The Lagos State University (LASU) on Thursday morning announced the appointment of Prof Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello as its ninth substantive Vice Chancellor.
Olatunji-Bello, a Professor of Physiology, had served as Acting Vice-Chancellor of the institution before her promotion.
It would be recalled that LASU witnessed some crises during the tenure of Olarewaju Fagbohun, the institution’s eighth VC, whose tenure expired on January 11.
Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos governor, had in January cancelled a previous appointment procedure, in response to petitions.
A few months later, the governor inaugurated a 13-member governing council for LASU following the report of a special panel constituted to resolve the crisis that marred the process for the appointment of the varsity’s 9th vice-chancellor.
But on Thursday morning Olatunji-Bello was named as LASU’s ninth substantive Vice-Chancellor.
She is married to Tunji Bello, a journalist and lawyer, and the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, and the former Secretary to Lagos State Government and they are blessed with 3 children.
It could be recalled that in January 2021, there was a pandemonium on social media after a student of Akwa Ibom State University, AKSU attempted to take his life because he was served a letter from the school Senate to be suspended indefinitely. This came after he was accused of malicious statements against the executive governor of the state, Mr Gabriel Udom Emmanuel.
It was reported that Ekpo, Iniobong Isang popularly known as Afrosix Níní Jaara had allegedly called out on the governor to fulfill the promises he made during the 2019 Convocation ceremony in the school. He poetically said that Udom Emmanuel was using “Wizkid tongue” when he made the promises. He didn’t know this statement would land him in trouble.
However, he has been sending serious messages on social media (His official Facebook page) concerning what is happening to him. He said that he had suffered depression, attacks and was recently barred from entering the school. He is a final year student of agricultural engineering.
According to him, he quoted that “Last year September, I was blackmailed by the Student Disciplinary Committee of Akwa Ibom State University, they’ve caused me so much pain before, during and after my exams and at some point I felt suicidal.”
As a matter of fact, he pointed out that the school never gave him any letter to effect the indefinite suspension alleged to have been sent to him. From what was gathered in his post, he said that “the only letter I have is INDEFINITE SUSPENSION PENDING WHEN I’LL APPEAR BEFORE them, which I finally honored, and I was kicked out. I haven’t been given any INDEFINITE SUSPENSION LETTER FOR A CASE OF GROSS MISCONDUCT, and I’ll love to know my misconduct,” Ekpo said.
He further lamented that the school disciplinary committee have caused him pain. Adding that he cannot endure this pains for a long time and that he will continue to stand on the fact which is, “if they want me to defend myself, then they should show proof of the first letter they claimed I refused to honour,” he affirmed.
Ekpo also said that the committee should show evidence of the letters they claimed was sent to him. He said there is a limit to what his body can take at this point in time. Noting that he was going to resist any attempt by the school security to stop him from writing his test on Monday morning.
Lagos State Governor and Visitor to Lagos State University, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has cancelled the ongoing process set up for the appointment of a substantive ninth Vice-Chancellor of the University.
The Governor further directed that a fresh process that would terminate in 45 days should commence immediately.
This was contained in a statement by Sanwo-Olu’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, on Friday titled, ‘Sanwo-Olu cancels ongoing appointment of LASU VC, orders fresh process’.
It stated that the governor’s “decision on the cancellation came after a thorough investigation and stakeholders engagement, which were necessitated by various petitions against the selection process”.
The statement added, “Governor Sanwo-Olu was inundated with petitions arising from the selection process of the Vice-Chancellor by the Governing Council. After a thorough evaluation and investigation of the various complaints, Mr. Governor, in his capacity as the Visitor to the University ordered the cancellation of the process.
“The outgoing Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olanrewaju Fagbohun, has also been directed to convene an emergency Senate meeting for the purpose of appointing one of the Deputy Vice-Chancellors, who is not a candidate in the cancelled selection process as Acting Vice-Chancellor from Monday, January 11, 2021, when the tenure of the incumbent Vice-Chancellor, Professor Fagbohun expires.
“The Governor further directed that the Senate should select among its members, a pro tem chairman to superintend the meeting and conduct of the election of Acting Vice-Chancellor.”
The PUNCH reports that there had been controversy over the qualification of some candidates selected to replace Fagbohun.
Professor Adebola Babatunde Ekanola has emerged as the acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan.
The Ayeye Ibadan-born Professor, who is from the Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Arts of the premier University was appointed by the Senate of the University after a voting process.
The appointment was made after a directive from the Ministry of Education, through the National Universities Commission directing the Senate of the university to appoint one of its own in acting capacity for the institution.
During the course of the meeting which was thoroughly guided by adherence to standard procedures, the Senate decided that the process would be by voting and not by concensus.
Sources revealed that it took about two hours of discussion for an aggrement to be reached by the Senate, after which a call for nominations and seconding of nominations was made.
Senate members nominated for the election included Professor Adebola Babatunde Ekanola (Current Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic) and Professor Olanike Adeyemo (Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research Innovation and Strategic Partnerships).
Others included Professor A. Oluleye (former Dean, Fauclty of Technology) Professor Adigun Agbaje (Former Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic) and Professor Gbemisola Oke (former Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic).
According to speakers at the meeting, it was important that the Senate took a united decision with demonstrated transparency in order to guard the autonomy of the university and prevent interference from government and politicians.
Afterwards, members of Senate were duly accredited afresh, and voting took place through secret ballot.
Professor Ekanola scored 275 votes to emerge the winner; Professor Olanike Adeyemo (13 votes); Professor Oluleye (80 votes); Professor Agbaje (15 votes); and Professor Oke (14 votes), even as the Senate ratified the results and immediately adjourned.
DAILY POST recalls that some members of the Senate at the University had on Wednesday vowed to go ahead with the ongoing selection process of appointing another Vice Chancellor of the University.
The tenure of the incumbent Vice Chancellor, Professor Idowu Olayinka lasted till November while the new Vice Chancellor is expected to assume office on December 1st.
During an emergency meeting of the University Senate, some members who attended the meeting affirmed their confidence in the selection process.
Those who spoke to DAILY POST on Thursday and Friday begged not to be named because of fear of being attacked.
They noted that the petitions which were written by some Senate members including a lecturer at the Department of English, Faculty of Arts, Professor Ademola Omobewaji Dasylva and other Senate members against the selection process have not been addressed.
A Senate member who lectures at the Faculty of Technology said that the organization of such a meeting should be queried.
He said, “Whatever I say, I don’t want you to quote me. For me, the organization for such a meeting can be queried. We have 657 members and just 188 attended, it is not fair representation. Some of the people that signed the call for meeting were coerced. Some people even signed without knowing the purpose of the signing. They just asked them to just sign. It was later they got to know the purpose of the signing”.
Another Senate member in the Faculty of Agriculture alleged that some members of the University Senate who attended the meeting were coerced.
She said, “Senate members on ground are 657 and only 188 attended, out of which some were coerced, and some may not agree with resolutions”.
Another Professor at the faculty of Arts said that he did not attend the meeting because the decision of the emergency meeting has already been predetermined.
“I did not attend because I am conscious that decision will be skewed. And I did not want to be used to achieve predetermined decision”.
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