Professor Ayodeji Olawunmi Badejo has assumed office as the 10th Substantive Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University (LASU), becoming the third woman in the university’s 43-year history to occupy its highest academic and administrative office.

Her emergence also marks a significant leadership transition at the institution as she succeeds another woman, Distinguished Professor Ibiyemi Ibilola Olatunji-Bello, who completed her five-year tenure as LASU’s ninth substantive Vice-Chancellor on September 19, 2026.

Badejo formally assumed office on September 21, 2026, beginning a five-year tenure at the helm of one of Nigeria’s prominent state-owned universities.

The transition makes LASU’s leadership history particularly notable, as it is the first time a female Vice-Chancellor has succeeded another female Vice-Chancellor.

The first woman to lead LASU was Professor Jadesola Akande, a Professor of Law, who served as Vice-Chancellor between 1989 and 1993. Olatunji-Bello became the second woman to occupy the position when she was appointed the university’s ninth substantive Vice-Chancellor in 2021.

Badejo now becomes the third.

Who is Professor Ayodeji Badejo?

A Professor of Counselling Psychology, Badejo was born on August 4, 1962, and has built an academic career spanning more than three decades, with experience covering teaching, research, academic administration, institutional leadership, mentorship and professional service.

According to her official LASU profile, she obtained a National Certificate in Education (NCE) in 1983, a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) in 1986, a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in 1988 and a PhD in Guidance and Counselling in 1998.

Her career progressed through the university lecturer ranks to the professorial cadre, with her academic and professional work largely centred on Counselling Psychology and higher education.

Her leadership experience at LASU

Before her appointment as Vice-Chancellor, Badejo had already served in several strategic positions within LASU.

She was a member of the university’s Governing Council, Chairman of the Senate Curriculum Committee and Dean of the Faculty of Education, among other responsibilities.

As Chairman of the Senate Curriculum Committee, she was involved in curriculum development and validation, academic planning and ensuring that the university’s academic programmes aligned with the requirements of the National Universities Commission (NUC).

She also facilitated the development and introduction of new academic programmes.

During her tenure as Dean of the Faculty of Education, the university says approximately 20 academic staff progressed to the professorial cadre, while all programmes in the faculty secured full NUC accreditation.

A record in institutional management

Badejo’s administrative experience also extends to financial management and resource mobilisation.

As Chairman of the Lagos State University International School Board, she led initiatives aimed at strengthening the school’s financial and operational position.

According to her official university profile, the school’s capital reserves rose from approximately ₦88,000 to ₦121 million during her tenure, while structural financial deficits were eliminated.

Her tenure also recorded growth in staff strength and student enrolment, alongside strong performance in public examinations.

Mentor to a new generation of scholars

Beyond administration, Badejo has built a substantial record as an academic mentor.

Between 2012 and 2026, she successfully supervised 23 PhD graduates, a record that earned her recognition as a “Mentor of Mentors.”

One of the scholars she supervised received the 2024 Best PhD Thesis Award, according to the university’s official profile.

Her scholarly output includes four books, 17 book chapters and more than 60 peer-reviewed journal articles, giving her more than 80 major academic publications.

Her research and academic engagements have also extended beyond Nigeria.

Research ethics, innovation and professional service

Badejo has served as Chairman of the Lagos State University Research Ethics Committee, where she has been involved in the ethical review of research protocols and capacity-building for committee members.

Her contributions also extend beyond conventional academic scholarship.

Among the innovations associated with her career is a patented Youth Anthem linked to Lagos State University, reflecting her interest in youth development and initiatives connecting academic expertise with wider society.

She is a Fellow of the Counselling Association of Nigeria (CASSON) and a Fellow of the Association of Professional Counsellors in Nigeria (APROCON). She is also affiliated with professional and scholarly organisations, including the American Psychological Association and the Nigerian Academy of Education.

Recognition beyond Nigeria

Badejo’s career has attracted a number of professional recognitions.

Her honours include the Key to the City of Niagara Falls, New York. She received fellowship recognition from CASSON in 2015 and APROCON in 2022.

In 2025, she was honoured in Pretoria, South Africa, with a Distinguished Personality Award for excellence in higher education in Africa.

Taking LASU into a new chapter

As she assumes the Vice-Chancellorship, Badejo takes responsibility for the overall academic and administrative direction of the university.

The Vice-Chancellor is the Chief Executive and Principal Academic Officer of LASU and serves as Ex-Officio Chairman of the Senate under the Lagos State University Law.

The university has welcomed her as its 10th substantive Vice-Chancellor, expressing expectations that her experience and vision will contribute to teaching, research, innovation and community service.

Her predecessor, Olatunji-Bello, was the first woman to hold the position in the 2020s and the second woman overall. Her five-year tenure ended on September 19, 2026, paving the way for Badejo to become the third woman to lead LASU.

For Professor Ayodeji Olawunmi Badejo, the new position represents the latest chapter in a career spanning more than three decades in academia.

For LASU, her emergence represents a historic moment in which one woman hands the leadership of the institution to another — further extending the university’s record of women at the highest level of its administration.

Profile sources: Lagos State University official profile and reports on the history of LASU’s Vice-Chancellorship.