Nigeria’s former president, Dr. Olusegun Obasanjo; Obi of Onitsha, Alfred Achebe; a retired Justice and mother of the new Vice-chancellor, Titi Mabogunje, and wife of former vice-chancellor of the university, Christie Ade-Ajayi, were among many dignitaries who graced the investiture of the first female Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, Folasade Ogunsola, within the week.
The event, which coincided with the university’s 60th anniversary, was also part of the activities marking the university’s 53rd convocation ceremonies.
The new Vice-Chancellor, a professor of Medical Microbiology, is the first woman to occupy the position, having served as the first female provost of the university’s college of medicine, and the pioneer female acting vice-chancellor.
Conducting the investiture on Tuesday was the Chairman of the institution’s Governing Council, Lanre Tejuoso, an alumnus of the university’s medical college, who took credit for organising a seamless selection process.
Mr Tejuoso, who presented the staff of office to the vice-chancellor, commended her for her commitment to the peace and tranquillity on the campus and thanked everyone who contributed to the process in one way or the other.
The National Universities Commission (NUC), in a speech delivered by Mr Maiyaki, noted that history is being made in the university with the investiture of its first female “to occupy this exalted office after over 60 years of its establishment”.
The new helms woman was urged to establish sustainable partnerships with government agencies, industry, and society in her operations as the vice chancellor, adding “The university must focus on how students can learn and acquire relevant skills that will enable them to succeed in today’s highly dynamic and competitive world”.
The NUC boss further pointed out that the new vice-chancellor must ensure the reward system of the university is based on credibility.
He said: “There are many other important issues that you must also address if you are to succeed and create a pathway for sustainable growth. The process of performance evaluation has increasingly left much to be desired in our universities.
“There is a gradual erosion of order in assessments and promotions at all levels. The intellectual space has shrunken to the extent that there is a subversion of the age-long and most cherished tradition and prestige of academia. It is no longer news that some professors have questionable credentials.
“You must out of necessity, ensure that the reward system is based on hard work and academic credibility and influence. and not solely on belongingness to trite formations designed to gain prebendal footholds”.
