Professor Ayo Olajuyigbe Appointed Acting Vice-Chancellor of University of Fortune

The University of Fortune has officially appointed Professor Ayo Olajuyigbe, FNITP, as its Acting Vice-Chancellor, effective immediately.

The appointment follows the approval of the Board of Trustees based on the recommendation of the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council.

Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim, CFR, PhD (Cantab), extended his congratulations to Professor Olajuyigbe, stating: “Accept my congratulations and best wishes in your leadership career of an incredible global university. Aligning the ecosystem should be your priority while implementing the University dashboard.”

Profile of Professor Ayo Olajuyigbe, FNITP

Professor Olajuyigbe is a distinguished Nigerian scholar, planner, and development practitioner with decades of experience spanning academia, professional consultancy, and public-sector advisory. He is renowned for his contributions to urban and regional planning, environmental governance, and applied policy research, consistently bridging the gap between theory and practice.

Trained in Urban and Regional Planning, Professor Olajuyigbe has built a career marked by rigorous scholarship and practical relevance. His teaching and research cover areas including physical development planning, environmental management, regional development, infrastructure planning, sustainable urbanisation, and development policy. He has mentored numerous undergraduate and postgraduate students, many now serving in academia, government, and professional practice within Nigeria and internationally.

A prolific researcher, Professor Olajuyigbe has produced scholarly works addressing land use planning, infrastructure, climate change, environmental sustainability, governance frameworks, and institutional capacity, influencing policy and professional practice. His integrated planning methodologies, including environmental assessment tools and spatial planning frameworks, are widely cited and applied in complex development contexts.

Beyond academia, Professor Olajuyigbe has served as a consultant and technical adviser on major projects, including the Dangote Refinery and Fertilizer Plants. He has overseen multidisciplinary teams responsible for environmental impact assessments, master planning, campus development, industrial and energy parks, and free trade zones, ensuring alignment with international best practices while respecting local socio-economic and cultural contexts.

At the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), he held leadership roles such as Director of the University Advancement Centre, Director of the Centre for Entrepreneurship, and Associate Director of the Centre for Research and Development. He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) and has contributed significantly to curriculum development, policy dialogues, and capacity-building initiatives in planning and governance.

Professor Olajuyigbe’s career exemplifies intellectual leadership, professional integrity, and public relevance, leaving a lasting impact through both his scholarly work and the generation of planners, researchers, and policymakers he has trained. His expertise will be crucial in guiding the University of Fortune towards resilient, inclusive, and sustainable development outcomes.