By; RAYMOND TEDUNJAYE, Lagos
Governor, Babajide Sanow-Olu, has appointed Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello as the ninth substantive Vice-Chancellor of the Lagos State University (LASU), ending the eight-month crisis that had trailed the institution leadership.
Prof.Olatunji-Bello, is the wife of the Commissioner for Environment, Tunji Bello, a seasoned journalist and a senior member of the Governor’s cabinet.
Sanwo-Olu said that the appointment of Olatunji-Bello was in compliance with recommendations made by the Joint Committee of Council and Senate of LASU in accordance with the LASU Law, Cap 169 Vol 7, Laws of Lagos State.
The governor, through a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, on Thursday, said that Olatunji-Bello as well as two other candidates, Prof. Omotayo Awofolu, and Prof. Senapon Bakare, were recommended for the position in order of ranking respectively.
While noting that Olatunji-Bello, the wife of the Commissioner for Environment, Tunji Bello, was picked as the most ranked among the trio, Sanwo-Olu stressed that the process of selecting a substantive Vice-Chancellor for LASU commenced with advertisements for the vacant position in three National dailies on Friday, July 30th, and Friday 13th August, 2021 respectively.
The new Vice Chancellor would be succeeding the 8th substantive Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, whose tenure lapsed on January 11, 2021.
The Statement reads in part:The new VC assumed duty as the First Professor of Physiology in LASU College of Medicine on the 2nd of October 2007 after rising through the ranks from Assistant Lecturer (1988 to 1991) to Associate Professor in 2005 at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba.
“In Y2012, Olatunji-Bello attended Course 34 of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, the highest policy advisory body of the Federal Government, as a nominee of the National Universities Commission.
“As a member of the National Institute, Olatunji-Bello holds a Fellowship Award of the Physiological Society of Nigeria and was also appointed a Fellow of the Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Mitigation in the year 2019”.
