By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
Lagos State University (LASU) is set to have Professor Ayodeji Olawunmi Badejo as its 10th Substantive Vice-Chancellor, following her appointment by the Lagos State Governor and Visitor to the University, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu.
Badejo was appointed on Wednesday, 9 September 9, 2026, and will assume office on Sunday, September 20, 2026, succeeding Distinguished Professor Ibiyemi Ibilola Olatunji-Bello, whose tenure ends on Saturday, September 19. She will serve a single term of five years.
Born on August 4, 1962, Badejo is a Professor of Counselling Psychology with more than three decades of experience in academic scholarship, teaching, research, institutional leadership, mentorship and pedagogical innovation.
Her academic qualifications include a Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) obtained in 1983, a Bachelor of Education degree in 1986, a Master of Education degree in 1988 and a PhD in Guidance and Counselling in 1998, according to a profile released by the university.
She rose through the lecturer cadre to the rank of Professor, with significant contributions to Counselling Psychology and higher education.
Badejo has served the university in several academic and administrative capacities at departmental, faculty and university-wide levels, including as a member of the LASU Governing Council and Chairman of the Senate Curriculum Committee, where she contributed to curriculum development and validation, academic planning, and the alignment of the university’s programmes with National Universities Commission (NUC) requirements.
She also facilitated the development and introduction of new academic programmes for the University.
She previously served as Dean of the Faculty of Education, during which about 20 academic staff were promoted to the professorial cadre while all programmes in the faculty secured full NUC accreditation.
As Chairman of the LASU International School Board, she led initiatives that strengthened the school’s financial and operational position, growing its capital reserves from approximately N88,000 to N121 million and eliminating structural financial deficits, alongside growth in staff strength, student enrolment and sustained performance in public examinations.
Between 2012 and 2026, Badejo supervised 23 PhD graduates, earning recognition as a “Mentor of Mentors,” with one of her supervisees receiving the 2024 Best PhD Thesis Award.
She has authored four books, contributed 17 book chapters and published more than 60 peer-reviewed journal articles, bringing her total scholarly output to more than 80 major publications, with visibility on international academic platforms.
She has also served as Chairman of the LASU Research Ethics Committee, providing leadership in the ethical review of research protocols and strengthening the capacity of committee members through professional training and collaboration with national and professional bodies.
Beyond LASU, she has held leadership positions in professional counselling organisations, holding fellowships with the Counselling Association of Nigeria (CASSON) and the Association of Professional Counsellors in Nigeria (APROCON), and membership of 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 in 2015 and APROCON in 2022, and a Distinguished Personality Award for Excellence in Higher Education in Africa, conferred in Pretoria, South Africa, in 2025.
She also developed a patented Youth Anthem associated with the university, reflecting her commitment to initiatives connecting academic expertise with broader societal needs.
Badejo is set to begin her five-year term on September 20, bringing more than three decades of institutional leadership, scholarship and mentorship experience to the office.
