Adventist University of Africa Appoints New Vice-Chancellor, Other Leaders

The Adventist University of Africa (AUA), located in Nairobi, Kenya, is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Stephen Ademola Tayo as its new vice-chancellor, effective January 1, 2026, following the approval of the University Council on November 11, 2025.

Professor Tayo, a seasoned academician and respected administrator, currently serves as the president/vice-chancellor of Babcock University, Nigeria. He brings to AUA a wealth of experience in higher education, leadership, research, and mission-driven academic service. His career has been marked by excellence, innovation, and a deep commitment to Adventist values and education.

This appointment follows a rigorous international search process conducted by the AUA Vice-Chancellor Search Committee under the guidance of the AUA Governance Committee and in consultation with the executive officers of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

As Professor Tayo prepares to assume office, we express deep appreciation to Vincent R. Injety, the outgoing vice-chancellor, for his remarkable leadership and dedicated service to AUA. His legacy of spiritual leadership, institutional advancement, and academic excellence has laid a strong foundation for continued growth.

We invite the global Adventist family—church members, educators, students, and stakeholders—to pray for Professor Tayo and the entire AUA community as the University continues to fulfill its mission: to develop and equip leaders for service to the church and society. May the Lord continue to bless the Adventist University of Africa as a beacon of light and knowledge in the service of Christ and His mission.

Robert Osei-Bonsu, chair, AUA Council, and general vice president, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

About Adventist University of Africa

The Adventist University of Africa (AUA) was founded in 2006 and is one of four institutions supported directly by the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. It prepares church leadership and professors to further the mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church on the continent of Africa.

AUA offers degrees only at the postgraduate level (master’s and doctoral education) in such areas as theology, religion, ministry, leadership, public health, business, and applied computer science, among others.

A native of Nigeria, Tayo is the fourth vice-chancellor in the institution’s history. The founding vice-chancellor was Brempong Owosu-Antwi, followed by Delbert Baker, and, most recently, Vincent Injety.

Tayo has been the vice-chancellor/president of Babcock University in Nigeria for the past 10 years. “During his tenure,” said GC Education Department director Lisa Beardsley-Hardy, “Professor Tayo consolidated growth, which includes a law and medical school, and eliminated institutional debt, all the while steering a steady course toward fulfilling Seventh-day Adventist mission. His wife, Grace Tayo, has contributed to that success through her own academic contributions and commitment to mission. Professor Ademola Tayo brings extensive experience, humility, and a pastor’s heart to his leadership role at the Adventist University of Africa.”

Together with Tayo, the Adventist University of Africa Council appointed Moses Kiribango as the incoming AUA deputy vice-chancellor for academic administration, and Sheron Ndlovu as the incoming AUA deputy vice-chancellor for financial administration.