All is now set for the 45th Inaugural Lecture of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, as Professor Mary Banke Omoniyi, a distinguished scholar in Guidance and Counselling, prepares to deliver a thought-provoking lecture titled “Sentenced by Anatomy: The Dilemma of the Nigerian Woman.”
The lecture is scheduled for Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at the University Multipurpose Hall. The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, will preside over the event as Chairman. According to a statement by the Chairman of the University Ceremonies Committee and Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Adebisi Daramola, the event will commence at 2:00 p.m., with guests expected to be seated by 1:30 p.m.
Prof. Omoniyi began her academic journey with a B.Sc. in Microbiology from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, in 1981.
She later earned a Postgraduate Diploma in Education and a Master’s degree in Guidance and Counselling from the University of Benin in 1989 and 1993, respectively. Her academic pursuit culminated in a Ph.D. in Guidance and Counselling from the former Ondo State University, Ado-Ekiti (now Ekiti State University) in 2001.
Joining AAUA in 2004 as a Lecturer II, Prof. Omoniyi has risen steadily through the academic ranks, attaining the rank of Professor in 2017. Her contributions to the university have been both extensive and impactful, having served in over 70 academic and administrative roles.
These include Acting Director of the Students’ Work Study Scheme, Head of the Department of Guidance and Counselling, and Dean of the Faculty of Education.
A widely travelled academic, Prof. Omoniyi has participated in more than 40 academic conferences—both local and international, in countries such as the Benin Republic, the United Kingdom, Germany, Portugal, and Canada.
Her scholarly output includes a published book and over 50 research articles in reputable journals.
She has also mentored and supervised numerous undergraduate and postgraduate students, including six master’s and three doctoral candidates.
Prof. Omoniyi is a member of several professional organisations, including the Ondo State Counselling Association of Nigeria, the Forum for African Women Educationists (FAWE), the Counselling Association of Nigeria, and the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria.
She also holds memberships in international bodies such as the American Psychological Association, the Professional Women Biographical Institute, and the Strategic Institute for Natural Resources and Human Development.
