Public research university in Lagos, Nigeria
This article is about a federal government-owned university. For the state-owned institution, see
Lagos State University .
The University of Lagos , popularly known as UNILAG , is a
public
research university located in
Lagos ,
Nigeria and was founded in 1962. UNILAG is one of the
first generation universities in Nigeria and is ranked among the top universities in the country in major education publications. The university presently has three
campuses in the
mainland of
Lagos . Whereas two of its campuses are located at
Yaba (the main campus in
Akoka and the recently created campus at the former school of
radiography ),
[2] it's college of medicine is located at Idi-Araba,
Surulere .
[2] Its main campus is largely surrounded by the
Lagos
lagoon and has 802 acres of land. The University of Lagos currently[
when? ] admits over 9,000
undergraduate students annually and enrolls over 57,000 students.
[3]
A visitation panel, created to look into the affairs of the university between 2016 and 2020 detected cases of financial abuses from top officials and ordered the university to close accounts with
commercial banks .
[4] On 7 October 2022,
Folasade Ogunsola was appointed vice chancellor of the University of Lagos making her the first female to attain such height in the University.
[5]
[6]
University of Lagos
Lagoon Front, University of Lagos
History
UNILAG was founded in 1962, two years after the
independence of Nigeria from
Britain . It was one of the first five universities created in the country, now known as "
first generation universities ".
[7]
[8]
Eni Njoku was appointed as the first black vice-chancellor of the university in 1962, and he remained in office till 1965 when he was replaced by
Saburi Biobaku . However, due to controversy surrounding his appointment, Saburi was stabbed by
Kayode Adams , a student radical who believed Biobaku's appointment was unfair and ethnically motivated.
[9]
On 29 May 2012, the then
President of Nigeria ,
Goodluck Jonathan , proposed to rename the University of Lagos to Moshood Abiola University in honour of
Moshood Abiola , who died in jail as a political prisoner in 1998. The proposed name change became a subject of protests from students and alumni. The proposal was consequently jettisoned as the
Nigerian federal government gave in to the protests incited by the proposed name change.
[10]
[11]
[12]
Folasade Ogunsola is the current vice chancellor, she was appointed on 7 October 2022 and assumed office on 12 November 2022.
[13]
[14]
There has been reports of
sexual misconduct levelled against several lecturers at the university which the university denied.
In 2019,
BBC Africa Eye reported that "female reporters were sexually harassed, propositioned and put under pressure by senior lecturers at the institutions – all the while wearing secret cameras".
[15]
[16]
An investigative
documentary was produced by former victims of the sexual harassment which was uploaded to
YouTube .
[17]
[18]
[19]
Academics and research
The university has remained one of the most competitive in the country in terms of admissions. With approximately 57,000 students as of 2013, the University of Lagos has one of the largest student populations of any university in the country.
[28]
[29] The University of Lagos is one of the twenty-five federal universities which are overseen and accredited by the
National Universities Commission (NUC).
A recent publication of
Forbes magazine ranked the school as the third best university in Africa for
entrepreneurship after
University of Cape Town and
Makerere University , tagging University of Lagos the "startup powerhouse" college for Nigerian students.
[30]
The university has been called "the university of first choice and the nation's pride."
[31] The university's research activity was one of the major criteria used by the
National Universities Commission (NUC) in adjudging the university as the best university in Nigeria at the Nigerian University System Annual Merit Award (NUSAMA) in 2008.
The University of Lagos, College of Medicine is associated with
Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). On 29 June 2020, the university received
robots , CRZR, from platform capital as a donation to fight the spread of
COVID-19 .
[32]
Affiliate institutions and colleges
Centre for Biodiversity Conservation and Ecosystem Management (CEBCEM)
The centre, established in April 2018, focuses on
biodiversity management, conservation and monitoring of sustainable ecosystem through collaborative research.
[33] CEBCEM provides a platform for research and education for students of tertiary institutions as well as advocate for environmental awareness. The Centre for Biodiversity Conservation and
Ecosystem Management is the response of the University of Lagos to the threat of biodiversity in
Nigeria . This response includes proposing local solutions to biodiversity conservation challenges which is facilitated through institution research grants such as
TETfund .
