Dr. Smart Odunayo Olugbeko
2nd Substantive Provost, Federal College of Education, Ilawe-Ekiti

Dr. Smart Odunayo Olugbeko is a distinguished academic, seasoned administrator, union leader, and transformative educationist whose career has significantly shaped teacher education in Nigeria. He currently serves as the 2nd Substantive Provost of the Federal College of Education, Ilawe-Ekiti.

Born on December 22, 1969, in Okitipupa, Ondo State, Nigeria, Dr. Olugbeko began his academic journey at C.A.C. Primary School, Okitipupa, and proceeded to Ofedepe Comprehensive High School, where he obtained his WAEC certificate in 1987.

He earned a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) in English and Education from Ondo State University (now Ekiti State University) in 1992. He further obtained a Master’s degree in Language Education (M.Ed., 1998) and a Master’s in Personnel Psychology (M.P.P., 2003) from the University of Ibadan.

His academic development also includes professional certifications in Computer Appreciation and Desktop Publishing, as well as international training from Johns Hopkins University (USA), the University of Utrecht (Netherlands), and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) from Staffordshire University, United Kingdom (2018). In 2025, he further strengthened his expertise with a Certificate in Artificial Intelligence and Education from the University of Kigali, Rwanda.

Dr. Olugbeko began his professional career as an Assistant Lecturer during his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) at St. Andrew’s College of Education, Oyo (1993–1994). He later worked in corporate and research roles before joining Adeyemi Federal University of Education, Ondo in 2001, where he rose to the rank of Chief Lecturer.

Prior to his appointment as Provost, Dr. Olugbeko was on strategic secondment to the Federal College of Education (Technical), Ekiadolor, Edo State, where he served in a senior academic capacity and contributed to institutional development and academic leadership.

Over the years, he has held key academic and administrative positions, including Head of Department, Dean of the School of Education, and various committee leadership roles. As Dean, he led institutional reforms such as the digitalization of teaching practice operations and infrastructural development initiatives.

At the national level, Dr. Olugbeko has contributed extensively to educational policy and governance. He serves on several federal committees, including the TETFund National Research Fund Committee and the JAMB National Monitoring Committee, and has functioned as a resource person for the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) on curriculum development and reform.

A prominent union leader, he rose through the ranks of the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), serving in various capacities and culminating in his tenure as National President (2021–2025). During his leadership, he championed landmark reforms in teacher education, including the advancement of the Dual Mandate policy, improved funding frameworks, and strengthened institutional capacity across Colleges of Education in Nigeria.

He is a prolific scholar with 58 peer-reviewed journal publications, alongside numerous conference papers and workshops. His research spans educational policy, digital learning, curriculum development, and educational psychology.

He is happily married and blessed with children.

Dr. Smart Odunayo Olugbeko stands as a visionary academic leader committed to institutional transformation, innovation in teacher education, and national educational development.