Vice Chancellor of University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe has bowed out of office following the expiration of his five-year tenure.
He assumed office in November 2017 as the twelfth substantive vice chancellor of the institution.
Speaking at a briefing to mark the end of his tenure, Ogundipe noted that the university enjoyed unprecedented industrial harmony despite the series of strikes that rocked the nation’s university system between 2017 when he assumed office and 2022.
He said: “Despite the series of strikes that affected the Nigeria university system between 2017 and now, at UNILAG we never had any dispute with our internal unions. We enjoyed unprecedented industrial harmony.”
He said UNILAG had recorded significant progress in all ramifications.
“Today, the University of Lagos has grown in leaps and bounds, management under my watch transcended the threshold we set for ourselves as excellence. Our results speak for us such that even in the eye of the storm, we kept our peace and so our focus did not shift. We pushed through and today, I can confidently say I am leaving UNILAG a happy man,” he said.
He explained that in the last five years, the university improved in global rankings.
His words: “The University of Lagos never made the Times Higher Education World Universities ranking. In 2019, UNILAG made its first appearance and was within the 801–1000 range. By 2020, there was a quantum leap to the higher band of 601–800. We progressed to 501–600 in 2021 and this year, 2022, UNILAG did not only emerge first in Nigeria but also ascended to the 401–500 range in 2022, leaving behind some renowned universities even in the United Kingdom.
The 401-500 band places us in the top 25% of Universities ranked. I know from this win that we are buoyed up, not relenting in hard work and dedication as the aim is to be ranked among the top 10 universities across the globe.”
According to the outgone VC, under his watch, UNILAG staff attracted local and international research grants of N19 billion to strengthen the university’s top-class research mission.
“Our students during the period also won various national and international competitions, proving to the world that the conducive environment created in UNILAG supports them to reach their full potentials,” he added.
On infrastructure, Ogundipe said the university experienced massive turnaround in the last 5 years.
Ogundipe solicited the cooperation, support and prayers of staff and students for his successor, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, who was named new VC last month.
