By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
The crisis at the University of Lagos may be nearing a solution as the Senate on Monday nominated Prof. Folasade Ogunsola acting Vice Chancellor as demanded by the Federal Government last Friday..
Prof Ogunsola, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development Services), polled 135 votes while her rival, Prof. Ben Oghojafor, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Management Services, polled 31 votes.
One vote, TheNiche gathered, was voided.
A total of 167 Professors were at the Senate meeting.
Ogunsola is the first woman to be the Provost College of Medicine University of Lagos before she became Deputy Vice Chancellor.
Chairman of the Senate Emergency Committee, Prof. Chioma Agomo, announced the result to journalists after the election.
The University of Lagos has been embroiled in a debilitating power struggle that culminated in the purported sacking of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, by the Wale Babalakin-led Governing Council.
The council subsequently appointed Professor Omololu Soyombo as acting VC even as Ogundipe vowed not to vacate office.
But last week, the Federal Government directed both Babalakin and ogundipe to recuse themselves from official duties, pending the outcome of the Special Visitation Panel set up by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The government asked UNILAG Senate to reconvene to appoint an acting VC.
Subsequently, Soyonbo stepped down on Saturday, saying it was necessary because the government had directed the UNILAG Senate to nominate an acting VC.
His statement read: “The news of the setting up of a Special Visitation Panel to the University of Lagos by the Federal Government was received in the evening of Friday, 21st August 2020.
“The government also directed the University Senate to nominate an Acting Vice-Chancellor for the University, for confirmation by the Governing Council. With this, I am stepping down, with immediate effect, as Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University.
“I wish to express my sincere appreciation to all members of staff and our dear students, the staff unions, alumni and the general public for their wonderful support and cooperation in the past 10 days since my appointment as Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University on 12th August 2020.
“As I noted in my address to a cross-section of staff on 19th August 2020, I accepted the offer to serve as a call to service, with the objective of restoring peace and stability in the university.
“It is my prayer that the peace and stability that we so much need and desire at this time be restored very quickly so that the University of Lagos can continue to march on as the University of First Choice and the Nation’s Pride.”
The Senate-nominated acting VC Ogunsola was born in 1958. She is a professor of medical microbiology who specializes in disease control, particularly HIV/AIDS.