The Governing Council of Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, has appointed Professor Lateef Folorunsho Oladimeji as the institution’s sixth substantive Vice-Chancellor, marking a new phase in the institution’s leadership with the elevation of one of its longest-serving and most dedicated academic administrators.
Until his appointment, Professor Oladimeji served as the Dean, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. A pioneer staff of the university, his career at Al-Hikmah has been marked by consistent contributions to institutional development and academic growth.
Born on April 9, 1963, in Lagos to the family of the late Chief Imam Alhaji Oseni Oladimeji and Alhaja Muneerat Oladimeji, Professor Oladimeji hails from Oko-Ode in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State. He is the third of thirteen children and the first son of his parents.
His educational journey began at Local School Board (LSMB) Primary School, Oko-Ode (1969–1974), after which he attended Lagos Secondary Commercial Academy (LASCA), Obanikoro, from 1975 to 1981. At LASCA, he made history as the first student to register for and score an A1 Distinction in Islamic Studies, a subject not formally offered at the school at the time. This feat led the Christian-led school to introduce Islamic Religious Knowledge (IRK) for future students.
He is a proud product of the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN). In 1983, he gained admission into the University of Ilorin, graduating in 1987 with a Second Class Upper Division in Islamic Studies. He emerged as the best graduating student in his department, receiving the Islamic Publications Bureau (IPB) Prize. He was retained as a Graduate Assistant during his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) year (1987/88).
Professor Oladimeji holds a Master of Arts in Islamic Studies (1989), a Master’s in Public Administration (1995), a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (2000), and a PhD in Islamic Studies (2005) – all from the University of Ilorin. As a student, he demonstrated exceptional leadership, serving as the pioneer Director-General of the Master of Public Administration Students (AMPAS) for the 1994/95 academic session.
Over the years, he has held various key positions at Al-Hikmah University, including Pioneer Head of Department of Islamic Studies, Pioneer Registrar and Secretary to the University Council, Director of the Centre for Part-Time and Professional Studies, Director of the Centre for Research, Industrial Linkages and International Collaboration, Director of Academic Planning, Director of the Information Unit, and Deputy Vice-Chancellor.
He is also a longstanding member of the University Senate and delivered the university’s first-ever inaugural lecture in January 2022, titled “Roving Preachers of the Message: Deconstructing Da’wah Across Borders.”
His academic interests span Da’wah and Contemporary Islamic Studies, Peace and Conflict Studies, and Public Administration. According to the university’s records, he has authored over 40 scholarly publications.
With decades of dedication to academic excellence and administrative leadership, Professor Oladimeji’s appointment is widely seen as a reaffirmation of Al-Hikmah University’s commitment to homegrown leadership rooted in resilience, institutional loyalty, and a clear understanding of the university’s mission.
