The Governing Council of the Federal University, Lokoja, Kogi State, has approved the appointment of Professor Gbenga Ibileye as the institution’s fourth substantive Vice-Chancellor.
Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Professor Zubairu Abdullahi, announced the appointment on Tuesday.
“Professor Ibileye emerged tops, first out of the best three candidates,” he said.
Ibileye’s appointment follows the expiration of the five-year single term of Professor Olayemi Akinwumi, who will bow out in February 2026.
Born on June 7, 1966, in Kogi State, Professor Ibileye is a renowned scholar with extensive experience in academia and leadership.
He holds a PhD in English Language from Ahmadu Bello University, obtained in 2002, and has served as Professor and Provost of the College of Postgraduate Studies at Federal University Lokoja since 2012.
The professor has also held various leadership positions, including Acting Vice-Chancellor of the university, Chairman of the Strategic Planning Committee, and Pioneer Director of General Studies.
His research expertise includes Discourse Analysis, Pragmatics, Legal Linguistics, Forensic Linguistics, and Applied Linguistics, with a specialisation in Political Discourse, Media Analysis, Constitutional Language, and Communication in Leadership.
Professor Ibileye has published numerous articles and books, including Current Trends in Discourse Analysis and English Teacher’s Guide Series 1-6.
Throughout his career, he has received several awards and recognitions, including the Distinguished Pragmatician Award (2025), Noble Prize for Education (2024), and Hall of Fame Induction (2023).
