The reinstatement of Professor Oluwatoyin Temitayo Ogundipe as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) after clusters of contest raised to question his academic and administrative dexterity, speaks to the standing posture of his formidable capacity. It would be recalled that Professor Ogundipe was controversially removed as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos by the University’s governing council, following accusations of financial impropriety and gross misconduct. He was however reinstated by President Muhammadu Buhari based on the recommendation of an investigative panel which established that the removal was done against due process. The Don was appointed as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos in November 2017 having emerged highest in an interview where he surpassed two other contestants to the post. Until his appointment in November 2017, he was the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos.
Academic Profile
The Don is a Professor of Botany in the Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, University of Lagos. He holds a Ph.D. Botany (Ife) and MBA (Unilag). Professor Ogundipe has attended training at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, University of Reading, U.K., University of Cambridge, U.K.; University of Johannesburg, S.A.; Harvard University, U.S.A. and Kunming Institute of Botany, China. His area of research includes, but not limited to Molecular Plant Taxonomy/Biosystematics, Forensic Botany, Cytogenetics, Ethnobotany, Paleobotany and Ecological conservation. He attended the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) where he obtained a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Botany. He holds a master’s degree in botany from the University of Ife and doctorate degree (Ph.D.) from the same university. Thereafter, he obtained a master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Lagos and bagged a certificate of attendance from University of Reading in 1998.
He has over ninety publications (90) in accredited academic journals and has co-authored eight (8) books. His research output so far has been chiefly in the areas of Molecular Plant Systematics, updating the taxonomy of some plant genera and using the anatomical features in the identification of sterile and fragmentary plant specimens. His publications show that he has been engaged in the recording of the general anatomy of plant species and assembling anatomical features, which may be used along with other features for enhancing taxonomic knowledge of the plant and establishing an identification system for some of these plant species. He has also been involved in exploration and testing of herbal drugs for their medicinal and antimicrobial properties. Also, some of his publications have shown the use of pollen and spores as sources of honeybees, in control of allergies and in determination of climate change and changes in land cover over the years. Furthermore, he has been able to show the genetic diversity and relationships between different plant taxa, as well as assess phylogenetic relationship among plant populations using molecular techniques. He is currently involved in the Molecular Study of Arid Plants, Orchids in Nigeria, Acha plants, allergic studies etc. His Publications have been very relevant in botanical research with 370 citations from 2009 till date.
He is a mentor, team player and a very innovative individual. Some of his innovations include but not limited to the following:
Development of Nigeria’s local and technical capability for an efficient production of high-grade activated carbon (in collaboration with Boyo, H. O., Inegbenebor A. O., Obielo C., Ahani E. B., Oduoye, O. T. and Adaghe E.I. – 2011).
Production of Biodiesel Fuel from Palm Kernel Oil using Hetero-Sonic Agitation (in collaboration with Boyo, H. O., Adams L. A. and Okwara, N. N – 2010).
He is a three-time co-recipient of the Faculty of Science Best Researcher. Oluwatoyin and his research collaborators have won competitive local and foreign research grants worth several millions of Naira funded by the British Council, Google, University of Lagos, Agriculture Research Council and TETFund. Professor Ogundipe is a member of many scientific organisations. He is a reviewer for some scientific academic journals and external examiner to some universities, including University of Johannesburg, and has been on the accreditation team to several universities in Nigeria and Ghana. He supervised or co-supervised eighteen (18) doctoral and several Master’s students. Two (2) of his Ph.D. students have won the best Ph.D. Thesis Award on different occasions. Two (2) of his students were STEP-B Awardees for Ph.D. Project in 2010, another two (2) have won the National Conservation Foundation award (S.L. Edu), and some of his other students have won many international research awards e.g. Miss. Dolapo Oshingboye, a Ph.D. student received the 2014 UNESCO-L’Oreal International Fellowship ($40,000.00).
Professor Ogundipe has attended and presented papers at conferences in all the continents of the world. He was an Adjunct Professor to the Department of Biology, Central Michigan University, Michigan in 2001. His Host was Emeritus Professor Dan Wujek. Between 2005 and 2006, he enjoyed Royal Society of London Lennox-Boyd Memorial Trust and Bentham-Moxon Trust sponsorship to Jodrell Laboratory, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, U.K. and he was hosted by Professor was Professor Mark Chase.
Professor Ogundipe was the Acting Head of Botany Unit from 1996 to 1998. He was the Sub-Dean of the Faculty of Science between 1998 and 2000, and as the Sub-Dean he introduced the computerisation of Year 1, Medical and Pharmacy Students’ results. He became the Head of the Department of Botany and Microbiology 2002-2007. During his tenure as the Head of Department, introduced new programmes into the Department and he attracted support from Exxon Mobil.
He was the former Dean of the School of Postgraduate Studies (SPGS), University of Lagos, 2007-2011. During his tenure as the Dean, SPGS, he was able to invite reputable citizens and elder statesmen such as Chief Mathew Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo GCFR (former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria), Pastor E. A. Adeboye (The General Overseer, RCCG), His Eminence Alhaji Muhammed Sa’ad Abubakar III CRF, mni (the Sultan of Sokoto), and Dr. Felix O. A. Oheiwerei (OFR) for the School’s annual lectures. He introduced many new quality programmes to SPGS, which made SPGS to be referred to as “The Light House” of the University of Lagos by the late Vice-Chancellor, Prof. A. B. Sofoluwe. He is a member of the Governing Council of University of Lagos and was a former Director, Academic Planning Unit from 2013-2016. He is presently a member of various committees in the university and also a permanent member of the university Senate since 2005.
He is presently the President of the Botanical Society of Nigeria (BOSON) and the Chairman of the Lagos State Research and Innovation Council. He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science; Linnaean Society of London; Royal Society of Biology, London; Institute of Security, Nigeria and Institute of Corporate and Business Affairs Management, Nigeria.
Professor Ogundipe is a dynamic, proactive, resilient person with a strong personality based on integrity and trust. He works under pressure, very focused, productive under pressure and proactive within normal work environments, with very strong interpersonal and communication skills. Professor Ogundipe is flexible and goal-oriented and possesses the ability to prioritize assignments, learn very fast and work in a team.
He was the Chairman, Chapel Committee, Chapel of Christ Our Light (Protestant), University of Lagos 2000 to 2002. He is at present a Pastor and Zonal Pastor, Lagos Province 64 of The Redeemed Christian Church of God. He is a committed alumnus of the University of Lagos and an ex-officio of the University of Lagos National Alumni Association, under the leadership of the Olorogun Sunny Kuku.
Professor Ogundipe is currently the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos.