LASU: Ibiyemi becomes the VC after acting for 10 months
By Racheal Oyelola
The appointment of Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello as the 9th substantive Vice-Chancellor of the Lagos State University (LASU) was the climax of a 10-month journey that included the cancellation of two exercises.
On January 11, 2021, the tenure of Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun elapsed. The Professor of Environmental Law and ex-Director of Research, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, University of Lagos (UNILAG) was appointed by ex-Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode.
Days before Fagbohun left office, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu cancelled the process to select his replacement and ordered that a fresh one be completed within 45 days.
The directive of the Visitor to the University followed stakeholders’ engagement, petitions and investigation of irregularities.
The governor asked Fagbohun to convene an emergency Senate meeting for the selection of the Deputy Vice Chancellors, who is not a candidate in the cancelled process, as Acting Vice Chancellor.
The Senate was also asked to choose, among its members, a pro tem chairman to preside over the Acting VC selection.
Again, in May, Sanwo-Olu, on the advise of the Special Visitation Panel, fired the Governing Council and the Pro-Chancellor/Council Chairman.
The governor cited flagrant violations of extant laws, breach of due process, and disregard for criteria guiding the nomination exercise.
The reconstituted council was given the task of interviewing a new VC. Members of the sacked Council and the Senate Committee who participated in the two failed exercises were exempted.
Similarly, the Registrar and Council Secretary were directed to proceed on leave until the end of the appointment process.
Finally on Thursday, September 16, Prof. Olatunji-Bello was named for the position.
Gbenga Omotoso, Information Commissioner said Sanwo-Olu appointed her based on the recommendation of the Joint Committee of Council and Senate in accordance with the LASU Law, Cap 169 Vol 7, Laws of Lagos State.
The names of Olatunji-Bello and other candidates, Prof. Omotayo Awofolu and Prof. Senapon Bakare, were submitted for the position in order of ranking respectively.
Olatunji-Bello became the First Professor of Physiology in LASU College of Medicine on October 2, 2007 after rising from Assistant Lecturer (1988 to 1991) to Associate Professor in 2005 at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba.
In 2012, Olatunji-Bello attended Course 34 of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Kuru, Nigeria’s highest policy advisory body, as a nominee of the National Universities Commission (NUC).
She holds a Fellowship Award of the Physiological Society of Nigeria and was appointed a Fellow of the Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Mitigation in 2019.
The new LASU VC is the wife of former Secretary to the State Government and current Commissioner for Environment, Tunji Bello.
