Professor Atayero replaces Professor Charles Ayo, whose tenure elapsed last month.

Speaking on how the Board of Regents arrived on its choice of Professor Atayero, Pastor Okwuanyi said the Board, at a recent meeting to consider a number of eminent professors from Covenant University, decided to limit the choice to the products of the university in order to allow for continuity; somebody who has been in the system who knows where Professor Ayo stopped, and start building from that foundation.

The announcement was greeted with a thunderous applause from the audience including Professor Ayo, who described the day as symbolic in the annals of history of the university. It would have been disheartening, he said, if the university had to look elsewhere to pick his successor.

He acknowledged the contributions of all present, while expressing satisfaction that he has bequeathed a university where faculty, staff and students can walk with their heads held high across the continent of Africa.

“I congratulate the incoming Vice-Chancellor. Actually, we started the journey together… I therefore have no doubt whatsoever that Professor Atayero will be able to move the university forward at a faster rate having been part and parcel of the Vision,” said Professor Ayo.

He subsequently presented his handover note titled, ‘On the Wings of a Prophetic Verdict: Vision 10:2022’ to Professor Atayero, and prayed that God will give the new Vice-Chancellor the wisdom and the grace to take the university to a greater height.

Professor Atayero, in his acceptance speech, thanked the Board of Regents for the confidence reposed in him to carry the mantle of leadership of the institution from where Professor Ayo stopped.

While acknowledging that the task before him is not an easy one, the Vice-Chancellor is optimistic that victory would be achieved.

“When I was made the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), when I was writing my acceptance letter then, one of the things I noted was I’m fully persuaded that this can only be done exclusively by the leading of the Holy Spirit. It is pleasing that I’m currently on the mountain, and one of the scriptures I read on the mountain is Romans 9:28: ‘For He will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth’.

“I am convinced that victory would be achieved even before the last lap as set by our indefatigable Chancellor. Another good reason is that we are standing on a very sound foundation. It is only a privilege for us and the team coming in to be able to carry this mantle forward and we make bold to say that by His grace we shall not disappoint.”

Curtains were drawn on the unveiling ceremony with Pastor Okwuanyi asking all present to pray that God gives Professor Atayero the grace to accomplish the task before him.

Professor Atayero and Professor Ayo later met in the Vice-Chancellor’s Office at the Senate Building, where members of staff led by the Director, Vice-Chancellor’s Office, Dr. Akan Williams, were introduced to the new helmsman.

Atayero, a professor of Communication Engineering at Covenant University, who was the pioneer Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) of the institution, had also served as Coordinator School of Engineering, and twice as Head of Department of Electrical and Information Engineering of the university. He joined the faculty of Covenant University as a pioneer faculty in 2002.

Professor Atayero has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Radio Engineering and a Master of Science Degree in Satellite Communication Systems in 1992 and 1994 respectively from the Moscow Institute of Technology, Moscow, Russian Federation. He earned his Ph.D from the Moscow State Technical University of Civil Aviation (MSTUCA) in 2000.

Atayero is a member of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) and other professional bodies.

He has a number of scientific papers in reputable International peer-reviewed journals and proceedings to his credit. He is on the editorial board of the Covenant Journal of Science and Technology and of several other International Journals.

The new Vice-Chancellor is a recipient of various awards and scholarships including the ‘2009 Ford Foundation Teaching Innovation Award’. His current research interests are in various aspects of Communication Engineering, including (but not limited to): Wireless Sensor Networks, Wireless (Mobile) Communications, Internet of Things (IoT), Smart Cities.

He was until his appointment Head, Covenant University Internet of Things-Enabled Smart and Connected Communities (SmartCU) Cluster.

Professor Atayero is happily married and the marriage is blessed with three children.