Olatunji-Bello: The Amazon blazing the trail of innovation, growth, development in LASU

By Cyriacus Nnaji:

Professor Ibiyemi  Ibilola Olatunji-Bello, the 9^th Substantive Vice Chancellor of the Lagos State University (LASU) is one woman who has lived up to the axiom that what a man can do, a woman can do it even better.

With National Productivity Order of Merit (NPOM) Award conferred on her by the Federal Government of Nigeria, an award for exceptional public administrators and captains of the industry driving excellence and pushing the limits to advance the frontiers of national productivity, and a recipient of The Feminine Nigerian Achievement Award in the category of The Most Outstanding in Tertiary Education; and listed among "The Nigerian Woman Annual: 100 Leading Woman" for the year 2022, she has indeed brought growth and development to the university which today is proudly ranked number one as Best University in Nigeria and in the West Africa sub-region in the 2022 UI Green Metrics Global Ranking. The UI Green Metrics World University Ranking is a ranking on green campus and environmental sustainability initiated by University of Indonesia in 2010.

A graduate of University of Ibadan, where she bagged a first degree in Physiology in 1985, the prominent Professor of Physiology, was appointed Vice Chancellor of LASU in September 2021, from that moment she has been working tirelessly to advance the vision and mission of the institution thereby propelling it to lofty, transformational and period of epoch-making where it is today to the envy of its contemporaries.

The very day she assumed office, she was received by jubilant students and workers with colourful banners and songs as she arrived at the Senate building, and from that very moment, it downed on her that she was in an environment where both the Academic, non-academic staff, students and management team have decided that a transformer has arrived and they must work in cooperation and unison to achieving many laudable goals in all fronts.

Of course from that moment, no one was left in doubt as to where she was going; she immediately hit the ground running and said “We have six strategic goals but the main vision is to take LASU to the top of all the citadels of learning in Nigeria. It is not only being in Nigeria but West Africa and not only in West Africa and the world at large. And to achieve this vision, we have set out six strategic goals. Number one goal is to make all our academic programmes and professional programmes accredited and those that have been accredited will sustain it. And the second one is to make sure that we make LASU a scientific research hub.  When we are talking about research, we are talking about innovation, we are talking about technology. Cutting-edge research would be done also, we want to ensure that infrastructural facilities are improved upon and are made readily available for seamless performance of administrative and academic duties. The fourth strategic goal is also to improve our internal generation of revenue with the aim of achieving financial sustainability of the university.  We have done that by resuscitating the school of part-time studies. We are making sure that our LASU venture is empowered to do more.  And also the creation of three new faculties will ensure that we have more intakes of students, which will improve our income generation,” she revealed.

Indeed she has ensured the creation of the Faculties of Pharmacy, Environmental Sciences, and Allied Health Sciences for programmes such as Physiotherapy, Medical Laboratory Science, Building, Architecture, Radiology and Radiation Science, among others.

Of course with ultimate agenda to prioritise the workers’ and students’ welfare, she has also ensured inclusivity in her administration as she makes sure every voice counts in all decision-making in the university.

Prof Olatunji-Bello’s administration no doubt is driven by a vision to make the Lagos State University the best in West Africa and that tall agenda was accomplished in less than two years and academic and professional programmes have been accredited by the relevant bodies.

She also ensured maintaining and securing collaboration with top institutions within and outside Nigeria, including Cornell University, USA, Delta State University, Delta and Gombe State University, among others.

Under Olatunji-Bello’s Administration, there has been massive infrastructural facilities and unprecedented upgrade of the University in all fronts. She revamped the LASU printing press; renovated the offices of academic and non-academic staff; renovated the Epe Campus; and facilitated the deployment of internet across the campuses.

It is no longer news that Lagos State Government is already constructing 8,272 units of hostel accommodation at the university and of course it is being given more impetus under the able workaholic Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olatunji-Bello. At the same time what could be described as the biggest University Library in Nigeria is currently being constructed and nearing completion. Today students who have the knack for extra income has the opportunity to do so, as the Vice Chancellor and her wonderful management team have provided fertile ground for such while pursuing their degrees. This has helped to lesson financial pressure on the benefitting students. They work in such area as the ICT, International academic engagement, LASU Bakery, and health center in exchange for stipends. As a management, it responds to students inquiries and solicits direct feedback as a responsive and attentive management. The management headed by Professor Olatunji Bello also introduced interactive sessions with students through media chats.

Her greatest asset is accessibility; she receives visitors no matter who you are unless she is not in the office, she responds to calls and text messages. Added to that is her media friendliness. This is the hallmark of a great leader who has nothing to hide.

With her management team, she has fully equipped lecture classrooms, laboratories and libraries; provision of office furniture, among others.

Prof Olatunji-Bello ensured that there is access to proper welfare packages, including payment of salaries on or before 23rd of each month; introduction of free medical checkup for every staff on their birthdays; activated the Lagos State Health Scheme in the university; prompt payment of 30% of basic salary as end of year 2021 bonus amongst others.

Another innovative landmark achievement for LASU was that certificates issued to the graduating students now bears an embedded instant verification feature which will enable individuals, organizations to verify the authenticity of the certificates from anywhere in the world.

Many say Prof. Olatunji Bello must have been created on Sunday by the all mighty God, as she is imbued with beauty, elegance, height, intelligence, administrative prowess, among other natural endowments. What is even more unique about Prof. Bello is her unassuming nature, humility and calmness that is devoid of controversies, she is just doing ‘her thing’ with sagacity of mind that has resulted in verifiable growth and developmental strides.

In those days, LASU was always in the news for the wrong reasons, but today, the dynamics, structure; everything is turning around for good. The security architecture, staff and students are winning research grants, students are representing the school very well and coming back with laurels and accolades. Indeed Lagos State University under Professor Olatunji-Bello is undergoing and witnessing a renaissance of sort, a great transformation never witnessed in the annals of the university. There is also zero tolerance for indecent dressing and cult activity is a no go area for her and the management.

Most gladdening is the fact that the erudite professor ensured that she continued with the legacies of her predecessor, which recently, at the 5^th Research and Innovation Fair of the institution attracted the commendation of the former Visitor to the University and former Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola.