The Senate of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), at its meeting held on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, celebrated six professors ahead of their retirement from active service. The honourees are Professors Wakeel Atanda Isola, Oladiipo Ajiboye, Wesley Ohifeme Okiei, Akinsanya Olayide Osibogun, Taiwo Adetayo Osipitan, and Kehinde Ololade Olayinka.
In her remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, OON, FAS, congratulated the retiring academics on their distinguished service to the University and their contributions to knowledge. On behalf of the University’s management, staff, and students, she wished them well and prayed that they would enjoy the fruits of their labour in good health.
In their respective responses, Professors Isola (who joined the meeting virtually), Ajiboye, Okiei, Osibogun, Osipitan, and Olayinka reflected on their professional journeys as academics and offered recommendations for advancing tertiary education in Nigeria. They also expressed gratitude to their families and friends, as well as the University Senate and the wider University community, for the opportunity to serve and contribute to national development.
Below are the citations of the retiring professors:
Professor Wakeel Atanda Isola
Professor Wakeel Atanda Isola is a distinguished economist, accomplished academic, and experienced university administrator whose contributions to economic research, higher education, and public policy have earned him recognition.
Born on November 1, 1956, in Iwo, Osun State, Nigeria, he obtained his B.Sc. in Economics from the University of Ibadan in 1982 and his M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Lagos in 1991 and 2007, respectively.
He began his academic career at the former Ogun State College of Education before joining the University of Lagos as a Lecturer II in 2000. Through dedication and scholarly excellence, he attained the rank of Professor of Economics in 2018. His areas of specialisation include Energy Economics, Industrial Economics, and Human Resource Development.
Professor Isola has served the University of Lagos in several leadership capacities, including Head of the Department of Economics, Postgraduate Coordinator, and Deputy Director of the Distance Learning Institute. He also chaired the Board of the University’s Human Resource Development Centre and currently chairs the Board of Trustees of the UBA Bank Professorial Chair in Finance.
Since 2019, he has served on accreditation panels of the National Universities Commission, contributing to quality assurance in Nigerian universities. He is a member of the Nigerian Economic Society (NES) and the Nigerian Association for Energy Economics (NAEE). He also served as Chairman of the NES Lagos Chapter from 2021 to 2025.
His consultancy and research engagements include assignments for the Federal Government of Nigeria, the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation, and the Central Bank of Nigeria. His research interests cover industrialisation, energy reforms, corporate governance, human capital development, and sustainable economic growth. He has published extensively and co-edited Nigeria’s Industrial Development and Corporate Governance and Public Policy, both published by the University of Lagos Press.
Professor Isola exemplifies scholarly excellence, purposeful leadership, and dedicated service to economic development and higher education. He is happily married and blessed with children and grandchildren.
Professor Oladiipo Ajiboye
Professor Oladiipo Ajiboye is a distinguished scholar of Linguistics and Yorùbá Studies, recognised for his academic excellence, outstanding scholarship, mentorship, and commitment to community development.
Born on November 3, 1956, in Ilale, Oke-Ero Local Government Area of Kwara State, he obtained his B.A. in Linguistics, Postgraduate Diploma in Education, and M.A. in Yorùbá Language from the University of Ilorin. He subsequently earned a Ph.D. in Linguistics from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, in 2006.
Professor Ajiboye began his university teaching career at the University of Ilorin in 1995. He subsequently served at the University of Abuja before joining the University of Lagos in 2007. Through dedication and scholarly distinction, he attained the rank of Professor of Linguistics and Yorùbá Language in October 2015. His research interests include theoretical linguistics, Yorùbá phonology, syntax, and language studies.
A prolific author, Professor Ajiboye has published more than 70 academic articles and book chapters in reputable national and international publications. He has authored books on linguistics and contributed to drama, prose, and poetry. His commitment to cultural preservation is reflected in his co-authorship of Ùlálẹ̀: Origin, Culture, Religion and Socio-economic Development. He has also delivered keynote addresses and guest lectures and collaborated with scholars around the world.
