The Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has approved the appointment of Prof. Olumuyiwa Odusanya as the substantive and pioneer Vice Chancellor of the Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), Ikorodu.

 

Odusanya is a professor of Public and Community Health, and former Provost of the Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM).

 

This was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Office of the Special Adviser on Education (SAE) to Mr Sanwo-Olu, Tokunbo Wahab, which noted that Odusanya’s appointment took effect from September 29, 2022.

 

Mr Olumuyiwa Odusanya, a director of research and innovation at the Lagos State University, was one of the strongest contenders for LASU’s vice-chancellorship position until the appointment of Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, a professor of Physiology, in September, 2021.

 

It was gathered that Mr Odusanya was singled out for the new position among more than 20 “eminently qualified scholars” reportedly headhunted by the search team.

 

Gov. Sanwo-Olu had, at the take-off of the new university, approved the appointment of the then substantive rector of the former Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu, Dr Nurudeen Olaleye, as the acting vice chancellor of the university pending the selection and appointment of the substantive vice-chancellor.

 

Oluremi Olaleye is a PhD holder in Microbiology.

 

The statement explained that “It has become imperative to appoint a substantive Vice Chancellor for LASUSTECH to ensure that there is no void in the university’s leadership and to maintain the necessary stability of the institution.

 

“Odusanya, until his new appointment was a Professor of Community and Primary Health in the Department of Community Health and Primary Health Care, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, Lagos State University.”

 

Mr Olaleye, also a contender for the position, has been asked to revert to his position as the rector of the polytechnic pending when the last student of the polytechnic would be graduated.

 

The statement, which was signed by an Assistant Director, Public Affairs Unit of the SAE office, Adesoye Oyelami, noted that Mr Olaleye has been directed “to resume his duty post as the LASPOTECH’s substantive rector for the next three years and two months remaining for him to complete his tenure.”

 

The statement reads in part; “It would be recalled that the State Governor, Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu at the take -off of the new university , approved the appointment of the then substantive Rector of the former Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Ikorodu, Dr. Nurudeen Olaleye as the Ag. Vice- Chancellor of the University, pending the selection and appointment of the substantive Vice- Chancellor.

 

“The State government noted that it has become imperative to appoint a substantive Vice- Chancellor for the institution (LASUSTECH) to ensure that there is no void in the University’s leadership and to maintain the necessary stability of the Lagos State University of Science and Technology from time to time.”

 

Mr Wahab thanked Mr Olaleye for “using his experience and good managerial skills to set the new University on a good track.”

 

“He (Mr Wahab) noted that posterity would judge him (Mr Olaleye) aright as one of the foundation Management Heads of the University in the future, adding that his efforts would pave the way for the new administration to start on a good pedestal.”

 

Prof. Olumuyiwa Odusanya was born on the 8 February, 1965. A Fellow of the Medical College in Public Health and Community Medicine (FMCPH), who holds Master of Public Health from University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka.

 

Until his new appointment, Professor Odusanya is a Professor of Community and Primary Health in the Department of Community Health and Primary Health Care in the Faculty Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, Lagos State University.

 

Meanwhile, the incumbent acting deputy vice-chancellors – Olumide Metilelu and Kola Godonu, who are in charge of academic and administration, respectively, will reportedly continue in those capacities for the “next 90 days.”

 

The new vice-chancellor is expected to announce his preferred deputies when he settles down after the expiration of the 90-day term of the duo.

 

About LASUSTECH

Governor Babajide sanwo-Olu’s administration had in February announced the official establishment of two additional universities following the successful transmutation of existing polytechnic and colleges of education.

 

While LASUST is a transmutation of the hitherto Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Ikorodu, the Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), Ijanikin, is a product of the transmutations of both the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED), Ijanikin, and Michael Otedola College of Primary Education (MOCPED), Naforija, Epe.

 

The National Universities Commission (NUC), the regulatory body in charge of universities in Nigeria, had in February presented the clearance certificate of operations to Mr Sanwo-Olu and his Special Adviser on Education, Tokunbo Wahab.

