Prof. Mahfouz Adedimeji

Vice Chancellor of Ahman Patigi, Nigeria
Aptly described by the Independent newspaper as “a man of many parts”, Prof. Mahfouz A. Adedimeji is a Fulbright scholar, interdisciplinary researcher, university don, public affairs analyst, communication consultant, peace advocate, interfaith worker and public intellectual. He obtained his academic degrees from the University of Ilorin, Ilorin, where he was a Professor of English (Pragmatics and Applied Linguistics) before his appointment as Vice Chancellor as the pioneer Vice Chancellor of Ahman Patigi, Nigeria, in February 2021. He started his academic career in 2000 at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, shortly after which he joined the services of his alma mater, the University of Ilorin. A man of eclectic academic background, Prof. Adedimeji was educated in Arabic and Islamic Studies at Markaz Shabaabil Islam, Iwo, Osun State and Markaz Ta’aleemil Araby, Agege, Lagos. He obtained advanced training in Education, Political Science, Communication and Media, Research and Peace Studies at the National Universities Commission’s (NUC) Virtual Institute for Higher Education Pedagogy (VIHEP); the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s (UNESCO) Virtual Institute for Higher Education in Africa (VIHEAF); Governors State University, University Park, Illinois, USA; University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana; and Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, Notre Dame University, South Bend, Indiana, USA. Apart from serving as a cultural ambassador to the US under the auspices of the Institute of International Education (IIE), New York, Prof. Adedimeji had won or co-won the research and conference awards/grants of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) of the National Research Council, Nigeria, the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) and the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU). He has written extensively for a wide range of newspapers and periodicals including “Unilorin Bulletin”, “Unilorin Watch”, “DeLight”, “National Pilot”, “Daily Independent”, “Daily Newswatch”, “New York Parrot” and “New Telegraph”, among others. A versatile academic and award-winning scholar, Prof. Adedimeji has attended academic conferences and undertaken research in several universities across Nigeria as well as in Ghana, Cameroon, Kenya, Malaysia, Sierra Leone, Australia, France and United States of America, among others. His hundreds of academic, Islamic and general/opinion articles have been published across outlets in Nigeria and beyond. He has also facilitated and participated in seminars and workshops both nationally and internationally. A former Head of the Directorate of Corporate Affairs of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Adedimeji was the Director of the Centre for Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies, University of Ilorin, between 2013 and 2017. Apart from serving as Rapporteur-General to the Presidential Committee that organised the 2017 Federal Executive Council’s Retreat on Education in Nigeria, he has consulted for the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Nigeria Inter-religious Council (NIREC), the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence and Corps (NSCDC) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). For years, he was a Coordinator and Facilitator of the Executive Management Course of the Nigerian Army Education Corps (NAEC) and Editor-in-Chief of the “Journal of Peace, Security and Development”, University of Ilorin. He has also served as a resource person to agencies like the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), National Orientation Agency (NOA), National Institute for Security Studies as well as a number of Civil Society Organisations. He is a recipient of several awards and honours including those of the International Chartered World Learned Society, American Biographical Institute, National Congress of Nigerian Students (NACONS), Union of Campus Journalists, University of Ilorin, the Nigerian Army Education Corps, Postgraduate Students Association, UNILORIN, Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN), UNILORIN, Students’ Union, UNILORIN, and National Association of Osun State Students (NAOSS), just to mention a few. A Fellow of bodies like the International Association of Research Scholars and Administrators (FIARSA), Institute of Corporate Administration, Nigeria, (FICAN), Society for Peace Studies and Practice (fspsp) and World Institute for Peace (FWIP) , Prof. Adedimeji is a former Member of the Governing Council of the International Peace Research Association (IPRA) and until recently a Member of the Executive Council of the English Scholars’ Association of Nigeria (ESAN). He is a member of the Editorial Boards of Research in Pragmatics, journal of the Pragmatics Association of Nigeria (PrAN) and ANUJAT, an international multidisciplinary journal of the All Nations University, Koforidua, Ghana. He has about 15 books to his credit as author, co-author, editor and co-editor.

Small steps, giant strides

When one of the fastest-growing universities in Nigeria, Thomas Adewumi University, contacted me through its phenomenal Vice Chancellor, Prof. Francisca Oladipo, to deliver its third anniversary lecture last Thursday (May 16, 2024), the relevant theme that came to my mind ...

Connecting the education DOTS

In a press release by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, on April 18, 2024, the aide provided what can be considered as the agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government on Education. This ...

Examination malpractice as an atomic bomb

As the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) continues its ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) that started last Friday (April 19, 2024), and for which some 1,985,642 candidates had registered, it is auspicious to underscore the significance of eschewing ...

mahfouz adedimeji

Curbing abduction in schools, by stakeholders

Stakeholders have urged the Federal Government to tackle insecurity in schools and make learning spaces safe for pupils while deploying strong and effective mechanisms. They argue that incorporating security education in school curriculum may be welcomed though it is not ...

mahfouz adedimeji

Nigerians, Govs must accept responsibility for economic woes — Varsity VC

The Vice-Chancellor of Ahman Pategi University, Patigi, Kwara State, Professor Mahfouz Adedimeji has urged Nigerians and Governors to accept responsibility and stop the blame game over economic woes in the country.  Adedimeji also stressed the need for Governors and Nigerians to play ...

mahfouz adedimeji

Don advocates shared responsibility, servant leadership as way out of Nigeria’s economic challenges

Vice-Chancellor of Ahman Pategi University, Patigi, Kwara State, Professor Mahfouz Adedimeji, has urged Nigerians and state governors to accept responsibility and stop the blame game regarding the high cost of living in the country. Adedimeji emphasized the need for governors ...

NAHCON Inauguration: Aremu Lauds Tinubu For Appointment Of Adedimeji As Representative

Prof Sir Bashiru Aremu, World Grand President, International Chartered World Learned Society (ICWLS) & UNESCO Laureate, has lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his recent appointment of the Vice-Chancellor of Ahman Pategi University, Prof Mahfouz Adedimeji as a Representative of ...

APU VC: Learning a life-long activity

Vice Chancellor of the Ahman Pategi University(APU) Patigi, Kwara State, Prof. Mahfouz Adedimeji has charged students to see learning as a life-long endeavour that is not limited to what is offered in the classroom. He spoke  at the second  graduation ceremony of  ...

APU celebrates  VC’s appointment to board

The Founder, Board of Trustees, Governing Council, management, and staff of Ahman Pategi University (APU), Kwara State, have  congratulated  its  Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mahfouz Adedimeji, on his recent appointment as a board member of the National Hajj Commission. A  statement by ...

mahfouz adedimeji

Don’t Stop Learning, APU VC Tells Graduating Students

The pioneer Vice-Chancellor of the Ahman Pategi University, Patigi, Kwara State, Prof. Mahfouz Adedimeji, has advised students to see learning as a lifelong activity that transcends the four walls of the university. Prof Adedimeji gave the advice while delivering a ...

Economy: Nigerians, governors must accept responsibility, stop blame game—VC

The Vice-Chancellor of Ahman Pategi University, Patigi, Kwara State, Professor Mahfouz Adedimeji has urged Nigerians and state governors to accept responsibility and stop the blame game as a result of the high cost of living in the country. Adedimeji also stressed ...

mahfouz adedimeji

Economy: Nigeria needs servant-leaders – Prof Adedimeji

Shina Abubakar, Osogbo Following the ongoing economic hardship on the country, political leaders have been urged to adopt a servant-leader approach to leadership to deliver good governance to the populace. This was disclosed by the Pioneer Vice-Chancellor, Ahman Pategi University ...