His distinguished achievements have earned him fellowships in the American Council of Learned Societies’ African Humanities Program, the Nigerian Academy of Letters, the Linguistic Association of Nigeria, and the Yorùbá Studies Association of Nigeria.
At the University of Lagos, he has served as Postgraduate Coordinator, Head of Department, journal editor, and Senate Representative on the Development Committee. He also contributed significantly to the establishment of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Linguistics and Yorùbá. His academic legacy includes mentoring and supervising numerous students, including doctoral candidates.
Beyond academia, he supports indigent students from Ilale through the Professor Oladiipo Education Foundation. In recognition of his contributions, he was conferred the chieftaincy title of Àgbà à kin of Ilale.
Professor Ajiboye remains an exemplary figure whose enduring legacy embodies scholarly excellence, cultural preservation, visionary leadership, and selfless service.
Professor Akinsanya Olayide Osibogun
Professor Akinsanya Olayide Osibogun is a public health physician and academic with extensive leadership experience in medical education, healthcare administration, and public health policy.
He obtained his medical degree from the University of Lagos in 1980 and a Master of Public Health from Columbia University, New York, in 1984. He became a Fellow of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria in 1989 and a Fellow of the West African College of Physicians in 1994. In 2020, he earned the postgraduate Doctor of Medicine degree from the National Postgraduate Medical College. He also served as a consultant to the World Health Organization on health systems strengthening.
Professor Osibogun began his academic career at Ogun State University in 1990 and became a Professor at the University of Lagos on October 1, 2001. He served as Head of Community Health from 2001 to 2006, Chief Medical Director of Lagos University Teaching Hospital from 2006 to 2014, and President of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria from 2022 to 2023.
His contributions to public health include founding the Leguru Health Society in 1996, which provided a model for Ogun State’s health insurance scheme. He also led research supporting Lagos State’s COVID-19 response and headed the Health and Nutrition section of Nigeria’s 2021–2025 National Development Plan. Since 2022, he has chaired the National Expert Review Committee on Polio Eradication and Immunisation in Nigeria.
He has supervised more than 35 postgraduate theses and over 70 master’s dissertations and delivered more than 60 invited lectures. He also served as Chairman of the Senate Honours Committee from 2022 to 2024.
His service has earned him the Distinguished Fellowship of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria and the Fellowship of the Nigerian Medical Association. As he retires from the University of Lagos, he has been offered the position of pioneer Vice-Chancellor of Regnum Medical University.
Professor Osibogun, who will turn 70 on Monday, November 9, 2026, is married to Mrs Margaret Osibogun, and they have four daughters.
Professor Wesley Ohifeme Okiei
Professor Wesley Ohifeme Okiei was born on November 14, 1956. He obtained a Bachelor of Science degree with honours in Biochemistry from the University of Benin in 1978. After completing his National Youth Service Corps programme in 1979, he briefly worked with Lever Brothers Nigeria Plc, now Unilever Nigeria Plc, before commencing a master’s programme in Chemistry at the University of Lagos in 1982.
In 1984, he received the Japanese Monbusho Scholarship to conduct research on chitin and chitosan at Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan. He completed his Ph.D. at the University of Lagos in 1991 and joined the University’s Department of Chemistry as a Lecturer II in December of the same year. He was promoted to Professor in 2015.
Professor Okiei’s research focuses on the electrochemical interface between working electrodes and analytes. He has published more than 50 peer-reviewed journal articles and contributed to over 50 conferences, collaborating with researchers in Nigeria, Japan, and the United States.
In 2005, he collaborated with Professor Ogunlesi, a former Deputy Vice-Chancellor, and Professor Omowunmi Sadik of Binghamton University, New York, to secure an award from the United States National Science Foundation for the development of a marine and seawater pollution database spanning multiple continents. He also received research grants from the Lagos State Research Innovation Council in 2020 and 2022.
His administrative contributions to the University of Lagos include serving as Acting Head of the Department of Chemistry from 2012 to 2014 and substantive Head from 2016 to 2019. He has also chaired faculty committees, coordinated the Central Research Laboratory, and served on several Senate, security, welfare, examination, and research committees.
