Vice-Chancellor of the Lagos State University, Prof.Ibiyemi Ibilola Olatunji-Bello and Prof.Rafiu Okuneye have been honoured as Distinguished Professors of the university at the combined 29th and 30th Convocation Ceremonies
They were honoured on Monday by the Senate of the university during the event held at the Epe Campus of LASU, alongside graduating students from the Faculty of Engineering and Agricultural Science who bagged first degrees and postgraduate degrees in various programmes within the faculty
The below are the profile of the two Distinguished Professors of the University
Professor Ibiyemi Ibilola Olatunji-Bello was born in Lagos on 23 April, 1964 to Mrs. Jadesola Ibidapo (née Abraham) of Ita Kose, Lagos Island, and Mr. Emiola Ibidapo-Okunrinboye of Owo, Ondo State.
She began her education at Anglican Girls' Primary School, Surulere (1970–1974), and proceeded to Lagos Anglican
Girls' Grammar School, Surulere (1974–1979).
She later attended Methodist Girls' High School, Yaba, and Lagos State College of Science and Technology, Ikosi Campus, where she completed her A-Levels in 1982.
She earned her BSc (Hons) in Physiology from the University of Ibadan in 1985. Following her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) year at the University of Lagos, she obtained an MSc in Physiology from the same institution in 1987.
In 1994, she undertook a six-month research fellowship at the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, USA, and earned her PhD in Physiology from the University of Lagos in 1998. She was appointed a Professor by the Lagos State University in 2007, while the Senate of the University conferred her with
the honour of Distinguished Professor of Physiology in January 2026.
Beyond her scientific training, Professor Olatunji-Bello holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Theology from the Redeemed Christian Church of God Bible College (2001) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Education from Lagos State University (2018).
In 2012, she attended Course 34 of the National Institute for Policy and
Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, as a nominee of the National Universities Commission (NUC), where she was awarded the distinguished membership of the National Institute (mni).
She has been conferred with several professional fellowships, including the
Physiological Society (UK, 2017); Physiological Society of Nigeria; Society for Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Mitigation (2019); Nigeria Psychology Association (2022); Society of Educational Administrators of Nigeria (2023);National Labour Institute (2023); and the Society for Peace Studies and Practice(2023). In May 2023, she received the prestigious National Productivity Order of Merit (NPOM) Award from former President Muhammadu Buhari.
An accomplished academic, Professor Olatunji-Bello began her career at the University of Lagos as an Assistant Lecturer in 1988. She rose steadily through the ranks to become Lecturer II (1991–1996), Lecturer I (1996–1999), Senior Lecturer (1999–2005), Associate Professor (2005–2007), and was appointed the first Professor of Physiology at Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM) on 2 October 2007.
At LASU, she has held numerous leadership positions, including:
• Head, Department of Physiology, LASUCOM (2007–2008);
• Deputy Vice-Chancellor (2008–2010); Deputy Vice-Chancellor , Academic (2011–2013);
• Acting Vice-Chancellor (July–December 2010; January–October 2011); and
• Pioneer Director, Directorate of Advancement (2016–2020).
She also served as a government Representative on the Lagos State University Governing Council between 2004 and 2008. She served on the same Council as Deputy Vice –Chancellor and Acting Vice-Chancellor between 2008 and 2012 and as Senate Representative on the Council from 2017 to 2021. On 17 September 2021, she was appointed the 9th substantive and 2nd female Vice- Chancellor of Lagos State University by Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu,
the Visitor to the University.
Her influence extends beyond the university. She served as the first female Second Vice- President and subsequently First Vice-President of the Physiological Society of Nigeria (until 2019). In October 2024, she was elected tothe National Technical/Mirror Committee on African Traditional Medicine. In November of 2024, Professor Olatunji-Bello was elected the Chairman of the Committee of Vice Chancellors of State Universities in Nigeria, as a mark of her excellent leadership and overall contributions to the body.
