“Professor Folasade Tolulope Ogunsola, FAS, marked a new chapter in the history of the University of Lagos with her appointment as the 1st female and 13th Vice-Chancellor by the Governing Council on Friday, October 7, 2022.

Born on November 14, 1958, in London, United Kingdom, she commenced her education at Maryhill Convent School, Agodi, Ibadan, and Staff School, University of Ibadan, for her Primary Education from 1963-1969. Subsequently, she attended Queens College, Yaba, Lagos, from 1970-1974, where she earned the West African Secondary School Certificate, graduating in the Grade I Category.

In 1982, she obtained a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBChB) from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University). She pursued her Master’s degree in Medical Microbiology with Distinction from the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, in 1990. Later, she enrolled at the University of Wales, College of Medicine, Cardiff, where she obtained a Diploma in Biomedical Techniques in 1993. In 1998, she earned her Doctorate from the University of Wales, College of Medicine.

A member of several professional bodies, she became a Fellow of the National Postgraduate Medical College, Faculty of Pathology (by Exam) in 1995, Fellow of West African College of Physicians (by Exam) in 1997, and Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists, UK (by Published Works) in 2021. She is also a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science and of the Royal College of Physicians, UK.

Professor Ogunsola commenced her service at the University of Lagos as Lecturer I in 1995, achieving milestones such as Senior Lecturer in 1997, Associate Professor in 2004, and full Professor in 2008.

Outside the classroom and research laboratory, she has served the University in various capacities, including Head, Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Medicine (2009-2012); Deputy Director of MEDILAG Consult, College of Medicine (2009-2010), Director of MEDILAG Consult, College of Medicine (2010-2012), Chairman of the Board, Kesington Adebukunola Adebutu (KAAF) Maternity and Laboratory Center, UNILAG (2016-date), and Executive Chairman of the Board, Academic Publishing Centre (2021- date).

Additionally, she served as a Member of the National/State Programme on Antibiotherapy Project (Promoting Rational Antibiotics Use), funded by Sanofi Aventis (2008-2009); Consultant to AstraZeneca on Antibiotic Resistance and Infection Prevention and Control in Critical Care Medicine (2011-2015); and Chairman of the Scientific Review Board of AstraZeneca Research Trust in Nigeria (2013-2015). She was a Member of the Lagos State Think Tank on COVID-19 (2020-2021) and is currently a Member of the Governing Council of the Lagos State Biobank (2019 – date).

Her streak of firsts in UNILAG’s leadership began in 2013 when she emerged as the 1st female Provost of the College of Medicine. She served meritoriously until 2016. In 2017, she was appointed the 1st Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development Services), initiating and hosting the first-ever UNILAG International Week. During the University’s Council-Management Crisis in 2020, Professor Ogunsola emerged as the 1st female Acting Vice-Chancellor. Her eventual appointment as the 13th Vice-Chancellor was a culmination of events that confirmed her date with destiny.

As a globally recognized researcher, she boasts one hundred and forty-two (142) publications in reputable academic journals and co-authored four (4) books on antibiotic resistance, infection control, and HIV. Her publications serve as essential reference materials in medical and public health research, accumulating over 2,000 citations from the late 1990s to date. Her areas of interest include the prevention and control of infectious diseases and antibiotic resistance.

Since 1998, as Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator, Professor Ogunsola has attracted over 4 billion Naira to the University of Lagos in teaching, research, and capacity-building grants. She has thirteen (13) completed grants and eight (8) ongoing grants to her credit.

A Consultant to the World Health Organization (WHO) since 2009, where she chairs various committees, the 13th Vice-Chancellor is a member of many scientific organizations. She serves as a Reviewer for several academic journals and External Examiner/ Assessor to many universities within and outside the country. Additionally, she acts as a Consultant to the Nigerian Center for Disease Control (NCDC) and the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Infection Prevention and Control.

Her academic mentorship has produced sixty-one (61) Master’s students, eight (8) Ph.D. students, and twelve