The Permanent Chairman of the Southern Nigeria Traditional Rulers Council and Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has been appointed as the Chancellor of Kashim Ibrahim University in Maiduguri, Borno State. The institution was formerly known as Borno State University.
The appointment letter was formally presented to the monarch on Tuesday at his Ile Oodua Palace in Ile-Ife by the Secretary to the Borno State Government, Malam Bukar Tijani, who led a high-level delegation on behalf of the Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum.
Members of the delegation included the Vice-Chancellor of Kashim Ibrahim University, Prof. Babagana Guti, as well as other senior government officials.
Speaking during the presentation, Tijani conveyed the governor’s warm greetings to the Ooni, describing the moment as historic and highly symbolic. He explained that Governor Zulum would have personally delivered the appointment letter but was unavoidably absent due to pressing state engagements.
Tijani described the Ooni as one of the most influential and widely respected traditional rulers in Nigeria and across Africa, while highlighting the long-standing historical relationship between the ancient Ife Kingdom and the Kanem-Borno Empire.
He noted that Ile-Ife remains one of Africa’s oldest kingdoms, just as Kanem-Borno stands as one of the continent’s most enduring empires, adding that the visit symbolised respect for shared history, ancestry, and the enduring influence of the Odùduwà heritage across Africa and the diaspora.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babagana Guti, praised the appointment, describing the Ooni as a strong proponent of education, peace, and national unity. He expressed confidence that the monarch’s leadership and experience would significantly enhance the university’s growth and international profile.
In his acceptance remarks, the Ooni expressed deep appreciation to Governor Zulum for the honour and commended his leadership and developmental achievements in Borno State.
He assured the state government and the university community of his commitment to advancing the institution, noting his passion for education and experience in academic leadership, including founding a university and serving as Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
The Ooni also reflected on the historical and cultural bonds between the Yoruba people and the Kanem-Borno Empire, describing the appointment as symbolic and deeply personal, adding that it felt like a return home due to the long-standing ancestral connections between both peoples.
