking on the appointment, Adekoya stated, “The University Management expressed profound confidence in Professor Olalekan Asikhia’s capacity to elevate the university to unprecedented heights of scholarly preeminence and institutional prestige. His wealth of experience, profound erudition, and global insight align perfectly with our vision of becoming a world-class university rooted in excellence, innovation, and service.”
