Her appointment was confirmed as the University’s sixth substantive Registrar by the Governing Council at its emergency meeting held in Akungba Akoko on Monday, March 16, 2026. The appointment, which carries a tenure of five years, takes effect from Wednesday, April 1, 2026.
An astute administrator, Dr. Babalola attended Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State, where she emerged as the best graduating student in the Faculty of Law, with a Second-Class Upper Division in 1999. She thereafter proceeded to the prestigious Nigerian Law School in Abuja and was called to the Bar in 2001. In addition to a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State in 2009, the new Registrar also holds a Master of Laws (LLM) and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Law from the same university in 2018 and 2024 respectively.
Dr. Babalola, the immediate past Deputy Registrar (Academic Affairs Division), brings to the role a wealth of experience spanning decades in university administration.
She joined the services of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, as a Senior Assistant Registrar and Head of the Legal Unit in 2009. Her career in university administration later continued as Acting Development Officer (Endowment), Principal Assistant Registrar (Vice Chancellor’s Office), Principal Assistant Registrar and Head of Academic Staff Establishment (Personnel Division), Deputy Registrar and Head of Division (Council Affairs), before she became Deputy Registrar and Head of Division (Academic Affairs).
The new Registrar has on several occasions served as a member or secretary of numerous university committees. She has also been a part-time lecturer since 2019, and has attended and presented papers at many seminars and conferences around the world, including in the United Kingdom and South Africa.
A refined administrator, she has published in notable academic journals and is the author of three forthcoming books on education law, focusing on university leadership, ethical governance, and transformative registry practice.
Dr. Babalola is a member of several professional organisations, including: Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Corporate Administrators (FCIA); Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Public Management of Nigeria (FCIPM); Fellow of the Institute of Policy Management and Leadership Development (IPMLD); Associate of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM); Member of the Association of University Administrators (AHEP), United Kingdom; Member of the Society for Peace Studies and Practice; Member of the Association of Nigerian Universities Professional Administrators (ANUPA); Chaplain General of the International Institute of Chaplaincy; Member of the Federation of Female Lawyers (FIDA); Alumna of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies; Life Member of Legal Temple Nigeria; and Life Member of the Bible Society of Nigeria, among others.
She has attended and presented papers at academic conferences and leadership platforms at top global universities both within and outside Nigeria, including at Durban University of Technology (South Africa), and at Stratford University, the University of Manchester, Nottingham Trent University, Durham University, the University of Cambridge, and the University of Oxford (all in the United Kingdom), to name a few. She has also been a recipient of TETFund grants for conferences and seminars on more than one occasion.
Her efficient service delivery has earned her several awards and commendations, including: the Senate’s Commendation for prompt communication of Senate decisions (2023); the Senate’s Commendation for flawless minutes (2021); the Governing Council’s Commendation for near‑flawless minutes (2019); the Vice Chancellor’s Commendation for Outstanding Performance (2018); the Vice Chancellor’s Appreciation for prompt completion of an assignment (2010); and a Commendation Award from the Ogun State University Law Students’ Association (1996).
She has also received the Nester Award for Excellence from the Faculty of Law, Ogun State University (1996); the award for Best Final Year Student, Faculty of Law (1999); the award for Best Graduating Student in Law of Banking and Insurance (1999); Legal Personality of the Year from Legal Temple Nigeria (2013); and an Award of Achievement from the Women’s Studies and Development Centre, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (2021), among others.
The new Registrar takes over from Dr. Olugbenga Arajulu, whose tenure ended on Wednesday, April 1, 2026.
Signed:
Victor A. Akinpelumi
Deputy Registrar,
Information, Protocol and Public Relations Unit /
Head, Radio AAUA 90.3FM
Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko,
Ondo State, Nigeria