[33]
Administration and leadership
The current principal members of the university administration and their positions are as follows:
Vice-Chancellors
Notable alumni, faculty and staff
Vice-president
Yemi Osinbajo of Nigeria is an alumnus of the University of Lagos
The university has educated many notable
alumni , eminent scientists, politicians, lawyers, business icons, writers, entertainers,
monarchs , countless technocrats, recipients of the Nigerian national order of merit, fellows of the various learned academies. As of September 2020, one
nobel laureate and one
Pulitzer prize laureate have been affiliated with University of Lagos as students, alumni, faculty, or staff.
[52]
Notable faculty
Notable alumni
Amongst the alumni of the University of Lagos, Akoka and other institutions that fall under that banner are;
Wande Abimbola , yoruba professor.
[63]
Bilikiss Adebiyi Abiola , recycler in Nigeria.
Niyi Adebayo , first executive
governor of
Ekiti State and current minister of industry, trade and investment.
Oladipupo Olatunde Adebutu , Nigerian politician.
Olamilekan Adegbite , minister of mines and steel development.
Wale Adenuga , publisher and film producer.
[64]
Ayo Aderinwale , Nigerian diplomat.
Kunle Adeyemi , principal of NLÉ, an
architecture , design and
urbanism firm,
Amsterdam .
Adebayo Clement Adeyeye , Nigerian journalist and politician.
Gbenga Adeyinka , Nigerian actor, comedian,radio and TV presenter.
Ernest Afiesimama , Nigerian climate scientist.
Goddy Jedy Agba
Abisoye Ajayi-Akinfolarin , women's activist, CNN heroes top 10 awardee for 2018.
Fabian Ajogwu , lawyer and
SAN .
[65]
Lola Akande , author and academic.
Omoyemi Akerele , fashion designer and founder of Style House Files.
Bola Akindele , Nigerian businesses man and philanthropist.
Funke Akindele , award-winning actress and producer.
Rilwan Akiolu , current
Oba of Lagos .
[66]
Winifred Akpani , businesswoman, and founder/CEO of Northwest Petroleum & Gas Company Limited
Mary Akpobome , director of
Heritage Banking Company Limited of Nigeria (HBCL).
Yemi Alade , award-winning musician.
Akinwunmi Ambode , former governor of Lagos State.
Abayomi Arigbabu , professor of mathematics and current commissioner of education,
Ogun State .
Daré Art-Aladé , singer.
Emilia Asim-Ita , co-founder of
The Future Awards Africa .
Regina Askia-Williams , nurse practitioner, actress, and former miss unilag.
Jelili Atiku , Nigerian actor.
Bolanle Austen-Peters , lawyer and businesswoman.
Adewale Ayuba , singer.
Epiphany Azinge , lawyer, senior advocate of Nigeria and former DG of Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies.
Denrele Edun , award-winning radio and television personality.
Ufuoma Ejenobor , actor and model.
Grace Ekpiwhre , former
minister of science and technology .
Tony Elumelu , economist, entrepreneur and philanthropist.
Obiageli Ezekwesili , accountant and politician.
Lekan Fatodu , journalist and politician.
Kayode Fayemi , current governor of
Ekiti State and former minister of solid minerals development.
Femi Gbajabiamila , lawyer, lawmaker and current
speaker of Nigeria's 9th house of representatives .
Chika Ike , Nigerian actress, television personality, producer, business woman,
philanthropist and former model.
[69]
IllRymz , musician, radio and television personality.
Anita Ifeoma Isede , Nigerian OAP.
Yakubu Itua ,former member federal house of representative 1983 and former judge High Court of Justice, Benin-City.
Chude Jideonwo , lawyer, journalist and media entrepreneur.
Adetokunbo Kayode , Nigerian corporate lawyer, tax expert and international
arbitrator , former
minister of labour ,
minister of justice , minister of tourism, culture and national orientation.
Matilda Kerry-Osazuwa , founder of the George Kerry Life Foundation, doctor and former
MBGN .