 

The Executive Secretary of NUC, Abubakar Rasheed, at the time said the agency had communicated with appropriate educational agencies of government including the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Tertiary Education Trust Find (TETFund), and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), among others, of the new universities.

 

Prof. Olumuyiwa Odusanya Career

He received his Master of Public Health from the University of Lagos and is currently a Professor of Community and Primary Health at the Department of Community Health and Primary Health Care in the Faculty of Clinical Sciences in the College of Medicine at Lagos State University, according to Wahab.

Director Research Management and Innovation , Lagos State University 2018 till date; Provost Lagos state University College of Medicine 2-012-2014 – 2022. Won several grants and widely published. lets look at some publications Prof. Olumuyiwa Odusanya actually made with some other team members.

• ODUSANYA, O. Olumuyiwa, ODUGBEMI, A. Babatunde, ODUGBEMI, O. Tinuola, AJISEGIRI, S. Whenayon (2020). COVID-119: A review of the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions. Nigerian Postgraduate Medical Journal 27: 261-267 (Nigeria) https://doi: 10.4103/npmj.npmj_208_20.

 

• WRIGHT, O. Kikelomo, DAIRO, D Magbagbeola, ODUGBEMI, A. Babatunde, ADEPOJU, O. Funmilade, ADEBAYO, I. Bisola, DUROJAIYE, O. Temitope, SHOGBAMIMU, O. Yeside, ODUSANYA, O. Olumuyiwa , IDRIS, Olajide Idris (2020)
  Misconceptions about HIV infection and testing services: A qualitative pilot survey in Lagos. Journal of HIV/AIDS & Social Services. https://doi.org/10.1080/15381501.2020.1836543

 

• KEHINDE, A. Omolara, KUYINU, A. Yetunde, ODUSANYA, O. Olumuyiwa (2020).
  Factors associated with missed opportunities for vaccination in children in the first year of life at a tertiary health facility in Lagos. Annals of Health Research 6 (3): 287-297. https://doi: 10.30442/ahr.0603-05091

 

• KUYINU, A. Yetunde, FEMI-ADEBAYO, T. Toriola, ADEBAYO, I. Bisola, ABDURRAHEEM-SALAMI, Ibipo, ODUSANYA, O. Olumuyiwa (2020).
  Health Literacy: Prevalence and determinants in Lagos Nigeria. PLoS ONE 15(8), e0237813. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0237813

 

• AKINYINKA, R. Modupe, OLUWOLE, O. Esther, ODUSANYA, O. Olumuyiwa (2020). Predictors of client satisfaction among recent users of health services in Lagos, Nigeria” Health Services Insights 13,1-9. https://doi.10.1177/11786332920934499

 

• AJISEGIRI, S. Whenayon, ODUSANYA, O. Olumuyiwa, JOSHI, Rohina (2020)
  COVID-19 outbreak situation in Nigeria and the need for effective engagement of community health workers for epidemic response. Global Security 1(4).
  http://doi.org/10.31646/gbio.69

 

• OLUWOLE, O. Esther, AKINYINKA, R. Modupe, ODUSANYA, O. Olumuyiwa (2019). Utilization of health facilities and preferred places of treatment for common health conditions in Lagos, Nigeria.” Nigerian Journal of Paediatrics 46(1),15. http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/njp.v46i1.4

 

• KUYINU, A. Yetunde, GOODMAN, O. Olayinka, ODUGBEMI, A. Babatunde, ADEYEYE O. Olayinka, MOHAMMED, S. Ahmadu, ODUSANYA, O. Olumuyiwa (2019) Tuberculosis infection prevention and control measures in DOTS centres in Lagos State, Nigeria”. International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease 23(4),474-81. http://dx.doi.org/10.5588/ijtld.18.0348

 

• ODUSANYA, O. Olumuyiwa, AKINYINKA, R. Modupe, OLUWOLE, O. Esther, ODUGBEMI, A. Babatunde, BAKARE, Q. Omowunmi, ADENIRAN, Adeyinka (2018).
  How does the public perceive healthcare workers in Lagos? A comparison of health workers in public and private health facilities”? Nigerian Postgraduate Medical Journal 25(4),177-85. http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/npmj.npmj_102_18