- President Tinubu appoints Prof. Onibon as Pioneer Rector of Bola Ahmed Tinubu Federal Polytechnic, Abuja.
- Appointment comes eight days after his memoir launch.
- Lawmakers, clerics, and family hail it as well-deserved.
The appointment of Professor Nosiru Olajide Onibon as the Pioneer Rector of Bola Ahmed Tinubu Federal Polytechnic, Abuja, has drawn warm congratulations from political leaders, religious figures, and family members who say the appointment is the right man in the right job.
EKO HOT BLOG reports that the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, presented the certificate of appointment to Prof. Onibon during an inauguration ceremony held in Abuja on Wednesday, March 11, just eight days after the new rector was publicly celebrated at the launch of his memoir, Audacity to Lead and Courage to Serve, where he had reflected on years of institutional reform and service in Nigeria’s education sector.
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Leading the tributes, the Member of the House of Representatives for Epe Federal Constituency, Lagos, Rep. Wale Raji, described the appointment as a case of putting a round peg in a round hole.
“This is a remarkable recognition of the calibre, competence, and exemplary leadership of Professor Onibon,” Raji said, adding that the appointment aligns exceptional talent with the responsibility of steering one of Nigeria’s prestigious tertiary institutions.
Raji pointed to Professor Onibon’s track record in education, particularly his roles as Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the Lagos State University of Education (LASUED) and as Provost of the now-defunct Michael Otedola College of Primary Education (MOCPED), as evidence that the appointment is well-deserved.
“I have no doubt that under his stewardship, Bola Ahmed Tinubu Federal Polytechnic will experience a new era of academic excellence,” the lawmaker said.
The praise was not limited to the political class. Imam Tijani Shehu Olawale of the Al Falaah Islamic Society of Nigeria offered his congratulations with a prayer of gratitude. “Alhamdu lillaah for Professor Nosiru Onibon and the academia world,” he said.
A relative, Onibon Kehinde Adejoke, extended congratulations to the entire Onibon family, describing the appointment as a testament to the values the family represents.
“This remarkable achievement is not only a proud moment for Professor Onibon but also a testament to the values, support, and excellence that the Onibon family represents,” she said.
The appointment arrives at a fitting moment. Just over a week earlier, on March 3, Professor Onibon had stood before an audience of traditional rulers, politicians, academics, and public officials at the presentation of his memoir — a book he said chronicles his five years and nine months as Provost of Michael Otedola College of Primary Education (MOCPED), now Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), a tenure he described as both challenging and transformative.
At the event, he recounted inheriting an institution where years of financial records had gone unprocessed, pension deductions were unremitted, and staff morale was low. He said his administration tackled these problems through financial transparency, stakeholder engagement, and prudent management, eventually restoring accreditation milestones and institutional stability.
Professor Onibon noted that despite the obstacles, he chose to write the memoir without bitterness or personal attacks, a decision that many of those who attended the launch praised as a mark of maturity and character.
Who is Professor Onibon?
Professor Onibon attained the rank of full Professor in July 2025, capping a career in Nigerian education that spans teaching, administration, and institutional reform.
His most significant leadership roles came at MOCPED, where he served first as Acting Provost from January 2018 before being confirmed as the 5th substantive Provost in January 2019.
He spent nearly six years stabilising the institution and pursuing its transformation into a university. That ambition was realised in February 2022, when the Lagos State Government converted MOCPED into the Lagos State University of Education (LASUED). Onibon was appointed its sole Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor, a position he held until July 2023.
During his time at LASUED, he chaired several foundational committees, including the NUC Resource Verification Committee that secured approval for the university’s academic programmes, and the Central Admission Committee that oversaw the admission of its pioneer students.
Academically, he holds a B.A and two Master’s degrees from Lagos State University, an M.Sc in International Relations from the University of Ibadan, and a doctorate in Arabic Language Studies from the International Islamic University, Malaysia. He lectured in the Department of Foreign Languages at Lagos State University, Ojo, and is a fellow of the American National African Language Resource Centre.
Born in Epe, Lagos State, he is married with children.
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