FUNAAB Alumni Secures Top Administrative Role at McPherson University

The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), has further cemented its reputation as a premier training ground for higher education leaders, following the appointment of Mrs. Emilomo Joy Alawode, a Deputy Registrar at FUNAAB, as the third substantive Registrar of McPherson University (McU), Seriki-Sotayo, Ogun State.

Mrs. Alawode’s appointment by the Board of Trustees of McPherson University highlights the national recognition of FUNAAB’s administrative excellence and its consistent role in grooming principal officers for universities across Nigeria.

A seasoned administrator, Mrs. Alawode brings decades of experience spanning academic administration, human resource management, governance, and strategic communication. She previously served as the pioneer Visiting Deputy Registrar at McPherson University in 2012, where she helped establish the institution’s administrative systems and launched its first official news bulletin, MCU Echo.

At FUNAAB, she has overseen records for over 17,500 students and 3,500 staff, introducing digital administrative tools that improved operational efficiency by more than 60 percent. She has also contributed to policy formulation and governance, working closely with both FUNAAB and McPherson University’s Senate and Governing Council.

Her leadership in communications includes serving twice as Head of the Directorate of Public Relations at FUNAAB, redesigning the University Bulletin, boosting readership by over 40 percent, and laying the foundation for the university’s social media presence.

An accomplished scholar, Mrs. Alawode holds two Master’s degrees in International Communication from Leeds Beckett University, UK, and Vilnius University, Lithuania, as well as a combined first degree in Classics and Linguistics from the University of Ibadan. She is currently pursuing doctoral studies on digital literacy and the empowerment of women in the informal economy.

Beyond Nigeria, she has distinguished herself globally as a technology advocate and mentor, holding roles with Women Who Code, SheAI, and the Swiss School of Management, Barcelona. She is affiliated with several professional bodies, including the International Academic Forum (IAFOR), Association of University Administrators (AUA), and Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR), and holds fellowships with NUFFIC, the Internet Society, and the Institute of Corporate Administration of Nigeria.

Her appointment, confirmed by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of McPherson University Governing Council, Rev. (Dr.) Babatunde Idowu, reflects McPherson University’s dedication to excellence and people-centred administration.

FUNAAB Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, congratulated Mrs. Alawode, describing her appointment as a testament to her professionalism and service, while highlighting the university’s tradition of nurturing competent administrators who advance Nigeria’s higher education sector.

Notably, in the last three years, at least 18 FUNAAB staff members have assumed principal officer roles in universities within and outside Nigeria, further reinforcing the institution’s legacy in producing high-calibre academic administrators.