Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello to assume office as LASU VC Sept 22

Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, the newly appointed vice-chancellor (VC) of the Lagos State University (LASU), is set to resume her new office on September 22.

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, had named the professor of physiology as the institution’s ninth substantive VC on Thursday.

According to Premium Times, Olatunji-Bello’s resumption is scheduled to take place after the expiration of the one-month tenure extension granted to Damola Oke, the varsity’s acting VC.

The varsity’s senate had in January appointed Oke as the acting VC amid the crisis that rocked the process for the emergence of a substantive VC after the tenure of Olarewaju Fagbohun, the institution’s eighth VC, expired.

It is understood that David Sunmoni, chairman of the varsity’s governing council, had put in place a 30-day extension of tenure of office for Oke until the institution’s ninth substantive VC emerges.

The initiative, a source said, was to regulate Oke’s power pending the conclusion of the selection process for the substantive VC.

“The system was adopted simply to limit the power of the acting vice-chancellor pending the conclusion of the fresh selection process,” the source was quoted as saying.

“It was also aimed at reducing the waiting period for the substantive vice-chancellor whenever he or she was appointed.”

The source revealed that Oke’s last tenure extension had come on August 21 but became effective on August 22 — meaning he is expected to vacate the position officially by September 22.

Olatunji-Bello is billed to resume office immediately after Oke’s tenure ends.