LAUTECH appoints acting Vice-Chancellor; The Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Oyo State, has appointed Professor Razaq Olatunde Rom Kalilu as the new Acting Vice-Chancellor of the institution for a period of six months. Prof. Kalilu, a renowned scholar in Art and Art History, joined LAUTECH on September 1, 1992, and has been a Professor of Arts and Art History in the Department of Fine and Applied Arts, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, for the past twenty-four years since October 1, 1999. His appointment as Acting Vice-Chancellor will be effective from June 12, 2023.
Having received his education from the esteemed University of Ife and the University of Ibadan, Prof. Kalilu is a polymath and an expert in Form and Material Technology, with a specialization in Painting, Digital, and Electronic Art.
Throughout his career, Prof. Kalilu has demonstrated a strong commitment to academic development. He has worked in various educational systems, including advertising, primary, secondary, college of education, and polytechnic education, before joining LAUTECH in 1992. As a prolific scholar, he has achieved groundbreaking accomplishments.
He authored two influential books, one of which addressed campus cultism and inspired anti-cultism activities among Nigerian students in the late 1990s. Prof. Kalilu introduced innovative approaches that transformed art practice and scholarship in Nigeria.
He was instrumental in establishing Nigeria’s first B.Tech degree program in Fine and Applied Arts in 1992 and developed the country’s first curricula for postgraduate diploma, Master, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in studio arts. He also pioneered the inclusion of Digital Art in Nigeria’s tertiary education curriculum and made significant contributions to Form and Material Technology in Fine Art.
One notable achievement by Prof. Kalilu is the training of Nigeria’s first hearing-impaired Art Historian in 2004. Additionally, he has supervised several groundbreaking academic works, including Nigeria’s first M.Tech degrees in Drawing (2011) and Communication Design (2015), Nigeria’s first PhDs in Environmental and Industrial Sculpture (2012) and Ceramics and Glass (2015), the world’s first PhD in Form and Material Technology in Fine Art (2014), and Nigeria’s first Military Artist with a Ph.D. degree (2017).
In terms of administration, Prof. Kalilu has held various leadership positions within LAUTECH, including Vice President of the Fine Arts Students Association, Branch and Zonal Chairman of SSATHURAI, Head of Department, Dean of Faculty, Chairman of the Committee of Deans, Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Provosts, and Deputy Vice-Chancellor.
Prof. Rom Kalilu is widely recognized internationally, having been consistently invited to participate in the QS World University Rankings and the Times Higher Education University Rankings over the past seven years.
He has received numerous prestigious international prizes and awards, such as the Gold Medal in the 1978-1979 All-Africa Painting Contest, Elected Membership of the New York Academy of Sciences, The National Arts Wizard Award for Distinguished Scholarship in Art History in 1997, Merit Prize in an International Postage Stamp Design Contest in 1997, Outstanding People of the 20th Century Outstanding Achievement Medal in 2000, Twentieth Century Achievement Award in 2000, selection as one of the 1000 Leaders of World Influence for the 21st century in 2000, the distinguished and exceptional Universal Award of Accomplishment in 2000, Development in Nigeria Merit Award in 2006, and Form and Material Technology Icon award in 2009.
Prof. Rom Kalilu is a Fellow of the Society of Nigerian Artists and a member of several organizations, including the International Association of Astronomical Artists. He is happily married and blessed with children.
