ASUU celebrates as Ogundipe returns as UNILAG Vice Chancellor

Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe has returned to his duties as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG).

President Muhammadu Buhari had asked Ogundipe to step aside following a leadership crisis triggered by allegations of corruption which the vice-chancellor denies.

In Ogundipe’s absence, UNILAG went ahead to elect Prof Folasade Ogunsola as its first female VC. That move has now been voided after the Ministry of Education announced Buhari’s decision to reinstate Ogundipe.

The UNILAG chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has welcomed Ogundipe’s return.

“We thank the visitor to our university, President Muhammadu Buhari through the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, for this great intervention at the University of Lagos,” UNILAG ASUUN chair Dr Dele Ashiru said.

“The reinstatement of the VC is a confirmation of the position of our union that his purported removal was not only illegal, it was vindictive.

“It is our conviction that this decision by the government will restore peace, stability, and scholarly progress back to our university,” Punch reported him saying.

Also, the Chairman, NASU, UNILAG branch, Kehinde Ajibade, said, “It is a good development; the VC has been vindicated and the majority of members of staff are happy to welcome him back.

“The panel did a good job. I advise the VC to place more priority on staff welfare and reconcile some aggrieved members of staff.”