UNILAG’s Governing Council Names Prof Soyombo Ag. VC, Says Registrar

The Governing Council of the University of Lagos has named Prof Theophilus Soyombo as the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the institution.

Soyombo of the Faculty of Social Sciences, replaces Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, whose removal was announced on Wednesday.

Recall that Ogundipe had in a statement, debunked his removal, stressing that it was untrue.

But, in a statement by the Registrar/Secretary to the Council, Oladejo Azeez, he noted that the council had appointed the acting VC, to replace Ogundipe, who had been allegedly involved in financial misappropriation, among others.

The statement reads: “My attention has been drawn to a document circulating under the hand and signature of the former Vice Chancellor of University of Lagos, Professor Oluwatoyin T. Ogundipe, FAS.

“The letter purports to deny his removal by the Governing Council of University at its Emergency Meeting of Wednesday, August 12, 2020.

“For the avoidance of doubt, I am in my capacity as Registrar and Secretary to Council the only custodian of the minutes of Council and the authorising officer on behalf of Council to issue official statements pertaining to all Council Affairs.

“Members of the public are hereby advised to totally disregard the statement attributed to the said former Vice Chancellor.

“The position remains that he was lawfully removed by the Governing Council at a meeting fully attended by all Council members.

“I also wish to use the opportunity to inform members of the public that Council at the said meeting duly appointed Professor Theophilus Omololu Soyombo of the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Lagos as Vice Chancellor of the University in an Acting Capacity”.

However, the UNILAG chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is converging on the university to deliberate on the matter.

The union is against the removal of the Ogundipe.