Prof. Isaac Rotimi Ajayi
Vice Chancellor
Professor Isaac Rotimi AJAYI was born 20th March, l965 in Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria. He attended the St. James’ Primary School in Akure between l970 and l977 for primary education and Ebun Ogunyimika College, Atosin, Idanre, between l977 and 1982 for his secondary education. Professor Ajayi was admitted into the University of Ibadan in 1983 where he studied Physics and graduated B.Sc. with Second Class (Upper Division) in 1987. He later obtained M.Sc. in 1990 and bagged a Ph.D. in l994 from the same University.
Professor Ajayi started his academic career as an Assistant Lecturer in l990 and rose through the ranks to become a Professor of Radiation and Health Physics in 2007 in the Department of Physics and Electronics, Adekunle Ajasin University (formerly Ondo State University), Akungba-Akoko. Professor Ajayi has published extensively in several academic journals around the world. His primary research interests are in Radiation Dosimetry and Protection, Radioecology and Radiation Transport. He has authored and co-authored more than 75 publications in learned journals and written many books notable of which are: Concise Mechanics for Scientists and Engineers, and Basic Electricity and Magnetism. He has also attended and spoken in more than 45 academic conferences and workshops at in Nigeria and in foreign countries like USA, UK, Israel, Germany, Italy, South Africa, Kenya, Namibia and Ghana.
Professor Ajayi has won many research grants and successfully coordinated several research projects including the National Space Research and Development Agency in Abuja (NARSDA) research projects in Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State. He facilitated the establishment of the Centre for Space, Energy and Environmental Research (CSEER) in the University in 2009. Professor Ajayi is a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Physics (NIP) and a member of the Health Physics Society USA among many other professional associations. He has been External Examiner to postgraduate programmes in many universities and has led NUC accreditation panels on programme accreditation to several universities in Nigeria. He has also successfully supervised 4 Ph.D theses.
Professor Ajayi enjoyed the Federal Government of Nigeria postgraduate scholarship at the University of Ibadan in l988 and a beneficiary of several International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) training at the International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy.
Professor Ajayi was appointed a Regular Associate of the UNESCO International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy in 2006 and served as Visiting Research Scientist to the Centre 2006 -2013. He also as a visiting Research Associate at the Institute of Environmental Physics, University of Bremen, Germany between 2005 and 2007.
Professor Ajayi is a product of the 2010 Leadership Development course of the African Association of Universities in Kenya; and the 2014 University Management training course in Johannesburg, South Africa. He is also a graduate of the 2012 Management of Higher Education course of the Galilee International Management Institute in Israel and the Harvard University Extension School.
Professor Ajayi at various times served as Head, Department of Physics and Electronics; Director, Industrial Training Unit; Director, Information & Communication Technology Application Centre; Dean of the Faculty of Science; Deputy Vice-Chancellor for 2 terms and Ag. Vice-Chancellor in the Adekunle Ajasin University. He also successfully served as the Vice-Chancellor of Crawford University, a faith based private university in Igbesa, Ogun State for a term of 5 years (2015 – 2020) and returned to Adekunle Ajasin University in October 2020 to continue his service to the University.
Professor Ajayi who also holds an MBA professional certificate and a Diploma in pastoral education & chaplaincy served as a member of the National Board of the Joint Universities Preliminary Examination Board (JUPEB) in 2019, and is currently a member of the Board of Trustees of Crawford University and also a member of the Sectoral Advisory Board of the World Bank funded Africa Centre of Excellence for Innovative and Transformative STEM Education in LASU, Lagos.
He is happily married to Professor Adeyinka Ajayi, an Economic Historian and the union is blessed with children and grandchildren. Professor Ajayi is a Christian who loves to sing and play table tennis at his leisure. Professor Ajayi is currently serving as the Vice-Chancellor of Wellspring University in Benin-City since August 24, 2021.