The Senate of the University of Lagos has elected Prof. Folasade Ogunsola as Acting Vice-Chancellor.
She was elected by members of the Senate at an emergency meeting held on Monday. While Ogunsola polled 135 of 167 votes, her closest fellow contestant, Prof. Ben Ogbojafor, secured 35 votes.
One hundred and sixty- seven members of the Senate took part in the exercise.
Until her election as the Acting VC, Ogunsola, was the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Development Services and she defeated her counterpart, Prof Oghojafor, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Management Services.
Ogunsola was the first woman to be the Provost College of the Medicine University of Lagos before she became DVC.
She is the first female to be so appointed in the history of the 58-year-old ivory institution.
Professor Ogunsola is expected to act in the new role until the outcome of the Special Visitation Panel set up by the President, Muhammadu Buhari.
Mrs Ogunsola, a professor of medical microbiology and first child of Nigeria’s first professor of Geography, Akin Mabogunje.
Her election follows the Federal Government’s directive that the University’s Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Wale Babalakin, and Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, recuse themselves from official duties, pending the outcome of the panel.
The Federal Government gave the directive last Friday in a press statement signed by the Federal Ministry of Education spokesman, Ben Goong.
It states, “Government also directs the Senate of the University of Lagos to immediately convene to nominate an acting Vice-Chancellor from amongst its members for confirmation by the Governing Council,” the statement added.
Babalakin’s Governing Council had, on August 12, sacked Ogundipe as Vice-Chancellor over alleged financial misappropriation and misconduct.
Ogundipe, however, rejected the Council’s decision, saying the University’s due process had not been followed.
The University’s Senate, alumni, and labour unions also put out statements saying the due process had not been followed.
But Babalakin, in several media reactions, insisted that due process had been complied with in terminating Ogundipe’s appointment.
The Presidential Panel, made up of seven members, is expected to determine whether the required steps were taken by the Council in sacking Ogundipe.
They are also expected “to make appropriate recommendations including sanctions for all those found culpable” in the investigation, which is expected to last for two weeks.
The panel will be inaugurated by the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, on August 26.
Members of the panel include Professor Tukur Sa’ad (Chairman), Barrister Victor Onuoha, Professor Ikenna Onyido, Professor Ekanem Braide, Professor Adamu K. Usman, Chief Jimoh Bankole and Barrister Grace Ekanem (Secretary).
FG appoints John Momoh interim chairman UNILAG governing council
In a related development, the President of University of Lagos Alumni Association Worldwide, Dr John Momoh has been appointed interim chairman of UNILAG Governing Council.
Momoh’s task is the ratification of the election of a new acting Vice-chancellor, Prof Folashade Ogunsola.
The result of the election has been forwarded to the governing council by the Deputy Registrar and Director of Academic Affairs, Mrs. Olakunle Nakinde.
