Published 8th Oct, 2022

By Sodeeq Atanda

On Friday, October 7, the Governing Council of the University of Lagos announced Professor Folasade Ogunsola as the 13th vice-chancellor of the institution.

Ogunsola, who becomes the first female to head the 60-year-old institution, has since indicated her preparedness to run “an all-inclusive administration”.

Becoming UNILAG’s vice-chancellor is, however, not her first remarkable stride, as she has distinguished herself in the academia, earning many firsts as a researcher and consultant with many national and international organisations.

FIJ highlights 11 facts about this scholar who soared above her contemporaries in the race for UNILAG’s top seat:

1. She was born in 1958 and raised on the campus of the University of Ibadan, where her father was a teacher.

2. She is a daughter of the late Professor Akin Mabogunje, a distinguished geographer.

3. She was the deputy vice-chancellor (development services) of the university between 2017 and 2021.

4. Between August and November 2021, she served as the acting vice-chancellor of the university.

5. In the history of UNILAG, she is the only female that has served as the provost of the college of medicine.

6. She is the first female to be appointed vice-chancellor of the institution.

7. She is a professor of medical microbiology, who specialises in disease management and control.

8. She has supervised and co-supervised eight doctoral students and 61 master’s degree students.

9. She chaired the Infection Control Committee of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital till 2012.

10. She led Nigeria’s Infection Prevention and Control team during the 2014 Ebola disease outbreak.

11. She is an alumna of UNILAG by virtue of her master’s degree.

According to the statement on her appointment, her tenure shall run for five years, effective from Saturday, November 12, 2022, and she will succeed Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe.

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