Professor ABIODUN ADEBAYO

Professor Abiodun H. Adebayo is the current and the 7th Vice-Chancellor of Covenant
University. He obtained a B.Sc (Honours) degree in Biochemistry from the University of
Calabar in 2000. He later proceeded to the University of Jos in 2003 and was awarded an
M.Sc degree in Biochemistry (Distinction grade) in 2005.
Professor Adebayo, who joined the services of Covenant University in 2005, was awarded a
PhD degree in Biochemistry by the University in 2009. He undertook a postdoctoral study at
the Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2012-2013. He specialized in
Plant Biochemistry and has been actively involved in the sustainable use of indigenous
medicinal plants with some collaborations with local and international industries.
His main research focus is on phytochemical, biochemical and toxicity studies of medicinal
plants. His research on medicinal plants involves the purification, isolation and
characterization of active compounds from plants; these compounds are in turn screened for
anticancer, antiviral, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Professor Adebayo is also
involved in the safety evaluation of locally used medicinal plants using biochemical,
haematological and histopathological indices of toxicity.
Professor Adebayo, who is a recipient of the prestigious Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)
and the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (TWAS) Fellowship awards, has
published in reputable local and international journals. His astuteness has earned him
Covenant University High Impact Journal publication awards for the years 2010, 2011 and
2012. He also won research equipment grant worth $25, 000 from the Ministry of Science
and Technology, China and a Phytochemistry Laboratory has been set up which is fully
functional. His research group won the 2014 TWAS Research grant of about $60, 000 USD
for carrying out a study on the “Preclinical evaluation of novel computational-aided designed
compounds as antimalarial drug candidates”. The fund also made provision for the award of
scholarship to MSc Students.

Professor Adebayo reviews for some high impact journals and also listed on the editorial
board of some international journals. He is a grant reviewer with international organizations,
such as the Medical Research Council, UK. He is a fellow of the Nigerian Young Academy
(NYA) and a Sectional Editor of Annals of Science and Technology, the Academy’s official
journal. He has won several travel grants and awards.
Professor Adebayo’s biography is listed and published in the 30th edition of Marquis Who’s
Who in the World in the United States. He is a member of some national and international
learned societies. He had served in different University Committees and Boards at different
times.
Professor Adebayo was the former Deputy Chaplain of the University and Chaired the
Community Development Impact Initiative Committee for four years. He was also the Chair
of the Covenant University Farm Board for almost five years. Professor Adebayo rose
through the academic ranks and was appointed a Full Professor of Biochemistry on January
1st, 2018. He was appointed into the office of the Sub-Dean, School of Postgraduate
Studies for two years and was later appointed as the Dean of the School of Postgraduate
Studies, the position he held until his appointment as Vice-Chancellor.
He is a member of the accreditation panel of the National Universities Commission (NUC)
where he visited and accredited Biochemistry programme in some Private, State and
Federal Universities in Nigeria. He is also on the NUC Resource Verification Team for
Postgraduate Programme in Biochemistry. He has supervised and graduated bachelor,
masters and doctoral students in Biochemistry. He had participated in the assessment of
faculty members into Professorial Chair as an external assessor to some Universities.
Professor Adebayo had also served as an external examiner to some Universities in Nigeria.
He is an ordained Pastor at the Living Faith Church (Faith Tabernacle), Canaanland, Ota. He
is happily married with children.