The Senate members of the University of Lagos (unilag) has elected Professor Folasade Ogunsola as the new Acting Vice Chancellor.
He election comes after the Federal Government directed the Vice-Chancellor and Pro-Chancellor to recuse themselves from official duties. This followed a recent confusion brought on by the sacking of the Vice-Chancellor by the Governing Council led by Dr Wale Babalakin.
Consequently the government directed all actors in the confusion to step aside for proper investigation into happenings.
Part of the directive from the Federal Government reads: “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.”
Besides the sacked Vice-Chancellor, the University’s Senate, labour unions and alumni issued statements to the effect that due process was not followed in removing the Vice-Chancellor.
Elected Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof Ogunsola will act in the new role pending the outcome of the Special Visitation Panel constituted by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Until her election, she was the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Development Services.
A professor of Medical Microbiology, Folasade Ogunsola is the first child of Nigeria’s first Professor of Microbiology, Akin Mabogunje. She was also the first female Provost of the University’s College of Medicine, Idi-Araba.
She defeated her closest rival and Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Management Services, Ben Ogujiafor with 135 votes against Ogunjiafor’s 31 votes.
177 professors were accredited to vote while 1 vote was voided.