Unilag appoints Ogunsola as vice chancellor

… Became first female amongst 13th vice chancellors

By Idris Bakare

The University of Lagos, Unilag, has recently appointed Professor Folasade Ogunsola as the 13th substantive Vice Chancellor of the University

Ogunsola who became the first appointed female vice chancellor was selected by the Governing Council of the University.

Ogunsola will succeed Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, whose five years tenure comes to an end on Nov. 11. He was appointed vice chancellor in 2017.

Her journey to becoming the first woman to hold the position has been filled with stellar achievements, including playing a key role in the battle against Ebola in Nigeria in 2014.

From an eventful and interesting childhood to an adulthood in the sciences, the walk to the seat of vice-chancellor has been an interesting mix.

She was at a time the Provost of the College of Medicine in Idi Araba, Lagos and also served as a deputy vice chancellor to Prof. Ogundipe the outgoing Vice chancellor of the institution.

Ogunsola, having been appointed Acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos on August 24, 2020, held the position for a short period when the University was in crisis following the removal of the Vice Chancellor, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, by the Wale Babalakin-led University Council.

She also became the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Development Services) of the University between 2017 and 2021, from where she was appointed Acting Vice Chancellor.

Ogunsola’s research interest is on regulation and management of viral diseases, especially HIV. She is the principal investigator at AIDS Prevention Initiative in Nigeria at the University of Lagos.