Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, a professor of physiology and former interim vice-chancellor at Ojo, has been named the institution's 9th substantive vice-chancellor.
Mrs. Olatunji-Bello is the wife of Olatunji Bello, the Lagos State Commissioner for the environment and water resources.
Gbenga Omotoso, the state's commissioner for information and strategy, made the news on Thursday.
PREMIUM TIMES learned of the news from a well-placed source within the state's cabinet members early on Thursday.
Following the completion of a five-year single term of office by the 8th substantive vice-chancellor, Olanrewaju Fagbohun, the new development may put an end to the issues that have surrounded the process of choosing a substantive vice-chancellor for the institution.
However, several campus employees, both academic and non-academic, feel that the departure of other prominent competitors from the race, including Olumuyiwa Odusanya, a professor of public health, may herald an oncoming catastrophe.
According to Mr. Omotoso, the appointment was made "in line with the LASU Law, Cap 169 Vol 7, Laws of Lagos State," as recommended by the university's joint committee of the governing council and the Senate.
“The appointment of Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello as the 9th substantive Vice-Chancellor of the Lagos State University (LASU) has been accepted by Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola-Sanwo-Olu,” the announcement says in part.
Backstory
The institution has been mired in difficulties regarding Mr. Fagbohun's successor's appointment, leading to the termination of two previous selection procedures undertaken by the university's prior governing board.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who also serves as the institution's visitor, established a visitation panel in response to charges of manipulation and discrepancies leveled against the then Adebayo Ninalowo-led governing council. The panel recommended that the governing council be dissolved.
A new council should also be formed, according to the panel. It went on to say that the university's then-registrar, Olayinka Amuni, should take a leave of absence until the selection process was completed.
Mr. Amuni was accused of failing to adequately advise the governing council on the processes that the selecting committee must follow.
However, opponents claimed that the governor aided Mrs. Olatunji-election. Bello's They noted her husband's clout with the governor, particularly "in relation to his second-term ambition."
Mr. Olatunji Bello, a close associate of the state's former governor and political godfather of the incumbent, Bola Tinubu, has served in the state's cabinet on a regular basis during Mr Tinubu's tenure.
Disputes and their settlement
Mr. Odusanya, the university's director of research, was placed top in the results of the two previous selection procedures that were canceled by the governor.
Senapon Bakre, a former deputy vice-chancellor, and Kabiru Akinyemi, a former dean of students' affairs on campus, were ranked second and third, respectively, in the results.
The governor authorized a fresh process after receiving complaints about the previous one.
While Mr. Odusanya rated top again at the end of the second process, Mohammed Ibrahim, a professor of public health at Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto (UDUS), ranked second, and Abiodun Adewuya, the then provost of LASU's department of medicine, ranked third.
Mrs. Olatunji-Bello placed fourth and seventh in the first and second selection procedures, respectively.
While other members of the old council were retained, Mr. Ninalowo was replaced as chairman by David Sunmoni, a former state auditor general.
Mr. Sunmoni led a new seven-member joint council and Senate selection committee, which included three additional council members: Hakeem Adetugbobo, Moronke Williams, and Oluwakemi Kalesanwo.
Fidelis Njokanma, Adenike Boye, and Joseph Olagunju, all academics, have previously been elected to the university's Senate.
However, Mr. Njokanma, a holder of medical fellowship, resigned his membership following what concerned individuals and groups such as the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) described as an attempt to exempt medical doctors from the process, particularly with the criteria of provision of a Ph.D. degree and for clinical lecturers, a newly introduced Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree, Mr. Njokanma, a holder of medical fellowship, resigned his membership following what concerned individuals and groups such as the Nigerian Medical
The criteria were apparently placed against Mr. Odusanya, who is thought to be the preferred choice of Mr. Fagbohun, the former council chairman and vice-chancellor.
Mr. Njokanma was replaced on August 10 by Rafiu Okuneye, a physical and health education professor who was elected by the Senate.
However, in response to mounting pressure on the institution's governing council and governor, the university revised the qualifications for the post and allowed holders of medical fellowships to compete.
Medical professionals, on the other hand, who had previously participated in the competition, declined to engage in the new procedure.
Messrs. Odusanya and Adewuya both declined to participate in the process.
“
Three high-ranking traditional rulers in the state pleaded with them to reverse their decision, but they refused because they didn't trust the procedure, according to a source at PREMIUM TIMES.
Olatunji-Background Bello's
Mrs. Olatunji-Bello was born in Lagos on April 23, 1964, and received her BSc (Hons) in Physiology from the University of Ibadan in 1985.
She graduated from the University of Lagos with an MSc in Physiology in 1987 and a Ph.D. in the same subject in 1998.
From 1970 to 1974, she attended Anglican Girls Primary School in Surulere, and from 1974 to 1979, she attended Lagos Anglican Girls Grammar School, also in Surulere.
In 1982, she attended Methodist Girls High School in Yaba and the Lagos State College of Science and Technology, Ikosi Campus, where she completed her "A" levels.
In addition, the new vice-chancellor holds a Post-graduate Diploma in Theology from the Bible College of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, and a Post-graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) from Lagos State University, both from 2001.
At the College of Medicine of the University of Lagos (CMUL) Idi Araba, she progressed through the ranks from Assistant Lecturer (1988-1991), Lecturer II between 1991 and 1996, and Lecturer 1 between 1996 and 1999.
She was a senior lecturer at the CMUL from 1999 to 2005, then an associate professor in 2005, before being named the first professor of physiology at the Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM).
Mrs. Olatunji-Bello has worked at the university in a variety of capacities, including acting vice-chancellor and deputy vice-chancellor in charge of academic affairs.
In 2017, she received a fellowship from the Physiological Society of the United Kingdom (UK), which was followed by a fellowship from the Physiological Society of Nigeria in 2018. In 2019, she was inducted by the Society for Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Mitigation as a Fellow.
She was the first director of the LASU Directorate of Advancement under the administration of her predecessor, Mr. Fagbohun.