Lil Kesh , Nigerian singer, rapper and songwriter.
Laycon , rapper, singer and songwriter, winner
Big Brother Naija season 5 .
Kaycee Madu ,
Nigerian-Canadian lawyer and current
minister of justice and solicitor general of Alberta .
Magixx , Nigerian singer and songwriter.
George Magoha ,
surgeon and academic.
Seyi Makinde , electrical engineer, businessman and current governor of
Oyo State .
Toke Makinwa , award-winning radio and television personality.
Bekeme Masade-Olowola , social entrepreneur.
Mayorkun , award-winning musician.
Oliver Mbamara , lawyer and film maker.
Ufuoma McDermott , model and actress.
Lai Mohammed , lawyer and current
minister of information and culture .
Ifeanyi Chudy Momah , lawyer and legislator.
John Momoh , chairman,
Channels Television Group .
Tim Owhefere , Nigerian politician.
Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah , current Nigerian minister of state for mines and steel development.
Babatunde Ogunnaike , engineering professor.
[70]
Ikedi Ohakim , politician and former governor of
Imo state .
Bayo Ojo ,
SAN and former
Attorney General of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria .
Habeeb Okunola , businessman and
philanthropist .
Wole Olanipekun , lawyer and
Senior Advocate of Nigeria .
Dele Olojede , journalist, first African born winner of the
Pulitzer Prize .
Simbo Olorunfemi , poet, journalist and television producer.
Ogbonnaya Onu , first executive governor of
Abia State and current
minister of science and technology .
Shade Omoniyi , actress
Felix Orji , bishop of the
Anglican Diocese of All Nations .
Yemi Osinbajo , former
vice-president, Federal Republic of Nigeria .
[71]
Helen Ovbiagele , novelist.
Tim Owhefere , Nigerian politician.
Omowunmi Sadik , scientist and professor.
Babajide Sanwo-Olu , Nigerian politician, businessman and current governor of
Lagos State .
Daniel Kolawole Olukoya , Pastor, Scientist and Professor
Broda Shaggi , a comedian.
Joke Silva , award-winning actress, director and producer.
Ayo Sogunro , writer,
satirist and lawyer.
Omoyele Sowore , founder,
Sahara Reporters .
[72]
Gabriel Suswam , former governor of
Benue State .
Vector , Nigerian rapper and song writer.
Farida Mzamber Waziri , former chairman,
EFCC .
Olajide Williams , professor of
neurology at
Columbia University .
Mercy Aigbe ,
actress , director, fashionista and businesswoman.
Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo , author and educator.
Mo'Cheddah , Musical artist.
Lekan Balogun , dramatist and theatre art director.
Linda Ikeji , blogger.
See also
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^
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^
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^
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^
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^
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^
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^
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^
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^
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a
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^
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^
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^
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^
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^
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^
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^
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Architecture, Monuments and Vistas
Campus of UNILAG
Research and innovation office
Faculty of Art
University Library
J. P Clark Center
Sport center
Unilag_Senate_house
Akintunde Ojo Memorial Hall
Unilag Lagoon Front Fountain
Quadrangle, Faculty of Arts
Faculty of Science
University of Lagos Lagoon front view from Seaside cottage theatre, Bariga
Lagoon Front Silhouette
View of the Third Mainland Bridge From the Lagoon Front
Green Space in University of Lagos
External links
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Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University
Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu Alike Ikwo
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Federal University of Technology Akure
Federal University of Technology, Minna
Federal University of Technology Owerri
Michael Okpara University of Agriculture
Modibbo Adama Federal University of Technology, Yola
National Open University of Nigeria
Nigeria Maritime University
Nigerian Army University Biu
Nigerian Defence Academy
Nnamdi Azikiwe University
Obafemi Awolowo University
University of Abuja
University of Agriculture, Makurdi
University of Benin
University of Calabar
University of Ibadan
University of Ilorin
University of Jos
University of Lagos
University of Maiduguri
University of Nigeria
University of Port Harcourt
University of Uyo
Usmanu Danfodiyo University
State Private