A new Vice-Chancellor has been named for the University of Lagos (UNILAG), in acting capacity. He is Prof Theophilus Omololu Soyombo of the Faculty of Social Sciences of the institution.

The appointment was announced late on Wednesday night by the Governing Council of the University headed by its Chairman and Pro-Chancellor, Dr. Wale Babalakin.

Meanwhile, the new VC, a renowned Consultant Sociologist, has immediately confirmed his acceptance of appointment, describing it as “a call to service”.

Making the disclosure in a press statement, the Registrar and Secretary to the Governing Council, Azeez Oladejo, used the opportunity to debunk insinuations by the embattled former Vice-Chancellor that he still remained the VC.

The Registrar who affirmed his position as the Custodian of all minutes of meetings of the Council and official documents of the University, insisted that the former VC was indeed gone forever as all Council members were all present at the meeting.

The statement signed by the Registrar and titled Re:Notice to the general public on the removal of the Vice-Chancellor, Unilag, reads as follows:
“My attention has been drawn to a document circulating under the hand and signature of the former Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, FAS.

“The letter purports to deny his removal by the Governing Council of the University at its emergency meeting of Wednesday August 12, 2020.

“For the avoidance of doubt, I am in my capacity as Registrar and Secretary to Council, the only Custodian of the minutes of Council and the Authorising Officer on behalf of Council to issue official statement pertaining to all Council Affairs.

“Members of the Council are hereby advised to totally disregard the statement attributed to the said former Vice-Chancellor. The position remains that he was lawfully removed from the Governing Council at a meeting fully attended by all Council members.

“I also wish to use the opportunity to inform members of the public that Council at the said meeting duly appointed Prof. Theophilia Omololu Soyombo of the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Lagos as Vice-Chancellor of the University, in an acting capacity. “

The new acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof Soyombo, hails from Abeokuta, Ogun State.

He is a Professor of international repute, with a PhD in sociology from University of Essex, England.

He had attended Owu Baptist Day School, Abeokuta for his primary school before proceeding to Baptist Boys High School, Abeokuta in 1968 to 1972 and also Abeokuta Grammar School from 1973 to 1974.

He gained admission to the University of Lagos in 1974 to study Sociology and eventually partook in the national youth service in 1977.

Prof Omololu Soyombo has also taken up several departments, faculty, and intra-campus leadership position for over a decade.