LAGOS — Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo Olu has approved the appointment of Professor Ayodeji Olawunmi Badejo as the new Vice Chancellor of Lagos State University, LASU.

The appointment was announced on Wednesday by the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso.

Badejo, a professor of Guidance and Counselling, succeeds Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji Bello, whose five year tenure as Vice Chancellor has ended.

“Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo Olu has approved the appointment of Professor Badejo Ayodeji Olawumi (Nee Faji) as Vice Chancellor of the Lagos State University, LASU,” the state government said in its announcement.

The appointment marks a new leadership chapter for one of Nigeria's prominent state owned universities.

Who is Professor Ayodeji Badejo?

Badejo was born on August 4, 1962, and has built her academic career in the field of Guidance and Counselling.

According to the Lagos State Government, she obtained both her Master of Education and PhD in Guidance and Counselling from the University of Lagos.

She takes over the leadership of LASU following the completion of Olatunji Bello's tenure, which began in September 2021.

As Vice Chancellor, Badejo will be responsible for providing academic and administrative leadership for the university while overseeing its teaching, research, infrastructure and institutional development.

Olatunji Bello completes five year tenure

Badejo's appointment follows the departure of Olatunji Bello after five years at the helm of the university.

During her final convocation address, the outgoing Vice Chancellor highlighted accreditation, internally generated revenue and digital development among the achievements recorded during her administration.

According to Olatunji Bello, LASU achieved a 96 per cent success rate during its first year accreditation exercise, with 31 of the 37 programmes presented receiving full accreditation.

She also said the university's internally generated revenue increased from approximately N3 billion to N13 billion during her tenure.

Olatunji Bello described LASU at the end of her administration as a university of “proven excellence,” saying the institution had developed considerably from the one she inherited five years earlier.

She also said LASU had become the most subscribed university in Nigeria and one of the country's leading institutions in digital development.

Those statements represented the outgoing Vice Chancellor's assessment of her administration's performance.

New leadership takes over LASU

Badejo assumes responsibility for an institution that has undergone significant changes in recent years, including efforts to improve academic accreditation, digital services and internally generated revenue.

Her administration will also inherit the responsibility of maintaining academic standards while responding to the growing demand for admission into the university.

LASU was established in 1983 by the Lagos State Government and has grown into one of Nigeria's major state owned tertiary institutions.

The university's main campus is located in Ojo, Lagos.

Badejo's appointment formally begins another phase in LASU's leadership following the conclusion of Olatunji Bello's five year administration.