A privately owned institution in Nigeria, Caleb University, Imota, Lagos, has appointed Olalekan Asikhia, a professor of Business Administration as its new vice chancellor, marking a significant milestone in the university’s pursuit of academic excellence and global relevance.
Mr Asikhia succeeds Nosa Owens-Ibie, a professor of communication, media and development, who successfully completed two terms in office.
In a statement signed by the institution’s Information, Media, and Publication Specialist, Olawale Adekoya, the university management expressed profound confidence in Mr Asikhia’s ability to advance its mission.
“His wealth of experience, profound erudition, and global insight align perfectly with our vision of becoming a world-class university rooted in excellence, innovation, and service,” the statement reads.
According to the statement, the appointment of Mr. Asikhia positions Caleb University for a future marked by intellectual vibrancy, transformative leadership, and enhanced global competitiveness.
Leadership and Impact
Mr Asikhia is a distinguished academic, researcher, institutional leader, management consultant, and entrepreneur whose illustrious career spans over 30 years. He brings to the helm of affairs a luminous pedigree of scholarly excellence, visionary leadership, and an unblemished record of service to the academy.
His appointment as vice chancellor of Caleb University ushers in a new epoch of intellectual refinement and progressive governance. A global strategist renowned for his encyclopedic intellect, administrative acumen, and transformative scholarship, he has led a wave of reforms since assuming the role of Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research, Innovation, Strategy, and Administration) in 2021.
Under his leadership, the university designed and implemented the 2022–2026 strategic plan, achieving a 71.2 per cent success rate by 2024. His administration elevated Caleb University’s national ranking from 66th to 18th, with a 57 per cent increase in institutional visibility. His efforts also positioned the institution on the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings.
A multiple grant award-winning researcher, Mr Asikhia has twice secured the SME and Poverty Alleviation grant of the University of South Africa, funded to the tune of $100,000. These grants influenced national and international policies and further bolstered his reputation as a serial winner and paragon of academic integrity.
Ranked among Nigeria’s top 3 per cent researchers in Business Administration, top 5.6 per cent in Africa, and top 23.6 per cent globally by the AD Scientific Author Index, Mr Asikhia is celebrated for groundbreaking research in strategic management and organisational development, which have enriched corporate and academic spheres alike.
Academic and Professional Journey
Mr Asikhia’s academic journey began at the University of Benin, where he earned a B.Sc. in Biochemistry (Biostatistics) in 1987. He went on to pursue several postgraduate programmes, earning postgraduate diplomas in Economics (Manpower Development) and Marketing at the University of Lagos and the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) respectively.
He further obtained an M.Sc in Development Economics from UNILAG in 1995, an MBA from Ogun State University in 1998. In his quest for advanced knowledge, Mr Asikhia achieved dual doctoral degrees – a Ph.D. in Management from the University of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa in 2020, and a Doctor of Business Leadership (DBL) in Strategy and Marketing from the University of South Africa in 2006.
His professional career began in 1988 as a Research Fellow and Management Consultant at the Institution of Industrial Managers, Lagos, where he designed and delivered training programmes for organisations and public services. His transition into academia saw significant milestones at Ogun State University, Covenant University, and Babcock University. Across these institutions, he pioneered courses, mentored students, consulted for key national organisations, and held administrative leadership roles.
An accomplished author, keynote speaker, editor-in-chief, reviewer of several local and international journals, and consultant to global institutions, the new vice chancellor of Caleb University has so far supervised and graduated 95 doctoral students, out of which seven are already professors. His efforts have also produced 17 master’s degree students and 136 undergraduate students across various disciplines. His scholarly output includes 157 peer-reviewed publications and 10 authored books.
Family Life
Mr Asikhia is a committed Christian, a drama minister, and a former leader of the All Nigerian Conference of Evangelical Drama Ministers. He is a product of the Mount Zion Drama Ministry and teacher of the word of God. At Caleb University, he led the Discipleship Programme to promote good morals and spiritual growth.
He is married to Busayo Asikhia, a professor of Counseling and Educational Psychology at Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), Epe. They are blessed with two children.