Lagos State Governor and Visitor to Lagos State University (LASU), Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has appointed Professor Ayodeji Olawunmi Badejo as the university’s 10th substantive Vice-Chancellor.
The appointment was announced on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso.
According to the announcement, the appointment was made in accordance with the provisions of the Lagos State University Law 2004, as amended, and will take effect on Sunday, September 20, 2026.
Badejo will succeed Distinguished Professor Ibiyemi Ibilola Olatunji-Bello, mni, NPOM, whose five-year tenure expires on Saturday, September 19. She will serve a single five-year term.
Badejo, a Professor of Counselling Psychology and Guidance and Counselling, was born on August 4, 1962, and has more than three decades of experience in university teaching, research, administration, mentorship and academic leadership.
She obtained an NCE in 1983, a Bachelor of Education degree in 1986, a Master of Education degree in 1988 and a PhD in Guidance and Counselling in 1998.
At LASU, the incoming Vice-Chancellor has held several academic and administrative positions, including membership of the university’s Governing Council, Chairman of the Senate Curriculum Committee and Dean of the Faculty of Education.
As Chairman of the Senate Curriculum Committee, she was involved in curriculum development and validation, academic planning and the alignment of LASU programmes with the requirements of the National Universities Commission. She also contributed to the development and introduction of new academic programmes.
During her tenure as Dean of the Faculty of Education, approximately 20 academic staff attained professorial rank, while all programmes in the Faculty secured full NUC accreditation.
Badejo has also held responsibilities involving institutional management and financial administration. As Chairman of the LASU International School Board, she led initiatives that reportedly increased the School’s capital reserves from about ₦88,000 to ₦121 million and eliminated structural financial deficits.
Her tenure at the International School was also marked by growth in staff strength and student enrolment, alongside sustained strong performance in public examinations.
The incoming Vice-Chancellor has developed a substantial record in doctoral supervision and academic mentorship. Between 2012 and 2026, she supervised 23 PhD graduates and was recognised as a “Mentor of Mentors”. One of the scholars she supervised received the 2024 Best PhD Thesis Award.
Badejo has also published extensively, with four books, 17 book chapters and more than 60 peer-reviewed journal articles to her credit, giving her more than 80 major scholarly publications.
Beyond conventional academic scholarship, she has contributed to youth development and innovation, including the development of a patented Youth Anthem associated with LASU.
She has also served as Chairman of the LASU Research Ethics Committee, where she provided leadership in the ethical review of research protocols and capacity-building for committee members.
Her professional engagements extend beyond the university. She is a Fellow of the Counselling Association of Nigeria and the Association of Professional Counsellors in Nigeria, and is affiliated with professional and scholarly organisations including the American Psychological Association and the Nigerian Academy of Education.
Her professional contributions have earned her several recognitions, including the Key to the City of Niagara Falls, New York. She received fellowship recognition from the Counselling Association of Nigeria in 2015 and the Association of Professional Counsellors in Nigeria in 2022. In 2025, she received a Distinguished Personality Award for excellence in higher education in Africa in Pretoria, South Africa.
With her background in academic leadership, curriculum development, research, doctoral mentorship, financial stewardship and institutional governance, Badejo is expected to bring extensive experience to the leadership of LASU when she assumes office on September 20.
Her appointment marks the beginning of a new five-year administration at the university following the completion of Olatunji-Bello’s tenure.
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