Bowen University has appointed Mrs Folasade Adebukola Olapade as its fifth substantive Bursar, capping a remarkable journey that began with her NYSC service at the institution.
The appointment was approved by the Governing Council at its 122nd meeting held on Thursday, May 21, 2026.
In 2010, Olapade came to Bowen University as a Youth Corps member, posted to the Internal Audit Unit.
She served with excellence and was retained afterwards, joining the university as an Internal Auditor II in 2012.
From there, she rose steadily through the ranks, serving as Senior Internal Auditor, Principal Internal Auditor, and later Chief Internal Auditor in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor.
Prior to her appointment as Bursar, she served as Deputy Director of Internal Audit, a position she held from March 2024.
Over the years, Olapade built broad expertise in university financial administration, including budget monitoring, treasury operations, student revenue auditing, payroll administration, cash management and financial reporting.
She has served on the Finance Committee, Management Committees, the Management Tenders Board, and the committee that developed Bowen University’s Financial Guidelines.
Olapade holds a National Diploma in Accountancy from the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, and a First Class degree in Accounting from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, where she also received the Shell Nigeria University Scholarship Award.
She is an Associate Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and has attended several professional training programmes in auditing, risk assurance and financial systems.
Her career has also included international engagements, including a visit to the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, in April 2026, and an earlier invitation to the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics in Trieste, Italy, in February 2025.
Beyond her professional role, Olapade has served as Treasurer of the Bowen University Staff Cooperative Investment and Credit Society, a member of the Management Board of Bowen University International School, and a mentor at the Bowen Mentorship Bootcamp.
Bowen University said her appointment is expected to strengthen the institution’s financial governance, accountability and strategic financial sustainability.
The university community has described her journey as a reminder that where a person starts does not have to determine where they end.
According to the institution, Olapade’s story encourages every young Bowenite and aspiring professional to dare to dream, dare to start, dare to grow and dare to become.
Bowen University has congratulated Mrs Folasade Adebukola Olapade on her appointment as the fifth substantive Bursar of the institution.
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