South African Varsity Appoints Oyo-born Seun Kolade As Visiting Professor

By Remi Adebayo

United Kingdom-based development scholar, Professor Seun Kolade, has been appointed as a visiting professor at the Gordon Institute of Business Science

(GIBS Business School) of the University of Pretoria in South Africa. 

Professor Kolade, a development expert, is currently a professor of Entrepreneurship and Digital Transformation at the Sheffield Business School in the Sheffield Hallam University, United Kingdom. 

He previously held research and teaching positions at De Montfort University, Loughborough University, University of Wolverhampton, and London South Bank University.

"I am pleased to share that I have been appointed Visiting Professor at the GIBS Business School (Gordon Institute of Business Science), the triple-accredited business school of the University of Pretoria, South Africa," the renowned scholar announced on his Facebook page on Tuesday.

Speaking on the new role, Kolade wrote, "I look forward to working with colleagues at GIBS, the University of Pretoria, and other partner institutions to develop high-impact research, support doctoral and early-career researchers, pursue collaborative funding opportunities, and contribute to knowledge exchange that informs both policy and practice."

He also noted that GIBS has established an outstanding reputation for research, executive education, and engagement with business and society. 

"I welcome the opportunity to contribute to its vibrant academic community while helping to deepen links between our institutions," he stated.

Kolade's research activities cover the broad areas of digital transformation, transformative entrepreneuring, social and spiritual capital, refugee entrepreneurship, and SME strategies in turbulent environments. 

He is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA), a Certified Management and Business Educator (CMBE), and a recognised agile leader, holding the industry-leading PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) certification. 

The renowned researcher is Associate Editor of Technology Analysis and Strategic Management (ABS2*) and Canadian Journal of Administrative Sciences (ABS 2*). 

The Oyo-born scholar is the lead author of Generative AI in Research: Applications in Research Design, Data Analysis, and Feedback (2026, Palgrave Macmillan).

He recently unveiled Amòye, a research intelligence platform that integrates scattered artefacts, output and data into insight for researchers, teams and institutions.

Professor Kolade has authored more than 120 academic outputs, including 40+journal articles, nine books, and 70+ book chapters and conference papers. 

He is also a recognised agile leader, holding the industry-leading PMP and PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) certifications. 

The founding Chairman of the Oyo Global Forum (OGF) is also a consultant for the British Council and a member of the United Nations’ expert group on operationalisation of social capital in situations of forced displacement- a group set up in 2018 by the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). 

As a prolific writer, Prof Kolade has intervened in crucial national development and policy issues as a columnist, and he currently authors 'Wheels of Reason', a weekly column he writes in the Nigerian Tribune.