Professor Aize Obayan

Professor Aize Obayan is an internationally acclaimed scholar who seeks to move Covenant University in the direction of taking strides into the league of world-class Universities. Her commitment to forging powerful partnerships in realising the compelling vision of rising a new generation of leaders, together with the team at Covenant University has given impetus to her drive for excellence at the cutting edge of learning. She is responsible for ensuring that the delivery of the academic curriculum is qualitative and value-driven from a Total Man Concept and Entrepreneurial Development base.

She has won numerous awards among which are Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE)/SHELL Distinguished Education and Mentorship Award November 2005; National Universities Commission, Best Vice-Chancellor 2005: National Association of Women Academics Special award 2006. On 30th of March 2007, she received an Award in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the growth and progress of the Institute of Strategic Management, Nigeria. Also, on the 20th of November 2007, Nigerian Institute of Management honoured her with an award for her contributions towards the success of her 2007 National Conference. She was honoured with a special award for her meritorious service as a member of Board of National Universities Commission (NUC) October 2005-November 2007. Distinguished Diamond Award from the Alumni Association of University of Nigeria, Nsukka (May 2011). She also received a Leadership Award in Enhancing ICT and Research Excellence in Higher Education in March 2011 from the Southern University A & M College and a Special Award from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) for her contributions towards Training and Professional Support for Accountants (May 2011).

Furthermore, she has presented keynote addresses in various Conferences/Seminar both International and National among them are: the Minnesota State University; the ACU supported international seminar preceding the year 2006 ANUPA Annual conference, November 21st, 2006 where she delivered a paper titled “ Transforming the African University: emerging Leadership Paradigms and Pathways”. She was a speaker at Nigerian Institute of Management second annual national Women-in-Management Conference (11th May, 2006) where she presented a paper titled “Emotional Intelligence as a Critical Factor in Leadership Success”. Also, she was a special guest speaker at 2006/2007 Annual General Conference of the Institute of Strategic Management, Nigeria that held on 30th March, 2007 and she presented a paper on “Strategies for Good Governance”. She was one of the resource persons at the Nigerian Institute of Management, International Management Conference that held between 19thand 20th November 2007 where she delivered a lecture titled “Managing the Success of Yesterday for a Greater Tomorrow”. As part of her commitment to interaction and collaboration, she participated in the Stakeholder's Forum of the 16th Commonwealth Ministers' Conference, Cape Town, South Africa, December 2006. 

Also, she was a special guest speaker at 2006/2007 Annual General Conference of the Institute of Strategic Management, Nigeria that held on 30th March, 2007 and she presented a paper on “Strategies for Good Governance”. She was a keynote speaker at a national workshop on Strengthening Advocacy for Use of Alternative Sources of Energy for Sustainable Development by Women in Leadership Positions organized by the Energy Commission, Abuja October 2009. She also presented a paper titled New Models of Funding Private Universities at the Plenary Session, 25th Conference of the Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (AVCNU), Osogbo April 2010. She served as a Panelist on the topic Governance and Management: Supporting Institutional Capacity for Change at the 2010 European Union-Africa Summit Side Event on the Nyerere Programme and Higher Education Cooperation in Africa which held in Cape Town, November 2010. She made a presentation on the topic: The Role of Nigerian Universities in Bridging the Digital Divide at an International workshop on Innovative Design Approaches to Sustainable Buildings organized by the National Universities Commission (NUC), Abuja in conjunction with George Mason University, USA held between November 29 and December 2, 2010 in Abuja.

She has also served as a member of the Central Bank of Nigeria FSS 2020 Human Capital Development Committee and currently a Member of the Council of Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM).

As Vice Chancellor, Professor Obayan has been privileged to work with the Chancellor and Visioner of Covenant University, Dr. David Oyedepo, a man with an unwavering commitment to excellence and restoration of the dignity of the black man who continues to serve as the main inspiration of the Covenant University dream.  She shares with the Chancellor the belief that Covenant University is just at the beginning of its quest for the ultimate prize – its establishment as a world class University producing graduates and researchers who will be leaders in their fields of endeavour.