Prof. Atayero Replaces Prof. Charles Ayo as Covenant University VC

Professor Aderemi Aaron-Anthony Atayero, a professor
of Communication Engineering has been appointed as
the Vice-Chancellor for the Covenant University.
The Board of Regents, Covenant University’s apex
governing body has approved the appointment of
Professor Aderemi Aaron-Anthony Atayero, as the
fourth substantive Vice-Chancellor of the University.
Secretary of the Board of Regents, Pastor Chioma
Okwuanyi, on behalf of the Chairman of the Board and
Chancellor of Covenant University, Dr. David Oyedepo,
made the announcement on Friday July 15, 2016 at a
special meeting of Principal Officers, Deans, Directors
and Heads of Departments.

Professor Atayero replaces Professor Charles Ayo,
whose tenure elapsed last month.
Speaking on how the Board of Regents arrived on its
choice of Professor Atayero, Pastor Okwuanyi said the
Board, at a recent meeting to consider a number of
eminent professors from Covenant University, decided
to limit the choice to the products of the university in
order to allow for continuity; somebody who has been in
the system who knows where Professor Ayo stopped,
and start building from that foundation.

The announcement was greeted with a thunderous
applause from the audience including Professor Ayo,
who described the day as symbolic in the annals of
history of the university. It would have been
disheartening, he said, if the university had to look
elsewhere to pick his successor.
He acknowledged the contributions of all present, while
expressing satisfaction that he has bequeathed a
university where faculty, staff and students can walk
with their heads held high across the continent of
Africa.

“I congratulate the incoming Vice-Chancellor. Actually,
we started the journey together… I therefore have no
doubt whatsoever that Professor Atayero will be able to
move the university forward at a faster rate having been
part and parcel of the Vision,” said Professor Ayo.
He subsequently presented his handover note titled, ‘On
the Wings of a Prophetic Verdict: Vision 10:2022’ to
Professor Atayero, and prayed that God will give the
new Vice-Chancellor the wisdom and the grace to take
the university to a greater height.
Professor Atayero, in his acceptance speech, thanked
the Board of Regents for the confidence reposed in him
to carry the mantle of leadership of the institution from
where Professor Ayo stopped.

While acknowledging that the task before him is not an
easy one, the Vice-Chancellor is optimistic that victory
would be achieved.
“When I was made the Deputy Vice-Chancellor
(Academic), when I was writing my acceptance letter
then, one of the things I noted was I’m fully persuaded
that this can only be done exclusively by the leading of
the Holy Spirit. It is pleasing that I’m currently on the
mountain, and one of the scriptures I read on the
mountain is Romans 9:28: ‘For He will finish the work,
and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work
will the Lord make upon the earth’.

“I am convinced that victory would be achieved even
before the last lap as set by our indefatigable
Chancellor. Another good reason is that we are standing
on a very sound foundation. It is only a privilege for us
and the team coming in to be able to carry this mantle
forward and we make bold to say that by His grace we
shall not disappoint.”
Curtains were drawn on the unveiling ceremony with
Pastor Okwuanyi asking all present to pray that God
gives Professor Atayero the grace to accomplish the
task before him.
Professor Atayero and Professor Ayo later met in the
Vice-Chancellor’s Office at the Senate Building, where
members of staff led by the Director, Vice-Chancellor’s
Office, Dr. Akan Williams, were introduced to the new
helmsman.

Atayero, a professor of Communication Engineering at
Covenant University, who was the pioneer Deputy Vice
Chancellor (Academic) of the institution, had also served
as Coordinator School of Engineering, and twice as
Head of Department of Electrical and Information
Engineering of the university. He joined the faculty of
Covenant University as a pioneer faculty in 2002.
Professor Atayero has a Bachelor of Science Degree in
Radio Engineering and a Master of Science Degree in
Satellite Communication Systems in 1992 and 1994
respectively from the Moscow Institute of Technology,
Moscow, Russian Federation. He earned his Ph.D from
the Moscow State Technical University of Civil Aviation
(MSTUCA) in 2000.

Atayero is a member of the Council for the Regulation of
Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and member of the
Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) and
other professional bodies.
He has a number of scientific papers in reputable
International peer-reviewed journals and proceedings to
his credit. He is on the editorial board of the Covenant
Journal of Science and Technology and of several other
International Journals.

The new Vice-Chancellor is a recipient of various
awards and scholarships including the ‘2009 Ford
Foundation Teaching Innovation Award’. His current
research interests are in various aspects of
Communication Engineering, including (but not limited
to): Wireless Sensor Networks, Wireless (Mobile)
Communications, Internet of Things (IoT), Smart Cities.
He was until his appointment Head, Covenant University
Internet of Things-Enabled Smart and Connected
Communities (SmartCU) Cluster.

Professor Atayero is happily married and the marriage
is blessed with three children.