Who will be the next LASU VC?

As Professor ‘Lanre Fagbohun’s tenure as the Vice Chancellor of Lagos State University gradually comes to an end, there has been an active search for his successor who will no doubt be stepping into the huge shoes to be left behind by Fagbohun.
LASU which used to be known for its infamous internal crisis has over the last five years enjoyed relative peace which has further seen the citadel rise above it’s peers to stabilise as the best state owned University in Nigeria while also ranking as the second best in the country. Before Professor Fagbohun’s tenure, the only time LASU had relative peace in almost two decades was during the brief stint of Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello as Acting Vice Chancellor after the disreputable ‘Hussein-must-go’ saga which saw the ouster of then Vice Chancellor, Professor Lateef Hussein.
From indications gathered by BlackBox Nigeria, the renowned Physiologist, Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello might be returning to keep up with the progress LASU has largely enjoyed.
Although there are other candidates who have also been tipped for the position, sources reveal to BlackBox Nigeria that Olatunji-Bello stands a better chance of being named Fagbohun’s successor.
Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello joined the services of LASU in 2007 as a Professor of Physiology in the citadel’s College of Medicine. She rose to become Deputy Vice Chancellor and was later appointed the VC in acting capacity by the then Visitor, Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola. A graduate of the University of Ibadan, Olatunji-Bello thereafter lost the bid to become the substantive VC following the appointment of Professor Dapo Obafunwa whose tenure was also riddled by crisis. Obafunwa’s tenure saw a return of a similar ‘Hussein-must-go’ crisis following a faceoff with students over school fees increment and staff over sundary issues. He was also eventually removed before Fagbohun came in and stabilised the institution.

Asides Olatunji-Bello, BlackBox Nigeria has also gathered that two others are also top favorites for the job. These are Professor Kabir Akinyemi, a professor of Microbiology and Professor Olumuyiwa Odusanya of the College of Medine. While these two scholars are renowned in their fields and are also favorites for the job having passed through the screening supervised by the Joint Council and Senate Selection Committee, it was learnt that the only woman amongst the trio might get the job.
Professor Akinyemi who was the Dean of Students Affairs during Obafunwa’s tenure is said to be leaving no stone unturned to ensure he emerges. It is believed that some influential Lagosians are in support of his candidature which some said was however hitting a brick wall because of some controversies in his past. Before he was appointed as the Dean of Students, he had earlier served as the Chairman of the local chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU-LASU) which led to some infractions but supporters say what matters is his credentials and outstanding performance as an academic of repute.
Professor Olumuyiwa Odusanya, a professor of public health is another favorite for the job and insiders say he also stands a good chance of getting the nod of the governor.

As the countdown to Fagbohun’s departure gets intensified, it is expected that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu would this week announce his decision to the University Senate. Whoever emerges of the three candidates, BlackBox Nigeria believe has the capability and capacity to perform incredibly to intensify the momentum LASU has gathered in the last half of a decade.