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Isa Umar, Abuja

Professor Jacinta A. Opara has been sworn-in as the first female vice chancellor of the Dominican University, Ibadan-Nigeria. 

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The inauguration which was held at the Tom and Carolyn Walker Hall, Dominican University, Ibadan-Nigeria, on Monday, July 1, 2024, amid cheers and high hopes, saw Okpara take over from Prof. Anthony Akinwale as vice chancellor. 

Setting her targets in an 8-page inaugural address titled “Our Future Is Bright: The Sky is Our Limit” immediately after the oath of office was administered on her by the university registrar, the new VC noted that “It is a great privilege and honour for me to address you on my emergence as the 2nd Vice-Chancellor and first female Vice-Chancellor of this university. This is clearly by the special grace of God and to Him be all the glory”.

She explained that the intention of her administration will be “to exceed the horizon of existing academic programmes, with ability to integrate knowledge, professional skills and intellectual competencies as well as resource management in a co-ordinated program or vision to providing a holistic strategic direction to the Institution by displaying resilience, championing intellectual skills, building critical thinking and constructive reasoning, resourcefulness, responsibility, accountability, transparency and above all integrity and excellence at the University with a view to alleviate dysfunctionalism in intellectual and development management”.

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Continuing, Opara said she hoped to achieve her vision through a 5- point agenda. 

“As a scholar and administrator with an in-depth knowledge, experience and understanding of the private higher education sector in Africa is aimed at making DUI, a World class university and Centre of Excellence. 

“To equip it well in the modern competitive environment and spearhead its strategic growth towards the provision of quality education, research and community engagement based on a 5- point agenda: Excellence in Learning; Excellence in Teaching; Excellence in Research; Excellence in Innovation; Excellence in Industrialization and Commercialization”. 

Pacesetter correspondent who monitored the inauguration reports that in their separate remarks, the chancellor of the institution, Very Rev’d Modestus Ngwu, and the Chairman, Board of Trustees, Chief Anthony Idigbe (SAN), promised their support and that of the institution to the new vice chancellor while challenging her to raise the bar of leadership.

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Speaking on the topic: “The Burden of Leadership in Driving University Vision and Mission”, Prof. Idowu Olayinka, Guest Lecturer and former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, emphasised the need for concerted efforts to achieve greatness.

“The Vice Chancellor is not expected to be a ‘magician’ who will always make things happen, but with the cooperation of all, a lot can be achieved,” Olayinka said. 

Expressing his confidence in her, Prof. Shobana Nelasco, an Economist, wished her success in making the university excel in all areas.

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“Based on our extensive academic collaborations, I can attest to Prof. Jacinta Opara’s dedication and hard work. I am confident that she will support and fulfill all the academic aspirations of all students and staff at the university, propelling the university to new heights. I am always astonished by all her academic accomplishments, publications, awards and fellowships”, Nelasco noted.

The Dominican University Ibadan (DUI) formerly known as Dominican Institute is the first university of the Order of Preachers on the African continent. Popularly called the Dominican Order, the Order of Preachers was founded by Spanish priest Dominic de Guzman in 1216 with the approval of Pope Innocent III. In her more than 800 years of existence, the Order has been actively involved in university education around the world.

In 1993. the Dominican Institute became an affiliate school of the University of Ibadan. The DUI was granted license by Federal Government of Nigeria on November 22, 2016. That date marked the birth of the first university of the Order of Preachers in Africa. The university is accredited and recognized by National Universities Commission.