By Professor Olatunji Abanikanda
Prologue: There is a proverb embedded in the collective wisdom of governance that the best crisis is the one that never happens. Yet, across the landscape of Nigerian higher education, crisis has become the customary companion of institutional leadership, not because it is inevitable, but because the systems that ought to forestall it have been systematically abandoned in favour of reactive improvisation. Nowhere is this pathology more consequential, and more tragically recurrent, than in the appointment of Vice Chancellors.
The Vice Chancellor is not merely a university’s chief executive. He or she is the intellectual conscience of the institution, the custodian of its academic integrity, the architect of its strategic direction, and the guarantor of its moral authority before students, staff, the public, and the nation.
An institution may survive a bad budget. It may recover from a collapsed building. It may even outlast a scandal. But it rarely survives, with its soul intact, the sustained tenure of a Vice Chancellor appointed through careless, politically compromised, or reactive processes.
To be proactive in this matter is not a luxury. It is the minimum standard of responsible governance.
Integrity of the Search Committee: No element of the Vice Chancellor appointment process is more consequential, or more frequently compromised, than the composition and conduct of the search committee. A proactive institution constitutes its search committee from individuals of unimpeachable academic standing, demonstrated institutional loyalty, and complete independence from the political pressures that routinely attend such appointments. The committee must be sufficiently large to resist capture by any single interest, and sufficiently specialised to evaluate the academic and administrative competencies of candidates with genuine discernment.
The LASU Law and potential dangers ahead: The Lagos State University Law 2004 provided for the appointment of principal officers and other officers of the University.
Specifically, in Schedule I, paragraph 3 of the Law for the appointment of The Vice Chancellor, it states inter alia as follows;
Subject to the provisions of this Section, a Vice Chancellor shall be appointed from the proposal of at least three names of candidates nominated for the post of Vice Chancellor to the Visitor by a Joint Committee of Council and the Senate.
The Joint Committee of Council and the Senate mentioned in sub-paragraph (1) of this Section shall consist of:
a. The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, as the Chairman for this purpose;
b. Three external members of Council elected by Council;
c. Three members of the Senate elected by Senate;
d. The Registrar who shall act as the Secretary to the Committee.
By the dictate and design of this law, and a perfunctory look at the membership composition as listed in sub-paragraph 2, one would have been rest assured that the Joint Committee of Council and the Senate would provide a balanced, fair and just assessment of the candidates without bias or favour, but strictly on the individual merit of the candidates.
It is noteworthy that the external component of Lagos State University Governing Council charged with the selection process as enunciated by the enabling laws of the University, is populated by core professionals and accomplished trail blazers, who are all at the top of their chosen careers;
The Pro-Chancellor / Chairman of the Governing Council; Mr. Babatunde John Kwame OGALA (SAN, OFR) listed in clause “a” above is a distinguished legal luminary, an accomplished politician and a successful entrepreneur, whose administrative experience can be relied upon, while Alhaji Rafiu Adisa EBITI (FCA), also a prominent accountant, accomplished philanthropist and industrialist is well versed in University politics and administration as the current Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of Crescent University, Abeokuta, Ogun State, having previously served in the same capacity at the Summit University, Offa, Kwara State.
Mrs. Adenike Ganiyat AKANBI (FCA), a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) is an accomplished administrator culminating with her appointment as a Permanent Secretary in the Lagos State Service, while Dr. Aderemi DESALU (BDS, mni) was the former chairman of LASUCOM Court of Governors, the pioneer Executive Secretary and CEO of Lagos State HIV/AIDS Foundation and Lagos State AIDS Control Agency respectively.
With these imposing and intimidating credentials of those listed in clauses “a” and “b” above, one should not be bothered at the outcome of their selection. However, this is far from the truth. The reason being that both the Chairman and the three external members of Council on the Committee may erroneously believe in the “guidance” of the three members of Senate, concluding that since they are from the highest academic decision making body of the University, and are presumably astute academics, their judgement can be trusted and relied upon.
