The University of Lagos (UNILAG) Governing Council, after the sacking of Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe as Vice-Chancellor on Wednesday, has named Professor Theophilus Soyombo as Acting Vice-Chancelllor of the institution.
A statement by the Registrar and Secretary to Council, Oladejo Azeez, confirmed the appointment of Soyombo, while insisting that, Ogundipe was removed lawfully.
Azeez noted that the decision to appoint Soyombo , who is of the Faculty of Social Sciences, was reached in the same meeting where Ogundipe was removed.
The statement released reads: “ My attention has been drawn to a document circulating under the hand and signature of the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Oluwatoyin T. Ogundipe, FAS. The letter purports to deny his removal by the Governing Council of the 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 authorizing officer on behalf of Council to issue official statements pertaining to all Council Affairs.
“Members of the public are hereby advised to totallhy disregard the statement attributed to the said former Vice Chancellor. The position remains that he was lawfully removedby the Governing Council at a meeting fully attended by all 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.”
In a related development, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (UNILAG Chapter) has called its members for an emergency meeting slated for Thursday at the Council’s chamber, with Ogundipe’s removal to be the agenda for discussion.
However, the Union has condemned the removal of Ogundipe by the University’s Governing Council, while accusing the Council chairman, Dr. Wale Babalakin of orchestrating the move.
There has been rumble in one of Nigeria’s foremost University (UNILAG) over the sack of the Vice Chancellor, Professor Ogundipe on Wednesday, with stakeholders urging the warring factions to sheath their sword.
The Ministry of Education has said that, the Governing Council of the institution has the right to fire and hire, so long as due process is followed.
