The University of Lagos (UNILAG) has demonstrated its commitment to institutional excellence and continuous leadership development with a two-day Leadership Retreat for Deans of Faculties, Heads of Departments, and Directors of Academic Units.
Held on Friday, February 6 and Saturday, February 7, 2026, at UNILAG Guest Houses and Conference Centre, the retreat brought together the University’s senior academic leaders under the theme “Empowering Future-Ready Faculty.” The programme was designed to strengthen governance capacity, enhance strategic leadership competencies, and prepare UNILAG’s academic leadership cadre for the evolving demands of global higher education.
Vice-Chancellor Emphasises Strategic Leadership for Institutional Transformation
In her opening address, the Vice-Chancellor and Chief Host of the event, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, OON, FAS, underscored the centrality of leadership capacity in driving institutional transformation and global competitiveness.
Her words: “Universities that will thrive in the future are those that deliberately invest in the intellectual, administrative, and ethical capacity of their leaders. This retreat is part of our deliberate strategy to ensure that UNILAG’s leadership is future-ready, globally competitive, and deeply committed to excellence.”
She added that the University remains focused on strengthening leadership systems to support innovation, accountability, and academic excellence across all faculties and units.
The Vice-Chancellor highlighted the strategic importance of academic departments, describing them as “determinants of the quality of our University.” She charged Heads of Departments to step up and use administrative powers at their disposal for the betterment of their personnel and students, and for the good of the University.
“Deans are oversight managers. You, the HODs, have the power to do a lot of things. You must be able and ready to take hard decisions for effective and efficient administration. You should not keep passing everything up to the Vice-Chancellor. As HOD, you know what is on ground. Make the decision, and I will endorse it”
DVC Oboh Highlights Need for Adaptive, Innovative University Leadership
Convener of the retreat and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics and Research), Professor Bola Oboh, described the retreat as a critical platform for building adaptive and innovative leadership within the University.
“A major reason why we are here is to be able to rethink what our roles are as Deans, Directors, and HODs. A lot of developments have occurred in the past one year which have necessitated a refresher on how we conceive of our roles”, she said.
“Leadership in the modern university is no longer about routine administration; it is about strategic thinking, innovation, and stewardship. At this retreat, it is our objective to equip deans, heads of department, and directors with the skills to lead with clarity, courage, and creativity in a rapidly changing academic environment.”
2 Days, 7 Sessions, and Masterclasses on Operational Excellence, Critical Thinking and Strategic Decision-Making
With seven (7) different sessions, delivered across Morning & Afternoon segments in two days, participants engaged in high-impact sessions on Operational Excellence covering administrative responsibilities, financial stewardship, procurement compliance, and effective resource management. The sessions were facilitated by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics & Research), Prof. Bola Oboh; Registrar, Mrs. Abosede Wickliffe; Bursar, Mrs. Oluwafunmilola Adekunle, FCA; and Director of Procurement, Mr. Olalekan Hakeem Sonde.
Highlight of Day One was the session on Future-Proofing Education: AI Advantage , which explored the integration of artificial intelligence in teaching, learning, and research. Speaking on the importance of digital transformation, the facilitator and Head, Department of Computer Science, Dr. Chika Yinka-Banjo noted that: “Integrating AI into teaching and learning is no longer optional; it has become an imperative. UNILAG is positioning itself at the forefront of digital pedagogy and research innovation in Africa – and all of us here are critical to the success of that mission.”
To round off the first day, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development Services), Professor. Folorunso Lesi and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Management Services), Professor Muyiwa Falaiye, respectively, facilitated the session on Intellectual Development, Critical Thinking and Strategic Decision-Making, equipping participants with tools for data-driven leadership and institutional innovation.
Building Sustainable, Entrepreneurial Academic Units
On Day Two of the retreat, the subjects of Quality Assurance and Sustainability, Strategic Talent Management, and The Entrepreneurial Leader, were up for discussion, with focus on transforming faculties and departments into innovation hubs and viable business units.
Facilitators included Director of Academic Planning, Professor Matthew Ilori; Director of Quality Assurance/SERVICOM, Prof. Olufemi Saibu; and the University Librarian, Professor Olatokunbo Okiki.
Others were the Deputy Registrar, Human Resource Management Directorate (HRMD), Mr. Afolabi Yusuf; Ag. Director of the Innovation and Technology Management Office (ITMO), Dr. Olayinka Adewumi; and Director of the Entrepreneurship and Skill Development Centre (ESDC), Professor Sunday Adebisi.
A Strategic Investment
Summing up the significance of the retreat, Professor Oboh described the initiative as a long-term investment in the University’s future.
“This retreat is not just a training programme; it is an investment in the future of the University of Lagos. By strengthening our leadership structures, we are strengthening the University itself and preparing it for sustainable excellence,” she said.
Positioning for Global Relevance and Excellence
With the two-day leadership retreat, the University of Lagos continues to demonstrate its strategic commitment to building leadership capacity, strengthening governance systems, and positioning its academic units for global relevance and sustainable excellence.
The initiative reflects the FUTURE-READY agenda of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, to nurture visionary leaders capable of driving innovation, upholding academic standards, and steering the University towards its future-ready aspirations.
Report: Isaiah Kumuyi
Photography: Joshua Michael & Isaac Agueh (Student Volunteer)
