LASU VC Olatunji-Bello bows out after five years

Professor Ibiyemi Ibilola Olatunji-Bello has stepped down after five years as the Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University (LASU), marking the end of a transformative period for the institution. During her valedictory address at the university's 29th and 30th Combined Convocation Ceremonies, Olatunji-Bello highlighted major accomplishments, including a 96% success rate in first-year program accreditation and a substantial fourfold increase in the university's internally generated revenue (IGR), from N3 billion to N13 billion. She described her tenure as one that elevated LASU to become "the most subscribed university in Nigeria and the most digitally advanced among our peers," taking over from a university with "strong potential" and leaving behind "a university of proven excellence."

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the most subscribed university in Nigeria and the most digitally advanced among our peers.

Academic excellence was a cornerstone of Olatunji-Bello's administration. The university achieved significant milestones in program accreditation, securing full accreditation for 31 out of 37 presented programs in its first exercise, a 96% success rate described as an unprecedented first-year achievement. Further successes included full accreditation for 43 of 44 programs in 2023 and full accreditation for 17 new programs in 2026. All professional programs also received full accreditation. Additionally, LASU established four new faculties and two schools, introducing over 30 new, high-demand courses. The inauguration of the Babajide Sanwo-Olu Library Complex in October 2025, noted as the largest and most digitalized university library in West Africa, further underscored the commitment to academic advancement.

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a university of proven excellence

Financial sustainability was another key focus. Olatunji-Bello reported that between September 2021 and September 2025, the IGR grew from N3 billion to N13 billion. This growth was attributed to creative leveraging of internal capacity and the full automation of financial processes, which helped block revenue leakages. The university also executed over 50 infrastructure projects, funded by various sources including the Lagos State Government, Federal Government, TETFund, private donors, and IGR. Notable projects include the Students’ Arcade, 8,000-bed hostels, and the N3 billion TETFund-sponsored Academic Resource Centre. Research and sports also saw advancements during her leadership.

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In our very first exercise, we secured full accreditation for 31 of 37 programmes presented, a 96 per cent success rate that remains, to date, an unprecedented first-year achievement for any sitting Vice-Chancellor.