Three dons of the University of Lagos were celebrated by the University Senate at a Special Session held on Thursday, December 14, 2023, ahead of their retirement from active government service.
They are: Professor Ganiyu Ishola Lawal of the Department of Metallurgical &Material Engineering as well as Professor Chikodi Nnanyelu Anigbogu and Professor Smith I. Jaja of the Department of Physiology.
In her remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, OON, FAS, congratulated the trio for their illustrious service to the university and contributions to the body of knowledge. Prof. Ogunsola, on behalf of management, staff and students, wished them well, and prayed that they would enjoy the fruits of their labour in good health.
In their separate responses, Professors Lawal, Anigbogu and Jaja expressed gratitude to the University Senate and community for the opportunity to serve and contribute their quota to the development of Nigeria. They also appreciated their families and friends for their support over the years.
Professor Ganiyu Ishola Lawal was born on December 31, 1953 in Lagos State. He attended Yaba College of Technology, Yaba (1973-1975) for his post-secondary education.
He gained admission into Donetsk Polytechnic Institute, Donetsk, USSR for a Master of Science degree in Metallurgy where he graduated with a Distinction and as Best Graduating Student in his class in 1981. In 1984, he was awarded a Federal Government Scholarship to proceed to the University of Leeds, United Kingdom where he obtained a Doctoral degree in Industrial Metallurgy in 1988.
Professor Lawal joined the services of the University of Lagos in 1989 as a Lecturer II and rose through the ranks to become a Professor in 2010. He has served the University meritoriously in several administrative and academic capacities. He is a member of several professional societies and associations including Nigerian Society of Engineers, Materials Science of Nigeria (MSN) and Nigerian Metallurgical Society (NMS).
He has co-supervised fifteen (15) Ph.D. Thesis and over two hundred (200) Masters Dissertations. Professor Lawal is married and blessed with children.
Professor Chikodi Nnanyelu Anigbogu was born on December 23, 1953 in Enugu, Enugu State. He holds a Bachelor of Science (Physiology) from the University of Ibadan. In 1980, he gained admission to the University of Lagos for a Master’s Programme in Physiology and in October that year, he was appointed as a Graduate Assistant. He rose through the ranks to become a Professor in 2012.
Professor Anigbogu served as Acting Head and Head of Department of Physiology in the years 2006-2008 and 2012-2017 respectively. He is a member of many professional bodies including Physiological Society of Nigeria; American Physiological Society, UK; International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, among others.
He has supervised 10 Ph.Ds and many M.Sc. students. His wide array of mentees includes four professors, several associate professors and many others in academia and industry. Professor Anigbogu is married and blessed with children.
Professor Smith I. Jaja is a thorough-bred alumnus of University of Lagos where he obtained his B.Sc., M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in Physiology. He joined the Department of Physiology as a Graduate Assistant in 1980 and rose through the ranks to become a Professor in 2007.
He has served the University of Lagos in many capacities as well as mentored and successfully co-supervised twelve (12) Ph.D. students. Some of these products have risen to become members of this University Senate. He has published so many research works in reputable journals (international and national).
Professor Jaja is married and blessed with children.
Below is a pictorial report of the celebration of the three renowned academics:
