By Henry Oladele
The Lagos State University Alumni Association has described Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello’s tenure as Vice-Chancellor as a legacy of service and transformation.
The association made its position known in a tribute signed by its National President, Mr Norrison Quakers, and made it available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday.
Quakers described Olatunji-Bello as an exemplary Vice-Chancellor whose tenure was marked by scholarship, institutional development, academic excellence and service to humanity.
He said the retirement of a Vice-Chancellor was more than the conclusion of an administrative tenure, but an opportunity to reflect on leadership and accomplishments.
According to him, Olatunji-Bello distinguished herself through intellectual capacity, courage, integrity, humility and commitment to advancing Lagos State University.
“Prof. Ibiyemi Ibilola Olatunji-Bello, mni, NPOM, without any iota of doubt, has distinguished herself in the comity of Vice-Chancellors,” Quakers said.
He noted that long before assuming the Vice-Chancellorship, Olatunji-Bello had established herself as a scholar committed to teaching, research, publications and mentorship.
Quakers said her contributions had influenced students, colleagues and younger academics who benefited from her scholarship, guidance and encouragement.
He said Olatunji-Bello provided leadership during a period when universities faced financial constraints, infrastructural deficits and rapid technological transformation.
According to him, her administration also contended with increasing demands for quality assurance and the need for universities to remain globally competitive.
Quakers said Olatunji-Bello pursued the continued development of LASU with an understanding of its responsibilities to students, staff, stakeholders and society.
He said her tenure would be remembered not merely by its duration, but by the “institutional footprints” created during her administration.
The alumni president listed infrastructure, academic programmes, research, staff development, student welfare, digitalisation, partnerships and community engagement among areas of institutional development.
“Public office within the university system is temporary, but genuine service leaves a residue that outlives the office,” Quakers said.
He added that Olatunji-Bello left the Vice-Chancellorship with the distinction of contributing significantly to LASU’s pursuit of academic excellence and institutional relevance.
Quakers said the retired Vice-Chancellor’s legacy represented scholarship translated into leadership, leadership expressed through service, and service directed towards the advancement of an institution.
He expressed the association’s appreciation for Olatunji-Bello’s years of dedicated service and her interface with the leadership of the alumni association.
“We thank Prof. Olatunji-Bello for the vision, commitment and sacrifices she made in the discharge of her duties,” he said.
Quakers also commended her for accepting the responsibility of leadership and dedicating a significant portion of her professional life to the university.
He said retirement from the office of Vice-Chancellor should not be regarded as the end of Olatunji-Bello’s journey, but the beginning of another chapter.
According to him, her experience will remain valuable to scholarship, mentorship, research, public discourse, national development and education.
“We therefore look forward to seeing Prof. Ibiyemi Ibilola Olatunji-Bello continue to contribute to the advancement of education and national development,” Quakers said.
He described the tribute as a celebration of an academic who accepted institutional leadership, influenced lives and contributed to the university community.
Quakers said the history of LASU would record Olatunji-Bello’s tenure as part of its continuing story of growth and development.
He added that the retired Vice-Chancellor left LASU “better positioned for the future” through her dedicated service.
Quakers congratulated the former Vice-Chancellor on her tenure and retirement, expressing hope that her legacy would continue to inspire future generations.
Olatunji-Bello’s single non-renewable, five-year tenure as the ninth substantive VC of LASU ended on Sept. 19, 2026.
She has been succeeded by Prof. Ayodeji Badejo.(NAN)
Edited by Oluwole Sogunle
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