The Dean, Faculty of Arts, University of Ibadan, Professor Rasheed Olaniyi, has eulogised the staff members (teaching and non-teaching) as well as the students of the faculty for their supportive roles in promoting academic excellence, research and community service.

Professor Olaniyi was speaking in Ibadan while marking the transition of power in three Departments of the Faculty.

Three departments, namely Communication and Language Arts, Classical Studies (Classics) and Theatre Arts, got new Heads as the former office holders completed their tenure on July 30, 2026.

Dr ‘Bisi Olawuyi (Bisi Crown), a Public Relations expert and speech communication scholar, completed his two-year term as the Acting Head of Communication and Language Arts, handing over to Babatunde Ojebuyi, a Professor of Applied Communication and Media Studies.

Dr Babatunde Awonsami is taking over the leadership of Theatre Arts, succeeding Dr Abimbola Stephen-Adesina, a Theatre Arts scholar specialising in voice and speech training, in an acting capacity.

Meanwhile, as the Professor of African Literature, Emmanuel Taiwo, bowed out, Professor Monica Aneni has assumed duty as the Head of the Department of Classics. Prof Aneni, who joined the Department of Classics in 2007, specialises in Health and Mortality Discourse, Ancient Strategic Studies, Classical History and Latin Epigraphy.

Speaking on the leadership transition, the Dean of the Faculty of Arts commended the three departments for ensuring a smooth handover and sustaining a collaborative working environment.

“In the last one year, I have seen the departments in the faculty do well and I am particularly impressed with the development and seamless transition that took place in the three departments.”

“I have enjoyed the camaraderie of these departments long before I became the Dean of the Faculty and particularly in the last one year.”

The Dean praised the Department of Communication and Language Arts for its remarkable progress over the past two years under the leadership of Dr Bisi Olawuyi, especially in expanding learning resources, improving facilities for students and transforming the Department’s outlook.

“CLA has done well in the last two years. Now they have more resources for students as provided by the alumni and the University”, calling on the alumni of the Faculty to support their alma mater. Professor Olaniyi said.

He also commended the outgoing Acting Head of the Department, Dr Bisi Olawuyi, for his contributions to the department’s physical transformation and the improvement of its learning environment.

“I also commend the resourcefulness of the outgoing Acting HOD, Dr Bisi Olawuyi, who turned things around in terms of physical transformation and providing a very reliable learning environment for students. That’s heart-warming,” the Dean added.

Commenting on the Department of Classical Studies, the Dean said the department had continued to record significant improvements. He noted that the incoming Head of Department, Prof Monica Aneni, is among the faculty’s recently promoted professors, alongside Prof Babatunde Ojebuyi of Communication and Language Arts.

“It is interesting that, although not in the same year, Prof Aneni, who is coming in as the HOD of Classical Studies, is a fresh professor just like Prof Babatunde Ojebuyi of the Department of Communication and Language Arts,” he said.

The Dean also highlighted progress in the Department of Theatre Arts, citing academic development during the tenure of the immediate Acting Head.

“For Theatre Arts too, the same thing. There are new things to celebrate because we are recording improvement,” he said.

Professor Olaniyi was also thankful to the Sub-Dean Postgraduate, Dr Adams Akewula, and the Sub-Dean General, Olugbemiro Berekiah, for their commitments to the progress of the faculty.

The immediate past Sub-Deans were succeeded by Dr Oluwatoyin Gbadamosi of the Department of Religious Studies and Dr Francis Amenaghawon of the Department of Communication and Language Arts, respectively.

He expressed confidence that the newly appointed departmental heads and Sub-Deans would build on the achievements of their predecessors and further strengthen teaching, research and academic administration within the Faculty of Arts and the University.