The Governing Council of the University of Ibadan has formally approved the appointment of Professor Juwon Tunde Arotiba as the new Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) with effect from Thursday, August 14, 2025. The appointment follows the retirement of the former Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Aderonke M. Baiyeroju, who bowed out of active service on Wednesday, August 13, 2025. Professor Arotiba has since assumed duty and commenced his administrative responsibilities in the university.
Professor Arotiba, an eminent academic and maxillofacial surgeon, was born on December 13, 1957, in Mopa, Mopamuro Local Government Area of Kogi State. His early education began at ECWA Primary School, Enugbo, Ileteju Mopa, where he studied between 1965 and 1970. He later attended ECWA Secondary School, Mopa, from 1971 to 1975, before proceeding to the School of Basic Studies at the then Kwara State College of Technology (now Kwara Polytechnic) between 1975 and 1977, where he obtained his Advanced Level Certificate moderated by the University of Cambridge.
His pursuit of academic excellence continued at the prestigious University of Ibadan from 1978 to 1983, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree in 1983. Demonstrating his commitment to professional development, he returned to the same university to earn a Master’s degree in Epidemiology and Medical Statistics in 2007. His educational foundation prepared him for an illustrious career in academic dentistry and oral surgery.
Over the years, Professor Arotiba has distinguished himself through numerous academic and professional achievements. He holds the Fellowship of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria in Dental Surgery (1992), the Fellowship of the West African College of Surgeons (1997) in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, and the Fellowship of the International College of Dentistry (2013). In recognition of his contributions to medical scholarship, he was awarded the Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree by the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria in 2020.
His journey with the University of Ibadan began in 1992 when he was appointed as a Lecturer I. Through years of diligent service, he has trained and mentored many Dental Surgeons and Maxillofacial Surgery specialists who have made their marks in the medical field. Currently, he serves as a Professor in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, and as an Honorary Consultant Maxillofacial Surgeon at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.
Professor Arotiba’s major areas of research and clinical interest include Orofacial Oncology (tumours), Maxillofacial (jaw) Reconstruction, and Dental Implantology. His scholarly output is impressive—he has co-edited one book, contributed chapters to two books, and authored more than 100 peer-reviewed journal articles. His Google Scholar profile shows an H-index of 25 and over 2,500 citations, reflecting his global influence in the field of maxillofacial surgery and dental research.
Beyond research, Professor Arotiba is deeply involved in numerous professional associations that promote medical excellence and collaboration. These include the Nigerian Dental Association, Nigerian Medical Association, National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, and the West African College of Surgeons. He is also an active member of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria, the Nigerian Osseointegration and Dental Implantology Society, and the Nigerian Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.
His international engagements are equally notable. He belongs to the African Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and the International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Additionally, he contributes to academic publishing as an Associate Editor for the African Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences, the Nigerian Dental Journal, the Nigerian Journal of Postgraduate Medicine, and the Nigerian Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.
Professor Arotiba has served the academic and professional communities in diverse leadership capacities. He is a foundation member and past Vice-President of the Nigerian Osseointegration and Dental Implantology Society, and also a past National Vice-President of the Nigerian Dental Association. His leadership experience extends to serving as the foundation member and past National President of the Nigerian Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and as Treasurer of the African Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.
In institutional governance, he has contributed immensely to both national and continental medical boards. He has served as a Board Member of the Faculty of Dental Surgery, West African College of Surgeons, and as both Board Member and Faculty Chairman of the Faculty of Dental Surgery, National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria. Between 2009 and 2017, he represented the Faculty on the Senate of the University of Ibadan and also served on the Governing Council of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria from 2013 to 2017.
Within the University of Ibadan, Professor Arotiba’s administrative track record is remarkable. He has served as Coordinator of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (1993–1994), Acting Head of Department (1998–2000 and 2004–2006), Sub-Dean (Dentistry) from 2000 to 2004, and Sub-Dean (Postgraduate) between 2006 and 2008. His leadership continued as Head of Department from 2011 to 2014, followed by his tenure as Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry from 2014 to 2016.
He also demonstrated integrity and courage in institutional reform, serving as Chairman of the University of Ibadan Senate Truth Committee between 2018 and 2021. This role, which required impartiality and deep understanding of university ethics, earned him wide respect among his colleagues. Until his appointment as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Arotiba represented the Senate on the University’s Governing Council.
The new Deputy Vice-Chancellor’s appointment is widely seen as a strategic decision that will strengthen academic governance at the University of Ibadan. His wealth of experience in teaching, research, and administration positions him to further enhance the university’s academic standards and promote excellence in scholarship.
Professor Arotiba is married to Mrs. Oluwafunmilayo Oreoluwa Arotiba, and their union is blessed with children and grandchildren. His family and professional colleagues describe him as a man of humility, diligence, and integrity qualities that will continue to guide his leadership at Nigeria’s premier university.
