THE Senate of Lagos State University has elected Prof. Olufunsho Abayomi Omobitan as the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics) of the University.
The election, which took place on Monday, January 30, saw Prof. Omobitan defeat the Dean, Faculty of Management Sciences, Prof. Raheem Olasupo Akewushola by 132 to 65 votes to emerge winner.
Prof. Omobitan, a Professor of Economics, is the current Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences of the University. He succeeds Professor Wahab Elias who completed his single tenure of two years in 2022.
The election of the new DVC (Academics) will be confirmed by the Governing Council of the University.
Born July 5, 1956, in Lagos, Prof. Omobitan obtained his Master of Science in Economics and Ph.D in Economics (Development Economics and Public Sector Economics) from University of Vienna, Austria in 1984 and 1987 respectively.
He joined Lagos State University as Lecturer II in 1989 and rose through the ranks to the position of an Associate Professor in 2012 and a Professor of Economics in 2015.
He was appointed the Director Master of Business Administration (MBA) Programme, Lagos State University from 1998 to 2005. In October 2021, he was appointed as a member of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TetFund) National Research Fund Screening and Monitoring Committee (NRFS & MC).
The Economics scholar was appointed member, Procurement Planning Committee for Lagos State University in February 2022; member, Lagos State University Ventures Board in August 2022 and member, Search Committee For Appointment of Lagos State Government Endowed Professorial Chair Transport, Lagos State University in September 2022.
He has authored and co-authored nine books and contributed in more than 30 Journal articles. He is a member of the Nigerian Economic Society (NES), Fellow, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (FNIPR -Honorary), and Member, Researcher and Publication Committee of the Chartered Institute of Bankers in Nigeria.
Prof. Omobitan has won several awards and grants among including; TETFUND 2020 National Research Fund Grant for Project Titled: Emerging Patterns and Determination of Rape: Comparative Study of Rural – Urban Communities in Nigeria; Afro – Asian Institute in Vienna, Austria Scholarship; Austrian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Scholarship, and Lagos State Bursary Award 1979 – 1983.
The economics don has attended several conferences, workshops, exhibitions, technical meetings in different states in Nigeria and abroad. He is married with a child.