Professor Okiei has served as an external examiner for universities in Nigeria and South Africa. A dedicated mentor, he has graduated four Ph.D. candidates and supervised numerous postgraduate and undergraduate students in Chemistry.
In recognition of his commitment to postgraduate supervision, he received the inaugural Professor Ayo Ogunye Trust Fund (PAFOTFUL) Award in 2025 as the University’s overall best Ph.D. supervisor. The award included ₦250,000 and a plaque.
Professor Okiei exemplifies academic excellence, impactful research, exemplary university service, and dedicated mentorship.
Distinguished Professor Taiwo Adetayo Osipitan, SAN, FCIArb, FNIALS
Distinguished Professor Taiwo Adetayo Osipitan, SAN, FCIArb, FNIALS, is an eminent legal scholar and practitioner whose contributions to legal education and constitutional development have earned him national recognition.
Born on November 14, 1956, alongside his twin sister, Professor Kehinde Ololade Olayinka, he studied Law at the University of Lagos from 1977 to 1980 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in July 1981. He subsequently undertook postgraduate studies at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Professor Osipitan joined the University of Lagos as a Lecturer II in November 1983 and became Professor of Public Law in 1998. He served as Acting Head and subsequently Head of the Department of Public Law.
He served as Special Adviser on Constitutional and Legal Matters to the Chief of General Staff and Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council. He also served on the committee responsible for coordinating debates on and drafting Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution.
His distinctions include elevation to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2002, election as a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators in 2012, conferment of the title of Distinguished Professor of Law by the University of Lagos in 2018, and election as a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies in 2022.
A scholar of Constitutional Law, Law of Evidence, Criminal Law, and Comparative Law, he has published more than 70 articles and book chapters and supervised numerous students. His scholarship was recognised in The Radiance of Silk and endorsed by the Supreme Court in A.G. Ondo State v. A.G. Federation (2002) 9 NWLR (Pt. 772) 222.
He chairs the Dr Mike Adenuga (Jnr) Professorial Chair in Entrepreneurial Studies and the University’s Legal Advisory Services Board. He also serves on the Governing Council of the University of Lagos.
Professor Osipitan exemplifies intellectual excellence, distinction, leadership, and dedicated service to the University and the nation.
Professor Kehinde Ololade Olayinka
Professor Kehinde Ololade Olayinka is an Analytical and Environmental Chemist recognised as the first professor of these disciplines at the University of Lagos. She has made significant contributions to teaching, research, postgraduate training, and institutional development.
She obtained a B.Sc. in Chemistry from the University of Ibadan in 1979, an M.Sc. in Analytical Chemistry from Ahmadu Bello University in 1982, and a Ph.D. in Analytical and Environmental Chemistry from the University of Greenwich, United Kingdom, in 1988.
She worked at the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control and the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi, before joining the University of Lagos as a Senior Lecturer in 1999. She was promoted to Professor in 2011.
Professor Olayinka has supervised hundreds of students, including more than 12 doctoral graduates. She developed postgraduate programmes in Analytical Chemistry, Environmental Chemistry, and Environmental Management. She has also published more than 87 articles in peer-reviewed journals.
She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Chemical Society of Nigeria, the Institute of Chartered Chemists of Nigeria, and the Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria.
She served as Head of the Department of Chemistry from 2009 to 2012 and as the pioneer Director of the Dr D. K. Olukoya Central Research Laboratory from 2013 to 2019. In these roles, she promoted access to research facilities and led consultancy projects through UNILAG Consult.
Her research has attracted grants from the Royal Society of Chemistry, TETFund, the University of Lagos Central Research Committee, Lagos State, the West Africa Geo-Health Programme, and Sandia National Laboratories, USA. She also co-authored a TETFund-supported book on chemical security and laboratory safety.
Professor Olayinka exemplifies scholarly excellence, innovation, leadership, and dedicated service to higher education. She has served on various committees and as a journal reviewer, external examiner, and assessor of professorial appointments.
Professor Olayinka is blessed with children and grandchildren.
Photographs: Islamiat Oyebamire-Akanni
One Response
congratulations to the best of the best lecturers