Lagos State Governor and Visitor to Lagos State University, LASU, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has appointed Professor Ayodeji Olawunmi Badejo as the university’s 10th substantive Vice-Chancellor.
The appointment, announced on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, is in accordance with the provisions of the LASU Law 2004, as amended.
Badejo will succeed Distinguished Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, mni, NPOM, whose tenure ends on Saturday, September 19, 2026. She is expected to assume office on Sunday, September 20, 2026, for a single five-year term.
A professor of Counselling Psychology, Badejo has spent more than three decades in teaching, research, university administration, mentorship and professional service.
At LASU, she 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, academic planning and the introduction of new academic programmes, including efforts to align programmes with National Universities Commission requirements.
During her tenure as Dean of the Faculty of Education, about 20 academic staff were promoted to the professorial cadre, while programmes in the faculty secured full NUC accreditation, according to the university.
Badejo also served as Chairman of the Lagos State University International School Board, where she led initiatives credited with improving the school’s financial and operational position.
The university said the school’s capital reserves increased from about ₦88,000 to ₦121 million during her tenure, while financial deficits were eliminated.
Her academic career also includes extensive doctoral supervision. Between 2012 and 2026, she supervised 23 PhD graduates, including a recipient of the 2024 Best PhD Thesis Award.
Badejo has published more than 80 scholarly works, comprising four books, 17 book chapters and over 60 peer-reviewed journal articles.
She has also chaired the LASU Research Ethics Committee, where she has been involved in research governance and capacity building on ethical standards.
The professor holds fellowship of the Counselling Association of Nigeria (CASSON) and the Association of Professional Counsellors in Nigeria (APROCON), and is affiliated with professional and academic organisations including the American Psychological Association and the Nigerian Academy of Education.
Her recognitions include the Key to the City of Niagara Falls, New York, professional fellowship honours from CASSON and APROCON, and a 2025 Distinguished Personality Award for excellence in higher education in Africa, presented in Pretoria, South Africa.
Badejo’s appointment comes as LASU prepares for a change in leadership following the completion of Olatunji-Bello’s tenure.
She is expected to take over the university’s administration from September 20 for the next five years.