She was later appointed a member of the Board of the Joint Universities Preliminary
Examination Board (JUPEB) in Nigeria. In July 2025, she was selected to represent the Vice-Chancellors of all African universities at the High-Level Political Forum of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the United
Nations Headquarters, New York. Further affirming her expertise in research and
digital infrastructure, she was appointed in November 2025, as a member of the Governing Board of the Nigerian Research and Education Network (NgREN) and the Tertiary Education Research Applications and Services (TERAS) Integration initiative by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Professor Olatunji-Bello has successfully supervised four Ph.D. and 53 M.Sc. candidates, with several others still under her mentorship. A prolific scholar, she has published over 63 peer-reviewed papers and contributed chapters to
textbooks and e-learning resources. She has presented at numerous international conferences and chaired the Organising Committee of the 2016 International Conference of the International Union of Physiological Sciences and the Association of African Physiological Societies. Her many honours include:
• Distinguished Life Member of the Organisation for Women in Science for Developing Countries (OSWD)
• 45 Distinguished Nigerians Award in commemoration of its 45th anniversary of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS)
• Africa Vice-Chancellor of the Year by Global Leaders Awards and Business Magazine (2026)
• Peak Performer and Icon of Educational Transformation Award by the Council of Nigeria Youth Advocates (2026)
• Worthy Ambassador Award by the University of Ibadan Alumni Association Worldwide (2025)
• Integrity Icon of Nigeria, Centre for Ethics and Self Value Orientation (2025);
• Exceptional Leader Award, Centre for Values in Leadership (2024);
• Nelson Mandela Leadership Prize, SAYDI-Africa (2024);
• Arewa National Excellence Award, Arewa Youth Congress (2024);
• Adeboruwa Award of Excellence, Igbogbo Kingdom (2022);
• African Hero Award, African Youth Assembly (2022);
• Excellence in Leadership Award, Voice of Integrity International (2022);
• Outstanding Woman in Nigerian Tertiary Education, National Education Summit
(2022);
• Recognition among 100 Leading Nigerian Women, Nigeria Women Annual (2022);
• Eko 100 Women Commendation from Governor BabajideSanwo-Olu (2022);
• Higher Education Administrator of the Year, National Education Summit (2022); and
• COWLSO Resourceful Woman of the Year (2021), amongst others.
Under her visionary leadership, Lagos State University has attained remarkable milestones. LASU emerged as the Best University in West Africa in the UI Greenmetrics Rankings (2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025) and the Best State
University in Nigeria (AD Scientific Index, 2022 and 2023). In 2025, the University emerged as the Best State University and Second Best Public University in the Times Higher Education Sub-Saharan Africa Ranking. In 2025,
LASU became the most sought-after university in Nigeria in student admissions, a positioned it retained in 2026 with over 85,000 admission applications. In 2024, the University was recognised as the Most Digitally Advanced State University at the Nigeria Technology Awards. The National Universities Commission (NUC) named LASU one of Nigeria's most digitalised universities also in 2023. Her administration has established four new faculties and two schools, revitalised several academic programmes, and led LASU to co-host the 2024 All Africa University Games with the University of Lagos, where LASU emerged as the best university in Nigeria and second overall in Africa. She has also supervised the boldest infrastructural revolution in the 42-year history of the University with over 50 projects receiving her midas touch.
In addition, the digital revolution of the University under her leadership received
the Federal Government's endorsement with LASU being awarded a Three Billion
Naira Centre of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Cyber Security
by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) in 2026.
Beyond academia, Professor Olatunji-Bello is a committed philanthropist and a
passionate advocate for gender equity and the girl child.
She is the Convener ofthe Movement for Men and Women in Lagos State Tertiary Institutions for Good Governance, a platform through which she promotes civic responsibility and good governance in the State.
Professor Olatunji-Bello is happily married to Mr. Tunji Bello, journalist, lawyer, former Secretary to the Lagos State Government, former Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, and currently the Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC). They are blessed with three children and two grandchildren. A woman of deep faith,
Professor Olatunji-Bello also serves as a Zonal Pastor (Zone 9, Lagos Province 1) in the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
She was honoured because of her research efforts and scholarly contributions to the development of science, especially Physiology; in addition to her role as a seasoned administrator, championing research and innovations; providing meritorious service to mankind in general and the Lagos State University in particular,
"The Governing Council of the Lagos State University upon recommendation of the University Senate, admit you, Prof. Ibiyemi Ibilola OLATUNJIBELLO, to the rank of a Distinguished Professor, and give to you all the rights and privileges that go with the rank" , the council stated
Similarly Professor Rafiu Olaoluwa Okuneye another recipient hails from Ojomo, Ijebu-Igbo, and was born on 31st March, 1961. He is currently a lecturer in the Department of Human Kinetics, Sports and Health Education, Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo.
He obtained his first degree from the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile- Ife, graduating with FIRST CLASS Honours in 1987. During his final year at Ife, he served as President of the students' branch of his professional association, the Nigeria Association for Physical, Health Education, Recreation, Sports and Dance (NAPHER.SD). He obtained his Master's degree in 1988 and a PhD in 1992, both from the University of Lagos, Akoka. At the University of Lagos, he was a University Scholar and beneficiary of a University Bursary, and later a Graduate Assistantship Award. During his undergraduate and postgraduate studies (1985-1989), he received the Federal Government Postgraduate Scholarship and the Iwuanyanwu Foundation Nigeria Silver Jubilee Scholarship.
Prof. Okuneye began his academic career as an Associate Lecturer at Lagos State University in 1989 and became a permanent staff member in 1991 as an Assistant Lecturer. He rose through the ranks to become a Professor in 2008.
Within the University, he has served, and continues to serve, in several key administrative and academic roles. He has been Acting Head of Department and Chief Coordinator of the Sandwich Degree Programme, during which he introduced a 5-year programme that is still in place. Dean of the Faculty of Education, and immediate past Head of Campus, Epe Campus of LASU.
