UNILAG Honours: Call for Nominations into Honorary Positions

The University of Lagos (UNILAG) Honours Committee is calling for the nominations of suitably qualified individuals into the following honorary positions:
❖ Emeriti Professorship
❖ Distinguished Professorship
❖ Gold Medal Award

Kindly find below:

• Procedure and criteria for nomination, and
• Senate-approved Scoring System for Emeriti and Distinguished Professorship as well as Gold Medal Award.

Please note that:

• Nominations are to be supported with appropriate documentations. Nominations without documentations will be disqualified.
• Three (3) hard copies of the nominations (including attachments) should be forwarded to the Director, Academic Affairs on or before Sunday, August 31, 2025.
• In addition, electronic copies of nominations and documentations in PDF format should be forwarded to [email protected] on or before Sunday, August 31, 2025.
• Late submission of nominations shall not be entertained.

CRITERIA FOR APPOINTMENT OF PROFESSORS EMERITI

The title recognises meritorious service to a University by a Professor retiring from the University.  It is a title that is taken very seriously and one that recognizes the value an individual has earned due to their record of teaching, research and community service.  There must be recognizable outstanding contributions in one or more of the following areas: teaching, research, patient care, or University service.  Outstanding should be interpreted to mean recognized excellence over and beyond that of others of similar rank.

CRITERIA

1. The person should have occupied the position of Professor for a minimum of fifteen (15) years of which at least ten (10) years must have been in the University of Lagos and must have retired from the services of the University and fulfilled all obligations including leaving the office, residential quarters and returned all other University properties;
2. The person must have left the University service at the mandatory retiring age;
3. The person must have presented an Inaugural lecture prior to retirement;
4. The person should have brought distinction to the University through his teaching or research activities, attendance in Senate and community services, success in grant and other competitions, testimonials by peers, as well as demonstrated commitment to postgraduate studies (graduation of Ph.D., Fellowships etc);
5. The person should continue to contribute to knowledge as evidenced by currency of publications;
6. The person should be of proven integrity and should not have been sanctioned for any offense by the University Council or any other legal authority;
7. The total number of Professors Emeriti should not exceed 10% of serving Professors at any given time;
8. The person must have demonstrated (demonstrate) capacity to contribute to Academic Life of the University through attracting external funding;
9. The total number of Emeriti Professors should not exceed three (3) in a year and two should not be from the same Faculty.
10. Any claim of appointment and achievement outside the University should be supported with   relevant documents.

Procedure

1. The position shall not be applied for;
2. The process for appointment shall be initiated from the Department for deserving retired Professors;
3. The nomination should be accompanied by the detailed curriculum vitae and other    supporting/relevant documents following the University format;
4. A brief statement outlining why the nominees should be considered for the title of Professor Emeritus/Emeriti, most especially the current work/research the University stands to benefit during his/her Emeritus position in the University;
5. Recommendation(s) from the Department shall be considered by relevant Faculty Professorial Appointment and Promotion Committee and remitted with their comments and current curriculum vitae to the Honours Committee; For College of Medicine recommendations from the Department shall be considered by relevant Faculty Professorial Appointment and Promotion Committee and remitted with their comments and current Curriculum Vitae through the College of Medicine to the Honours Committee;
6. The Honours Committee shall forward its recommendation to Senate and thereafter to Council.

Privileges and Responsibilities

Privileges

1. The Department/Faculty shall avail the Professor Emeritus (where necessary) facilities such as office or laboratory space, for research, if available.
2. Attendance at Campus events open to University Staff.
3. The use of the former Departmental offices as a mailing address.
4. Being listed in the Calendar and Prospectus of the University.
5. The use of the University Libraries as deemed appropriate by the office of the University Librarian to that status.
6. The use of University equipment following retirement for academic activities.
7. Invitations to participate in public ceremonies and be treated at the same footing as a member of the Senate.
8. Being eligible to apply for grants and contracts under the aegis of the University. 
9. This is an honorary position and does not attract any honorarium or salary;

Responsibilities

1. The person must submit an annual report of his/her activities through the Department to the Registrar.
2. The person may participate in University activities, including meetings of Faculty Board of Studies, Senate, Congregation, Convocation, any other academic activities but shall not exercise a voting right; 
3. The person may offer to continue to teach or perform service without pay if he wishes.

Tenure

The appointment shall be for life except where the person is no longer able or willing to continue to perform the duties associated with his office or acts in a manner as to bring the University into disrepute.

Amendments

This policy may be amended and the privileges changed from time to time at the discretion of the University.  Such amendments shall be promptly communicated to all Emeritus Faculty.  No provision of this policy may be waived or modified by any officer, faculty member or agent of the University.

APPOINTMENT OF DISTINGUISHED PROFESSORS

1. Policy on Distinguished Professorships

1.1. The main objective for the appointment of Distinguished Professors is to recognize and honour Professors of the University holding full-time appointment.
1.2. All such appointment should be recommended by the Honours Committee, the University Senate and approved by the University Council.

2. Criteria

The criteria for the Appointment of Distinguished Professor shall be:

2.1. The person must be a Professor for a minimum of 15 years, 10 of which shall be in the service of the University of Lagos.
2.2. The Person must have presented an Inaugural lecture
2.3. The person should have brought distinction to the University through:
2.3.1. Outstanding research, teaching and scholarship.
2.3.2. Continuous contribution to knowledge and scholarship.
2.3.3. Being acknowledged authority in his/her field of research or creative activity which may include:

• Continuous notable contribution to research, publications in books and/or reputable journals
• Prestigious awards and citations and
• A substantial record of invited lectures at foreign and local prestigious institutions.

2.4. The person should be of proven integrity;
2.5. The total number of Distinguished Professors should not exceed 10% of serving Professors at any given time.
2.6. The award of Distinguished Professorship should not exceed three (3) awards in a year and two (2) should not be from the same Faculty.
2.7. Any claim of appointment and achievement outside the University should be supported with relevant documents. 

3. Procedure:

3.1. The position shall not be applied for.
3.2. It shall only be by nomination by any two (2) Professors of the University of Lagos.
3.3. Call for nomination shall be announced on or before 1^st of June in any calendar year and the nominations shall be submitted to the Academic Secretary, on or before 31^st August of the calendar year.
3.4. The nominations shall be considered by the Honours Committee.
3.5. The Honours Committee shall present nominations to Senate for approval and thereafter forwarded to Council for ratification.

4. Responsibilities of Distinguished Professors

The responsibilities of the Distinguished Professors shall be:

4.1. The person must continue to make distinguished contributions and provide academic leadership in the University through a Department or Unit of the University.
4.2. The person shall give an annual distinguished public lecture.
4.3. The person shall supervise at least two (2) Ph.D/Fellowship candidates at any given time.

5. Benefits

5.1. Subject to the fulfilment of responsibilities (as detailed in 4. above), the University shall fully sponsor a Distinguished Professor to attend one local/International Conference in which he/she is making a presentation annually as follows:

1. Return Economy Air Ticket by the most direct route; 
2. Conference Registration   Fees;
3. Per Diem for the duration of the Conference at approved rates. 

5.2. That a Distinguished Professor shall be recognised at University programmes and events.

6. Tenure

The appointment shall be for as long as the Professor remains a full time employee of the University as well as does not act in a manner as to bring the University into disrepute.

APPOINTMENT FOR GOLD MEDAL AWARD

1. Criteria:

1.1. The person must be a staff of a University for a minimum of 25 years, 15 of which shall be in the service of the University of Lagos;
1.2. Any staff who has made  significant contributions to the   University of Lagos since inception or persons who have demonstrated significant contributions in the standard of the University with respect to teaching, research, administration  and/or service to the Community and the University of Lagos.
1.3. He or She must not have been sanctioned for any offense by the University Council or any other legal authority.
1.4. The total number of Gold Medalists should not exceed 1.0% of staff in service at any given time.
1.5. There are three categories of staff in the University namely:  

1.  Academic Staff; 
2. Senior Administrative & Technical Staff; 
3. Junior Staff. 

Based on these groups, the Gold Medalist recipients should not be more than two (2) from each category at any given time.

1.6. Any claim of appointment and achievement outside the University should be supported with relevant documents.

2. Procedure:

2.1. The position shall not be applied for; 
2.2. Nomination shall be by any two Administrative unit Heads/Heads of Department of the University of Lagos;
2.3. Call for nominations shall be announced on or before 1^st of  June in any calendar year and the nominations shall be submitted to the Academic Secretary, on or before 31^st  August of the calendar year;
2.4. The Honours Committee shall consider all nominations for Gold Medal Award and recommend to Senate;
2.5. All Awardees shall be conferred at the next Convocation Ceremonies.  

Privileges and Responsibilities

3. Privileges

These include the following:

1. Awardees shall be listed on the University Calendar and Prospectus of the University.
2. Awardees shall be recognised at University programmes and events.
3. The position is honorific, therefore, there is no remuneration.

4. Responsibilities of Gold Medalists

The responsibilities of the Gold Medalists shall be:

4.1. The person shall continue to promote the good image of the University of Lagos;
4.2. After retirement, the person may participate in University activities including meetings of Congregation and Convocation but shall not exercise voting right.

SENATE APPROVED SCORING SYSTEM FOR EMERITUS AND DISTINGUISHED PROFESSORSHIP

	Requirement	MaxScore Allowed /Possible	Candidate’s Score
a	Number of  Senate Meetings attended within the last 2 years in service at 0.5 points per meeting attended and subject to a maximum of 10 points	10
b	Invited Public Lectures by reputable or professional organizations in the 10 years prior to the application at 1 point per lecture and subject to a maximum of 5 points	5
c	Research or Project grants attracted since becoming a Professor.Value of N10m or its foreign equivalent and above (3 points/grant) Value of N5m – N9.999m or its equivalent (2 points/grant)Value below N5m or its foreign equivalent (2 points/grant) Maximum number of 10 points	10
d	Merit/Recognition/Distinction/Honorary Awards ever received from recognized Universities, National or International Professional Bodies at 2 points per International and 1 point per National subject to a maximum of 5 points.	5
e	Community Projects in candidate area of expertise initiated and executed by the candidates within the past 15 years.  Score at 1 points per project subject to a maximum of 5 points.	5
f	Number of Ph.D/Fellowship by Examination Theses of students graduating and for whom the candidate served as supervisor in the last 15 years.  For each graduated student, 1 point is awarded the candidate subject to a maximum of 10 points.	10
g	To establish regularity, publications shall be in reputable, non-predatory journals in the last 15 years.  Each paper shall attract 1 point subject to maximum of 10 points.	10
h	To establish currency publications shall be in the 5 years prior to nomination at 1 point per paper and subject to a maximum of 5 points.	5
i	Any  invention/Grammy/Internationally recognised Laureate, ever, by the candidate, that has been patented and/or translated into an item of public use.	5
j	Any special University Assignments (Membership of Senate Committees, Membership of University Council, Administrative positions from level of HOD and above), headship of any Public Parastatal in executive capacity for not less than 1 year. Dean                                                                                 – 6 marks Member of Governing Council                                        – 4 marks Sub Dean/Head of Department                                        – 4 marks Standing Committee of Senate                                         – 2 marks Headship of Public Parastatal in Executive capacity       –  4 marks         (for not less than 1 year)	10
	TOTAL SCORE	75