Venite University Appoints Prof. Charity Aremu as New Vice-Chancellor

Venite University, Iloro-Ekiti has appointed Professor Charity Aremu as its new Vice-Chancellor after a rigorous selection process involving 25 candidates.

Her emergence marks a strategic leadership transition for the institution as it deepens its commitment to quality education, innovation, and global relevance. She becomes the 2nd substantive Vice-Chancellor of the University.

Professor Aremu is a distinguished scholar in Crop Improvement and Sustainable Agriculture and the immediate past Vice-Chancellor of Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Kwara State. Her leadership at Landmark University saw the institution attain global visibility, including recognition by the Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings, reflecting her capacity to position universities competitively on the global stage.

Her academic foundation was laid at the University of Ibadan, where she studied Agricultural Biology and graduated in 1992 as the Best Graduating Student, earning the Royal Dutch Shell BP Award and the Raymond Zard Scholarship. She later obtained her MSc and PhD in Agricultural Biology, Plant Breeding, and Sustainable Agriculture from the University of Ibadan and the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. She also holds a certificate in Sustainable Horticultural Crop Production from Wilo Farms, California, USA.

Professor Aremu’s nearly two decades at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, saw her rise from Assistant Lecturer to full Professor in 2011. Across LAUTECH and Landmark University, she held critical leadership roles including:

• Head of Department
• Dean, College of Agriculture
• Dean, School of Postgraduate Studies
• Director, African Agripreneurship Development Centre
• Chair, Academic Board and Senate
• Member/Chair of key committees (Quality Assurance, Appointments & Promotions, Strategic Planning, Ethics, VC Selection, among others)

Her engagement with the National Universities Commission (NUC) as an accreditation team member and editor of the CCMAS framework further reinforces her deep understanding of regulatory compliance and quality assurance.

Internationally, she has served as external examiner to institutions including the University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University, University of Ilorin, and North-West University, South Africa, among others.

Research Strength and Global Visibility

Professor Aremu has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, indexed in Scopus and Web of Science. She boasts over 2,000 Google Scholar citations and an h-index above 15 in Scopus. Notably, she is listed among the 2026 Top 500 Researchers in Nigeria by SciVal.

Her grant portfolio includes funding from the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) for drought-resistant maize development, co-leadership of the Cassava Adding Value for Africa II project, and participation in African Cassava Mosaic Virus research presented in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Strategic Direction for Venite University

Professor Aremu assumes office with a clear reform agenda designed to align Venite University with global standards and national development priorities. Her blueprint includes:

• Bridging academia and industry through certified skill acquisition alongside degree programs
• Establishing a student Tech-Innovation Hub to drive talent discovery and entrepreneurship
• Strengthening national and international partnerships
• Curriculum reform aligned with accreditation standards
• Institutionalizing a strong grantsmanship culture
• Positioning the University for global rankings
• Integrating the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) into institutional strategy
• Ensuring accountability and building a robust financial base for sustainable growth

Professor Aremu’s appointment represents more than a change in leadership; it is a calculated move toward institutional consolidation and expansion. Her profile combines scholarly excellence, administrative discipline, regulatory fluency, and global engagement.

For Venite University, this is a defining inflection point — a transition from aspiration to execution, from local relevance to global positioning. Under her stewardship, the institution is poised to accelerate its mission of producing knowledgeable, creative, and industrious graduates equipped not just for employment, but for enterprise and national impact.