That is a very dangerous presumption considering the infractions and violation of the extant laws of the University in their emergence from the Senate, taking into cognizance the following:
The rule in “c” above emphasized and stipulated “elected”, but there were gross violations of the rules guiding election of Senate members for such sensitive assignment in this instant case, as highlighted below;
1. Against the University known laws and practice, whereby timetable and vacancies for such positions would be declared and advertised university-wide before the election day, and the election slated as an item either in a Statutory Senate Meeting agenda, or a Special Senate would be convened specifically for the conduct of the election. What was done, in this charade was rather, to smuggle in the election as an “Any Other Business (AOB)” into the Senate proceeding of the 329th Statutory Meeting of Senate, held on Wednesday 25th March 2026, without prior notification to all Senate members, which technically has eliminated and disenfranchised a large percentage of members. The University may wish to provide the attendance for that particular meeting.
2. The preferential selection of nominators and restriction of nominees by the Chairman of Senate (Vice Chancellor) to only five (5), for the election is a gross violation of the twin rule of fairness and equity! Even the efforts of other experienced professors to bring this to fore was rebuffed by the Vice Chancellor, who ruled that she can no longer take any nominations.
3. A thorough look at the qualification of the candidates that were nominated, that eventually emerged from the “election” / selection is telling a story; None of the three representatives from Senate had post professorial experience beyond five (5) years, with effective date of appointment or promotion as professor being 1st October 2020, 1st October 2020 and 1st October 2024, in a University that has over 28 serving Professors with ten (10) years and above post-professorial experience.
4. By sheer coincidence, the “elected” / selected representatives share common origin (State of origin) and religious beliefs (as indicated in their records), as the favoured candidate being touted as heir apparent. Also two of the three Senate members “elected” were actually from the same Faculty as the preferred candidate, while one has a filial relationship with the same candidate. This observation might just be a coincidence as I posited but, it is expected that academics should be conscious of the prevailing perceived imbalances already causing some agitations even at the macro level. This can best be seen as a “paddy paddy” arrangement.
We are all witnesses to how the four (4) Senate representatives in Council were handpicked and imposed by the Vice Chancellor without them going through elections as has been the practice in the University. Now the Governing Council would understand why it is difficult to see a dissenting voice against whatever the Vice Chancellor wants. I insisted on her giving a semblance of the right procedure when she wanted to select the same contentious candidate as Senate representative on LASUCOM Court of Governors.
These details become essential to provide the background into how the selection committee was formed and avert avoidable decisions that may result in a cul de sac!
One may wish to ask what is my interest and why these preemptive moves? In the local parlance it is said “eni ti were lu Iya e pa, ti o ba ri mechanic a sare!” meaning whosoever has witnessed his Mother’s murder by a mentally infirm person will run away when he sights a mechanic dressed in his work attire. It is borne out of previous experiences of how several administrative infractions were perpetrated against all known norms and practice of standard University, to pave way for the emergence of this same dramatis persona as Deputy Vice Chancellor (Details of administrative and academic infractions in the last five years will soon be released). Deliberately I will avoid the many documented financial infractions EXCEPT I am further provoked or personally attacked, rather than address the fundamental issues I raised. At that stage, we may have to invoke the Nigeria’s Freedom of Information Act 2011.
The ancient wisdom distilled across cultures and traditions holds that the wise man sees the storm while the sun still shines and prepares his house accordingly. It is the reactive man, that is the man who waits for the roof to collapse before he asks about the structure, who finds himself most exposed when the rain comes.
Nigerian universities are not bereft of examples of what excellent Vice Chancellor leadership can produce, but are, however, too frequently burdened by examples of what its absence has cost. The path between these two realities is not mysterious. It runs directly through the quality, the seriousness, and the proactive character of the appointment process. The University of Abuja experience is still very fresh in our memory, whereby its Visitor, His Excellency the President intervened and ensured that the rule of law is upheld.
In conclusion, let those charged with university governance (Management, Governing Council, Senate, State Government and all stakeholders) resolve, finally and firmly, to walk that path, not in haste, not under pressure, not in response to crisis, but in calm anticipation of the institution’s needs, with the dignity that the office of Vice Chancellor deserves and with the foresight that the future of Lagos State University demands.
