In this article, we’ll look at the brief history of University of Lagos.
The University of Lagos which is one of Nigeria’s renowned tertiary institutions was founded in the year 1962. It’s known as one of the first generation universities in the country founded by the federal government exactly two years after Nigeria gained independence from Britain. This university was one of the first five universities in the country. It’s referred to as Nigeria’s first generation university.
Mr. Eni Njoku served as the first black vice-chancellor of the university from 1962 until he was replaced in 1965. The next vice-chancellor after him was Saburi Biobaku.
In May 2012, the former Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan, proposed changing the University of Lagos to Moshood Abiola University.
In October 2022, the University of Lagos upgraded facilities to bolster ICT development as part of its determination to position the university to be information technology (IT) compliant and relevant in the 21st Century. The management of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, Lagos, embarked on activities aimed at developing infrastructure on the campuses of the institution, led by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe.
The University of Lagos partnered with the Nigerian Army on Nursing programme. The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Oluwtoyin Ogundipe, said the institution’s collaboration with the Nigerian Army in the production of well-trained nurses will improve quality healthcare delivery. Ogundipe made this known on the sidelines of the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Acting Commandant, Nigerian Army Medical Corps, Col. Idris Babatunde Solebo, in Lagos on October 17, 2022.
On October 13, 2022, Siemens Energy donated a laboratory to the University of Lagos. The Managing Director of Siemens Energy, Mr. Seun Suleiman, said the action was in furtherance of the premium placed on education by the company. He disclosed that the laboratory, valued at N70 million, would also be supported by software that his company would also provide. The laboratory is situated in the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering.
On October 7th, 2022, a Professor of Microbiology at the College of Medicine, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, emerged as the first female Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos. She emerged as the favourite for the job among the seven candidates shortlisted. Professor Ogunsola succeeded Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, whose five-year tenure elapsed in November 2022.
On October 7, 2022, the Governing Council of the University of Lagos appointed Mrs. Oluwafunmilayo Adekunle to become the new Bursar of the institution. Adekunle’s five-year tenure as the bursar of the institution commenced on Thursday, November 3, 2022. Before her appointment, Mrs. Adekunle, served as Deputy Bursar, Treasury. She is a Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees holder in Accounting from the University of Lagos – UNILAG. Mrs. Adekunle is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).
On March 27, 2019, the University of Lagos disclosed that 271 students of the institution would be graduating with First Class degrees during its 2017/2018 Convocation ceremonies, scheduled for April 1 to April 5. The Vice Chancellor of the Institution, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, who made this known at a pre-convocation news conference in Lagos, said that 56 of the graduands would receive first class degrees were from the Faculty of Engineering.
On December 17, 2019, the Provost, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, CMUL, Prof. Afolabi Lesi, urged doctors and dentists across the country not to be limited to what they are taught in school but be prepared to learn new things in clinical practice. The provost spoke at the induction of 2018 qualified medical and dental practitioners, where he urged the 138 doctor and dentist inductees to change the narrative and embrace their careers.
On October 8, 2019, the University of Lagos Vice-Chancellor advocated more measures to tackle sexual harassment in varsities. The Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, said following the case reported in 2018 by a blogger on alleged sexual harassment by a professor in the English Department of the university.
December 26, 2019, The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, raised the alarm that some people are encroaching on the university’s land, especially from the Iwaya end. Ogundipe said the university was locked in a legal battle with some of the encroachers.
Osinbajo hails the University of Lagos’s alumni for maintaining an excellent reputation on October 27, 2019. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in Lagos spoke glowingly of the University of Lagos and members of its alumni association for being outstanding. Osibanjo when he spoke to one of the awardees, disclosed that the university was a truly formidable institution. Osinbajo, an alumnus of the institution, said he might be ever so slightly biased as someone who attended and taught at the institution.
On August 17, 2020, the Chairman of the Governing Council, Dr Wale Babalakin, SAN, gave reasons for the removal of the Vice Chancellor, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe. Babalakin accused Ogundipe of trampling upon all financial guidelines at the university.
On the 25th of August, 2020, the Federal Ministry of Education confirmed Chief John Momoh, Chairman of Channels Television, as acting Chairman of the Governing Council, University of Lagos. The Director of Press and Information in the ministry, Bem Goong, confirmed that Momoh had been named the acting Chairman of the Council.
Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, stated on December 21, 2020, that the university lost approximately £40 million in research grants from faculty members during the crisis that engulfed the institution from August to November 2021.
University of Lagos Notable Alumni
- Laycon
- Lil Kesh
- Bilikiss
- Adebiyi Abiola
- Wande Abimbola
- Oladipupo Olatunde Adebutu
- Gbenga Adeyinka
- Regina Askia-Williams
- Yemi Osinbajo
- Mayorkun
- Broda Shaggi
- Funke Akindele
- Yemi Alade
- Teju Babyface
- Femi Gbajabiamila
- Seyi Makinde
- Toke Makinwa
- Genevieve Nnaji
- Ramsey Nouah
- Broda Shaggi
- Joke Silva