Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, a professor of medicine and wife of the Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tunji Bello, has been appointed the new Vice Chancellor of the Lagos State University.
Her appointment was announced in a statement by the Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Gbenga Omotoso, titled, ‘Sanwo-Olu approves appointment of Vice Chancellor for LASU’, on Thursday.
“Lagos State Governor Mr. Babajide Olusola-Sanwo-Olu has approved the appointment of Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello as the 9th substantive Vice-Chancellor of the Lagos State University.
“Professor Olatunji-Bello was appointed following recommendation by the Joint Committee of Council and Senate of LASU in accordance with the LASU Law, Cap 169 Vol 7, Laws of Lagos State.
“Prof. Olatunji-Bello as well as two other candidates, Professor Omotayo R. Awofolu and Professor Senapon Bakare, were recommended for the position in order of ranking respectively.
“The process of selecting a substantive Vice-Chancellor for LASU commenced with advertisements for the vacant position in three National dailies on Friday, July 30th and Friday 13th August, 2021 respectively.
“The tenure of the 8th substantive Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Olanrewaju Adigun Fagbohun, lapsed on January 11, 2021,” the statement read in part.
The 57-year-old physiologist had served as Acting Vice Chancellor of the institution before her appointment.
She becomes the ninth VC of LASU as well as the second female to head the top state-owned institution in Lagos.
Prof Ibiyemi attended the Anglican Girl Grammar School, Surulere, 1974-1979; Methodist Girls High School, Yaba; Lagos State College of Science and Technology; University of lbadan, 1982-85; University of Lagos 1987 and University of Texas, Health Science Centre, San Antonio, USA, 1994-1998.
She rose from the rank of an assistant Lecturer, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba to Lecturer in 988, becoming Lecturer 11 in 199, and Lecturer 1, 1996. She went on to become Senior Lecturer 1999; Associate Professor 2005; Professor of Physiology, LASU College of Medicine, 2007; Deputy Vice-Chancellor, LASU since 2008, among others.
She attended 6-month research training in the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio in the US in 1994, after which she earned a PhD in Physiology of the University of Lagos in 1998.
She obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Theology from the Bible College of the Redeemed Christian Church of God in 2001 and a Postgraduate Diploma in Education PGDE of the Lagos State University in 2018.
In 2012, Professor Olatunji-Bello attended the Course 34 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies Kuru, the highest policy advisory body of the Federal Government, being nominated by the National Universities Commission NUC where she was awarded the certificate as a Member of the National Institute (mni).