Prof. Is-haq Olarewaju Oloyede was born in October 1954. He hails from Abeokuta South Local Government Area of Ogun State. He had his Secondary Education from 1969-1973 at the Progressive Institute, Agege Lagos and Arabic Training Centre Agege, Lagos, (Markaz) from 1973-1976 and later to the University of Ibadan between 1976 and 1977 where he obtained a certificate in Arabic and Islamic Studies.
Being an already recognised young and budding Islamic scholar, he proceeded to Unilorin in 1978 : Just 3 years after University of Ilorin was founded and graduated as a first class student in Arabic in 1981. The following year he became an Assistant Lecturer in the same prestigious Unilorin in the department of religions. In the meanwhile, he studied hard further and obtained his Doctorate degree in Islamic Studies.
Prof. Oloyede earned several scholarships and prizes during his student days, notable among which were the Arab League prize for the best final year Certificate student in Arabic and Islamic Studies in 1977 at the University of Ibadan; Federal Government undergraduate merit award from 1979 to 1981; Department of Religions Award, University of Ilorin, 1981 and Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Award, Unilorin also in 1981.
While studying as an undergraduate, Alfa Oloyede was known to be a thorough and disciplined student with carefully followed principles. A major reason why he was endeared to his peers, colleagues as well as Lectuers and other staffs.
Prof. Oloyede, who had attended several training programmes across the nation, is also a member of many learned and professional societies. He is a fellow of the Islamic Academy of Cambridge, United Kingdom; Fellow, Academy of Entrepreneurship; Member, Nigerian Association of Teachers of Arabic and Islamic Studies (NATAIS); Member, Editorial Board, Centre for Islamic Legal Studies, ABU, Zaria, among, several others. Between 1995 and 1998, he was National President of the Unilorin Alumni Association, and was a two-time 1st and 2nd National Vice-President of the Association, in previous years.
Prof. Oloyede was elevated to professorial rank in 1995. He became Deputy Vice - Chancellor (Academic) on June 19, 2003 and Deputy Vice -Chancellor (Administration) on July 6, 2005.
Professor Is-haq Oloyede was the Vice-Chancellor, University of Ilorin, from October, 2007 and Chairman Committee of Vice-Chancellors (CVC) from 2011 to 2012. While in University of Ilorin, it is worthy of note that the school was regarded as the No 1 University in the whole of Nigeria more than once. Also, the name of Unilorin became associated with Discipline and Stability. Being a thorough person, the Dress Code of the University became more enforced and other programmes which ensured the safety, discipline and well groomed character of the students populace were put in place.
He also was the Vice Chancellor of the University when we hosted the West African University Games (WAUG) from March 27 to April 7 featuring about 80 Universities from 14 West African Countries. Prof. Oloyede also stabilize the use of Computer-Based-Test in Unilorin and a very stable and reliable Online Portal for Examination Results and passing of Information to the staffs and students.
While Cultism also reigned supreme in some other Universities, not once was there any report of such while Prof. Oloyede was Vice Chancellor of Unilorin.
Prof. Oloyede served as the board of many reputable university organisations. He was the Chairman, Committee of Directors of Academic planning in Nigerian Universities – 2002 to 2004. He was until his voluntary resignation in 2011 the President, Association of African Universities (a position he relinquished to pave way for another Nigerian-the former vice-chancellor of NOUN, Prof. Olugbenro Jegede)- to assume office as the CEO/Secretary General of the association. He served on the board of Association of commonwealth Universities (ACU), 2010 to 2012 and International Association of Universities (IAU), 2008 to 2012. He was the Executive Secretary and National Coordinator of the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) from 2007 to 2012 and currently the Secretary General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs. He is an International Advisory Board member of International Network for Higher Education in Africa (INHEA). He has authored and co-authored several articles in reputable local and international outlets. Prof. Oloyede is married