Buhari to UNILAG: Your maturity during 2020 management crisis commendable

President Muhammadu Buhari has commended the “maturity” of the leadership of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) through its management crisis last year.

According to NAN, Abubakar Rasheed, the executive secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), spoke on behalf of the president on day three of the rescheduled 2019 UNILAG convocation ceremony.

The UNILAG management crisis began in late 2020 when the institution’s governing council led by Wale Babalakin, the then pro-chancellor of the citadel of learning, announced the removal of Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, the vice-chancellor of the university.

Although Ogundipe kicked against his removal, the council appointed Omololu Soyombo as the new vice-chancellor.

The crisis didn’t end as the federal government constituted a visitation panel to address the issue which resulted in the resignation of Babalakin as the institution’s pro-chancellor and the appointment of Lanre Tejuosu as his replacement.

The federal government then reinstated Ogundipe as the vice-chancellor after the panel finished probing the matter.

Speaking at the event on Thursday, Buhari praised the composition of the institution leadership throughout the crisis, saying that the university should not be a theatre of conflict but the home of learning.

“As the Visitor to the university, I cannot but recollect the recent council/management crisis of 2020,” the president said.

”I commend the senate of the university for its maturity and decision to send a delegation to me on the matter.

”As it became obvious, I heard your voice loud and clear. The recommendations of the panel were implemented to restore peace to the university.

”Part of this restoration process necessitated the appointment of a new governing council for the university, under the chairmanship of Sen. Lanre Tejuosu.”