Covenant University’s Vision 10:2020, by Professor Charles Korede Ayo, Vice Chancellor

Every administrator desires career success, but not all of them have been able to achieve success in their various positions. Professor Charles Korede Ayo, Vice Chancellor, Covenant University, Ota, finds space among the successful few. His determination to succeed where many have failed, his diligence and managerial ingenuity have made the Ota-based private university a reference institution.

Not many people who know about these antecedents and his philosophy about life would be surprised at the Vice Chancellor’s achievements since his assumption of office in November, 2012.

Ayo’s upbringing, his academic training, administrative experience and his determination to always work as an agent of positive change everywhere he finds himself have continued to set him apart from most of his peers.

Young Ayo had his primary education at Baptist LGEA School, Mopa, after which he proceeded to Titcombe College, Egbe, for his secondary education. He was at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria for a bachelor’s of science degree in  mathematics with computer science in 1984. Determined to add more to his knowledge, the visionary school administrator went to Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife in 1993 to obtain a master’s of science degree in computer science and Ph.D mathematics (numerical computation) from university of Ilorin in 1999.

Established  in 2002 with a vision to be a foremost institution that moves manpower development in the direction of self – apprenticeship and to be a first class private university in research, knowledge, character and service to humanity, Covenant University, today, competes favourably with the first generation universities in terms of quality of education.

It is on record that in the first and second editions of the Presidential Special Scholarship for Innovation and Development (PRESSID), CU topped the list of successful candidates by producing the highest number of first class graduates  in Nigeria  universities  for sponsorship to 25 top universities in the world.

On some of the facilities and policies put in place by the institution to enhance learning and research, the Vice  Chancellor said: “In pursuit of  Vision 10: 2022, there are concerted efforts and policies instituted for enhances quality lecture delivery, research and learning environment that compares with some renowned world class universities.

‘’Presently, our lecture rooms are equipped with ultra-modern teaching equipment with facilities for tele-conferencing, collaborative teaching and real-time lecture recording and upload. Some of our laboratories are equipped with modern and current facilities that may not be available in ‘’Africa but a few world-class universities.

We are committed to driving collaboration and linkages in a manner that is unparalleled. We recruit visiting professors who visit us mainly during our summer school (May – July) to teach postgraduate students, conduct research and organize conferences and workshops for the generality of the populace.

‘’Recall that the university organized the First International Conference on African Development Issues (ICADI) in May this year that hosted two Nobel Laureates at once. This feat is novel and unparalleled in the history of  university education in Nigeria. One of them is listed as visiting professor to the university already. This academic session set another set is expected in areas that are germane to the emancipation of the Black Race. The chancellor has charged us to think the unthinkable and dare the unendurable. We are set to take the world by storm”.

Proud of the height Covenant University has attained, the erudite scholar shares his goals for the private university thus: “Ever since I came to office, I was given the mandate tagged, ‘Vision 10:2022’ which is to get the university listed as one of the top ten universities in the world within the next ten years (2012 – 2022) which we have christened as ( 1 of 10 in 10). To accomplish this vision, we set yearly goals.

This is the beginning of the third session and the goal for the session is innovation, impact and internationalization. In a nutshell, we are going to be innovating, teaching and research endeavours to impact positively on the quality of graduates and the community at large. And eventually to internationalize the operations and activities of the university with a view to attract international faculty and students to the university.”

Tweet