5 professors seek coveted Vice Chancellor seat

Following the end of the tenure of the last Vice Chancellor, about five professors are seeking to become the next Vice-Chancellor of the Lagos State University, Ojo.

Prof. John Obafunwa's tenure ended on October 31, this year.

Unlike federal universities where the tenure of the VC is for a single term of five years, that of LASU is a renewable four years.

With over three days elapsing since the end of Obafunwa's tenure, the Governing Council of the university, headed by Prof. Adebayo Ninalowo, has not taken a position on whether to reappoint him or appoint an acting VC for the institution.

Ninalowo, a professor of Sociology from the University of Lagos, a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, George Oguntade, among others, are members of the council, a council which was inaugurated by the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode last month.

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According to Punch, a source close to the governor said:

“The governor is a detribalised Nigerian and a lover of the rule of law. He has insisted that the law must be followed in the appointment of a new VC for LASU and even the appointment of the acting VC. That is why Njokanma, a professor of Medicine, who the LASU law recognised as the most senior after the outgoing VC, would be named any moment from now as the acting VC of LASU.”

The council, which advertised the position on September 23, 2015, had given interested applicants six weeks to respond to the application.

Collection of the applications for the position, our correspondent gathered, ended on November 4 (Wednesday).

According to a source, four of the applicants so far, are teaching in Nigerian universities while the fifth person is reportedly resident in the United States of America.

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The source, who craved anonymity, however, refused to name the applicants.

Meanwhile, the council members, our correspondent gathered, would meet on Thursday (today) to possibly appoint an acting VC for the university.

The move is to avoid a vacuum in the operations of the 32-year-old institution.

The university has been embroiled in controversies that pitted the university management against the different staff unions, including the Academic Staff Union of Universities and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities.