The University of Lagos (UNILAG) held its statutory Congregation meeting on Friday, September 19, 2025, at the J.F. Ade-Ajayi Auditorium; a session marked by progress reports, solemn tributes, and a key election.
The Vice-Chancellor and Chairman of Congregation, Professor Folasade T. Ogunsola, OON, FAS, used the occasion to review the activities of her administration, fifty-four (54) days to the end of her third year in office.
The tone of the gathering shifted as the Vice-Chancellor announced the tragic demise of Mr. Damilola Balogun, a 400-level student and President-elect of the Faculty of Education students’ association (NUESA). She also read the names of members of staff who had passed away since the last Congregation, including Professor Christiannah Omotuyule, who died on September 12, 2025. A minute silence was observed in honour of the departed.
In line with the FUTURE-READY agenda, Professor Ogunsola’s report outlined accomplishments in areas such as students/staff trainings, achievements and welfare; infrastructure development, and institutional re-structuring. She also addressed various issues raised by members of the Congregation, emphasising her administration’s commitment to transparency and dialogue.
The full text of the address is available here.
A major highlight of the meeting was the election of Professor Musa Adebayo Obalola as the representative of Congregation on the University Governing Council, following an e-voting process among members.
The e-voting process allowed members of Congregation to vote from independent locations, and also facilitated a speedy aggregation of the voting results. The Director of the Entrepreneurship and Skills Development Centre (ESDC), Professor Adebisi Sunday, FNIM, served as the Returning Officer for the election.
Below is a breakdown of the results:
| S/No | Candidate Name | Department | Vote Count | Vote % |
| 1. | Prof. OBALOLA, Musa Adebayo | Actuarial Sci & Insurance | 325 | 30.50 |
| 2. | Mr. Yusuff, Afolabi | HRMD | 266 | 24.88 |
| 3. | Prof. Adekunle, Adeyinka | Botany | 202 | 18.90 |
| 4. | Mr. Adeshina, Ganiyu Adelagun | Distance Learning Institute | 171 | 16.00 |
| 5. | Dr. Ogbenna, Ann Abiola | Haematology & Blood Transfusion | 78 | 7.30 |
| 6. | Dr. Oyawaluja, Aminat Asabi | Pharmacognosy | 18 | 1.68 |
The Congregation is a constitutional body of the University, comprising of all first degree holders among the staff of the University. The May 24, 1967, Resolution of Senate on membership and functions of Congregation states that:
“In addition to members of Congregation as provided for in the statues, the following shall be deemed members of Congregation: All graduate members of the Library, the Administrative and Technical Staff, and the holders of other posts as and approved by Senate from time to time.”
Also, the June 29, 2016 Resolution of Senate on membership of Congregation provides thus:
“Senate affirmed its position that only a first degree (University degree) shall suffice for eligibility into congregation. Senate rejected via a voice vote the acceptance of a Higher National Diploma (HND) in addition to a Master’s degree as a criterion for eligibility into Congregation”.
Report: Bayo Salau
Photographs: Ayo Oloyede