Let also the staff find their voices and rise in unison against this impending chaos about to be meted on the flagship of Lagos State Universities. Now is the time to speak up and stop sitting on the fence, when your collective sensibilities is under siege! No individual, no matter how powerfully or politically connected they may seem to be, can overwhelm your collective resolve. You have the laws on your side and take advantage of the fact that LASU cannot operate in a void, in flagrant disregard to established norms, ethos and values of a true University. You all know the make-believe (sakamanje) that is ongoing, but remember just as we had during the immediate past regime of President Muhammadu Buhari, and the restitution we as a nation is now making for what we knew nothing about. Don’t be carried away with the window dressing, crumbs and pittance that trickled down to you presently, that may portend inimical working conditions later.
Addendum: I have read a publication by an unnamed author in an obscure online news media, even though the LASU Logo (the most abused official insignia) was inserted in the publication, without credit to anyone as author. The author/s should be ashamed of their wanton display of lack of knowledge of what makes a University.
The outlet is owned and managed by a certain faceless Samuel (Tope) Bankole of 29, Double Chief Road, Konifewo, Ota, Ogun State with phone number 08034001640.
Naturally, I do not respond to anonymous posts and do not write one! I however, wish to draw attention of the general public especially the tens of thousands of people who had read my last two posts (Images attached) to check if any of the germane issues I raised were addressed in that unintelligent post. I would not even address the poorly presented write up.
Gaius Sallustius Crispus, known simply as Sallust (86–35 BC), a renowned Roman historian and politician, whose introspective analysis of internal decline and moral decay in the late Roman Republic has imparted lasting insight into the period’s political and social dynamics said that ”It is the nature of ambition to make men liars and cheats, to hide the truth in their breasts, and show, like jugglers, another thing in their mouths.” and ”Ambition drove many men to become false; to have one thought locked in the breast, another ready on the tongue.”
Characteristically a drowning regime, would rather resort to cheap blackmail and name calling, as if that will mitigate the TRUTH or FACTS already in the public space.
Those who are familiar with my intransigence on issues backed by facts will know I will neither be discouraged nor be distracted from this cause and neither will the release of the decision of the Governing Council on the appeal I submitted since 14th July 2025, actioned by the Governing Council since 26th March 2026, while the letter was purportedly written on 15th May 2026, but kept by the University Registrar till 18th June 2026 before electronic transmittal to me, is in violation of the University extant laws.
By law, the Registrar deliberately withheld the letter and only hurriedly released it after my first post of 15th June 2026 to rein me. This action is coming from the same University that unduly DISMISSED an innocent staff for DERELICTION of duty, yet the Registrar could not convey a letter until 50 days after the decision by the Governing Council was taken, but ironically could previously convey the DISMISSAL letter within one hour of the Governing Council Meeting, sharing same to different external bodies, as if it was an emergency. The double standard in the handling of the letters is sufficient ground for a Disciplinary action by the Governing Council.
You can imagine the kind of University that is been run and why they will want it to be business as usual. Now is the time to act!
If the University wants to act professionally, let them ask the Registrar who is empowered to speak by virtue of his job, to respond to my posts, bearing in mind that I have expressed myself openly and laid bare the facts. This is very essential before LASU will be considered a comical contraption worthy of classification as a University of Particular Concern.
For emphasis, let him address the issues of “tacit exclusion of Medical Fellowship holders”, “Several years of post-professorial experience”, “Compulsory Inaugural Lecture presentation”, “Physical and Mental evaluation” and the reason for avoiding exact figures in the advertisement for Vice Chancellor, when same has NEVER happened in LASU’s previous advertisements, and contrary to what operates in other Federal, State and Privately owned Universities as presented in my earlier post (https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1GxzeNsBWD/).
He should also affirm or debunk the data presented in my previous post regarding the many reputable and experienced Professors in the employ of the University (https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DdgUgtP4W/). We will not wait until you ask prospective students seeking admission to just have “several” credits to get admitted into the University, until we start making you accountable. Lest I forget, congratulations on your reappointment as the Registrar of the Lagos State University.
