UNILAG Senate Celebrates Five Retiring Members

By Mary Omowo

In a ceremony held on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Senate celebrated five distinguished professors, ahead of their retirement in August. 

The professors include Professor Christopher Bode, Professor Austin Otegbulu, Professor Olusoji George, Professor Emmanuel Ajibola Jeje, and Professor Olajide Ayinla Olawale. 

Professor Christopher Bode, a renowned paediatric surgeon, began his academic journey after earning his medical degree from the University of Ife (UI) in 1980. He joined the University of Lagos in 1992 and rose to become a Professor in 2010. He served in several top roles at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), including Chief Medical Director. His leadership brought many improvements to LUTH, such as better power supply, new health centres, and IT systems. He has written over 110 academic papers and is known for his work in children’s surgery.

Professor Austin Otegbulu started teaching Part-Time at UNILAG in 1988 without pay and became a full-time lecturer in 1999. He became a Professor in 2020 and helped build the Department of Estate Management’s postgraduate programmes. Outside the university, he served on national panels and played active roles in the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers. He has published over 80 academic papers, and he is admired for his dedication.

Professor Olusoji George joined the University of Lagos (UNILAG) in 2011 and became a professor in 2021. With academic qualifications from the University of Bradford in the UK, he is an expert in organisational behaviour and human resource management. He has served as an external examiner in many institutions and was an electoral commissioner during the 2015 general election. His book on cultural influence in management has won awards and is being translated into Chinese and Japanese. He is a member of many professional bodies, both local and international.

Professor Emmanuel Jeje, a Consultant Urologist and professor of surgery, studied at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) and trained further in London. Before joining academia, he was Medical Director of Lagoon Hospital. He has served as an examiner for top medical colleges and currently leads the Nigerian chapter of the American College of Surgeons. Known for his humour and generosity, he endowed a prize at the University of Lagos for excellence in surgery and is actively involved in social and philanthropic groups.

Professor Olajide Olawale is a respected physiotherapist and educator. He began his teaching career at UNILAG in 1997 and became a Professor in 2017. With over four decades of clinical work and a strong focus on stroke rehabilitation, he has taught across Africa and helped develop physiotherapy programmes in Ghana. He has been a key figure in physiotherapy education in Nigeria and served as Head of the Department of Physiotherapy at different times. Known for his humility and excellence, Professor Olawale is deeply respected by colleagues and students alike.

The Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, praised their years of service and contributions to education, research, and the development of the University. She wished them long life, good health, and the joy of seeing the fruits of their labour.