Sodiq Oyeleke
The University of Lagos has appointed Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, a professor of botany, as its new Vice-Chancellor.
He becomes the 12th VC of the university and will succeed Professor Rahamon Bello.
Prof. Ogundipe is currently the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academics and Research of the UNILAG.
When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the UNILAG, Toyin Adebule confirmed his appointment.
“He has been appointed, he is our new VC,” he said.
Recall that Bello, who is the 11th substantive VC of the institution, was appointed on November 11, 2012 following the death of his predecessor, Prof. Babatunde Sofoluwe.
The university’s Governing Council had shortlisted eight out of the 15 candidates that applied for the VC position on Tuesday, October 10.
Our correspondent gathered that the university’s Senate voted for two Professors to serve on the Selection Board on Wednesday.
Apart from Ogundipe, other shortlisted candidates for the VC position are Prof. Ben Oghojafor, who is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Management Services; the university’s immediate past Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Management Services, Prof. Duro Oni; a former Provost of the College of Medicine of the University of Lagos and former National President of the Nigerian Medical Association, Prof. Oluwole Atoyebi.
Others are former Dean of Students’ Affairs and now Director of Distance Learning Institute of the university, Prof. Olukayode Amund; Dean of Postgraduate School, Ajewole Moses; former Dean of UNILAG’s Faculty of Pharmacy, Odukoya Olukemi; and former Vice-Chancellor of Caleb University, Imota, Lagos State, Prof. Ayodeji Olukoju.
Ogundipe is a Professor of Botany in the Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, University of Lagos. He has a Ph.D. Botany (Ife) and MBA (Unilag). Professor Ogundipe has attended training in the University of Johannesburg, South Africa; University of Reading, U.K., Harvard University, U.S.A. and Kumming Institute of Botany, China. His area of research includes Molecular Plant Taxonomy/Biosystematics, Cytogenetics, Ethnobotany, Paleobotany and Ecological conservation.