He is the pioneer Director of the Directorate of Quality Assurance since 2018 and has contributed immensely to the NUC accreditation of programmes in the
University. He is also the current Director, LASU Directorate of Advancement (LASUDA). He has served as Chairman of the Business Committee of the Senate, Chairman of the LASU International School Management Board, Chairman of the University Annual Report Committee, Chairman of the Faculty of Education Annual Conference Committee, and Acting Chairman of the LASU Sports
Council. He has served as Acting Director of the Test Development and Administration Centre, as well as Coordinator of Field Trips at the Centre for Environmental and Science Education (CESE).
He has contributed extensively to university governance as a Member of the Court of Governors, LASU College of Medicine, and as a three-time Member of the LASU Governing Council (twice as the Representative of Congregation and once as Representative of the Senate). He is regular at the University Senate, and his absence is granted with apologies. He has also served on several strategic committees, including the Central Research Committee, Academic Planning Committee, Conflict Resolution and Policy Implementation Committee, and as a
University Representative on the WAEC State Committee. Additionally, he served as Co-Editor of the Faculty of Education Publication Committee, ManagingEditor of the Nigerian Journal of Physical, Health Education, Recreation and Dance (NIJPHER), and Managing Editor of Educational Perspectives.
Beyond the University, Prof. Okuneye has made significant professional contributions. He has served as National Chairman of the Science Teachers Association of Nigeria, Physical and Health Education Subject Panel (STAN-PHE).
He was a Member of the Governing Councils of STAN and the National Institute for Sports (NIS). He is currently a Member of the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF), Member of the Nigeria Academy of Education (NAE), Member of International Congress of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, Sports and Dance (ICHPER-SD), International Congress of Health, Physical Education
and Recreation, Sports and Dance (ICHPER-SD) Africa Region. Fellow of both the Nigeria Association of Sports Science and Medicine (FNASSM) and NAPHER.SD (FNAPHER.SD).
He holds a Teacher Registration Council Certificate and several modular certificates from the Virtual Institute of Education Pedagogy and the
Virtual Institute for Capacity Building in Higher Education. He is also a member of the Board of Education and has been cited in the World Health Organisation (WHO) database and the Dictionary of International Biography.
He has served as a Visiting Professor at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and as a Moderator/External Examiner for the National Institute for Sports. He has also served as an External Examiner to several universities, including the University of Port Harcourt and the University of Calabar. He chaired the International Moderating Committee on Senior Secondary School Examinations and contributed as a resource person for National Universities Commission (NUC) accreditation exercises. He is listed in the NUC Database of Experts in Higher Education (No. 780, 2002). Prof. Okuneye has also contributed to national development initiatives, including serving as a Member of the Committee on Universities' Contribution to the Home-Grown School Feeding and Health Programme (Federal Ministry of Education, 2008), and as a Member of the Task Force on the Establishment of the Lagos Institute for Sports. He was also a delegate of the National Parents Association to the 2002 National Summit on Higher Education in Abuja.
In community and leadership service, he served as Chairman of the LASU Muslim Community, Chairman of the Olaoluwa Zakat and Sadaqah Foundation, Chairman of Akesan New Town Community Development Association (2004–2009), and Chairman of Parents-Teacher Associations at St. Joseph Secondary School, Agege (2001–2003) and Command Day Secondary School, Ojo (2006–2012).
He has also served as a Facilitator at the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre (Man O' War) and as an Honorary Tennis Coach. Prof. Okuneye has authored and co-authored numerous books, chapters in books, and scholarly articles published in reputable local and international journals indexed in Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. His publications have attracted over 70 citations. He has supervised seven PhD graduates and one Doctor of Public Administration graduate.
He has delivered several guest lectures and attended and presented papers at conferences across Nigeria and internationally, including in Istanbul (Turkey), Winneba and Accra (Ghana), Kampala (Uganda), Washington, DC (USA), Wild Coast Sun (South Africa), Cairo (Egypt), Nairobi (Kenya), and Yokohama (Japan).
He was an international examiner for the Njala University, Freetown, Sierra Leone and an external examiner to the University of Lagos, University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University, Olabisi Onabanjo University and Lagos State University of Education.
He served as the National President of NAPHER.SD from 2018 to 2022. During
his tenure, he successfully convinced the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to include Physical and Health Education as a subject in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), effective from 2022. He also facilitated the Association's registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission
(CAC) in 2019, forty-eight years after its establishment. Professor Okuneye delivered his Inaugural Lecture in 2013, which was the 50th (golden) edition. In August 2025, he delivered the first Distinguished Lecture of the Faculty of
Education, LASU, the first of its kind in the University.
He is happily married and blessed with children.
He was honoured because of his research efforts and scholarly contributions to the development of education, especially Human Kinetics, Sports and Health Education; having served as a seasoned administrator, championing research and innovations
"Because of your meritorious service to mankind in general and the Lagos State University in particular, the Governing Council of the Lagos State University upon recommendation of the University Senate, admit you, Prof. Rafiu Olaoluwa OKUNEYE, to the rank of a Distinguished Professor, and give to you all the rights and privileges that go with the rank.", the council appreciated
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