Who Is Professor Ayodeji Olawunmi Badejo? Biography, Age, Education, Career, Achievements & Latest News
Professor Ayodeji Olawunmi Badejo is a Nigerian academic, counseling psychologist, university administrator, and the 10th substantive Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University (LASU). She assumed office in September 2026 after a long academic and administrative career at LASU that included serving as Dean of the Faculty of Education, chairing important university committees, participating in the Governing Council, and leading the university’s Research Ethics Committee.
Her appointment marks another stage in a career spanning more than three decades in teaching, research, counseling psychology, academic administration, curriculum development, and student development. She is also a Fellow of the Counselling Association of Nigeria and the Association of Professional Counsellors in Nigeria.
Who Is Professor Ayodeji Olawunmi Badejo?
Professor Ayodeji Olawunmi Badejo is a professor of Counselling Psychology and Guidance and Counselling at Lagos State University. Her academic interests include psychosocial problems affecting adolescents and young adults, trauma, social and psychological issues, gender-related concerns, and other areas connected with counseling and human development.
Before becoming Vice-Chancellor, she spent much of her professional career at LASU. Her experience within the university has included classroom teaching, postgraduate supervision, research, curriculum development, faculty administration, research ethics, financial oversight, and participation in university governance.
On September 9, 2026, Lagos State Governor and Visitor to LASU Babajide Sanwo-Olu approved her appointment as the university’s 10th substantive Vice-Chancellor. She succeeded Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, whose five-year tenure had ended.
How Old Is Professor Ayodeji Olawunmi Badejo?
Professor Ayodeji Olawunmi Badejo was born on August 4, 1962. She is therefore 64 years old as of October 1, 2026. Her date of birth was reported in the announcement of her appointment as LASU Vice-Chancellor and is also reproduced in current biographical profiles.
Where Is Professor Ayodeji Badejo From?
Publicly available sources reviewed for this biography confirm her name, academic background, professional career, and date of birth, but do not provide sufficiently detailed and consistent information about her hometown or early family background to warrant adding those details as established facts.
For an education-focused biography, it is preferable to leave such information out rather than rely on unverified biographical claims.
Educational Background
Professor Badejo’s academic training is centered on education, guidance and counseling, and counseling psychology.
According to Lagos State University’s official profile, she obtained an NCE in 1983, followed by a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) in 1986, a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in 1988, and a Ph.D. in Guidance and Counselling in 1998.
The National Universities Commission’s directory of full professors in the Nigerian university system also records her Ph.D. from the University of Lagos in 1998, identifying her as a Professor of Counselling Psychology at LASU.
Her progression from teacher education into postgraduate counseling studies provided the academic foundation for a career that eventually moved into university teaching, research, student development, and institutional leadership.
Academic Career at Lagos State University
Professor Badejo began her career at Lagos State University in 1990, according to her academic profile. She subsequently progressed through the university’s academic ranks and became a full professor in 2011.
Her academic work has involved teaching and supervision as well as research. The National Universities Commission’s directory records her research interest at the time as psychosocial problems of adolescents and young adults and notes that she had successfully supervised eight Ph.D. students while continuing to supervise additional doctoral researchers.
Her research profile has also covered diversity, social justice, trauma, psychological disorders, sociocultural issues, and gender-related concerns. Research databases and academic profiles attribute more than 30 publications to her, while her wider academic record includes journal articles, books, postgraduate supervision, and professional contributions.
Research Areas and Academic Contributions
Badejo’s research is closely connected to counseling psychology and the challenges faced by individuals and communities.
Her documented areas of interest include psychosocial problems among adolescents and young adults, trauma, social and psychological disorders, diversity, social justice, sociocultural issues, and gender-related matters.
These areas are particularly relevant to education because psychological and social factors can influence students’ academic experiences, relationships, decision-making, adjustment, and general development.
Her career has also included doctoral supervision and mentorship. This part of her work is significant within the university system because postgraduate supervision contributes to the training of researchers and the development of future academic staff.
Professor Badejo as Dean of the Faculty of Education
One of the major administrative positions in Badejo’s career was her service as Dean of the Faculty of Education at Lagos State University from 2014 to 2016.
The National Universities Commission’s directory confirms the period of her deanship.
LASU’s current official profile reports that during her tenure, approximately 20 academic staff members progressed to the professorial cadre, while all programs in the Faculty of Education obtained full accreditation from the National Universities Commission.
These developments are relevant to her later appointment as Vice-Chancellor because the position requires experience beyond individual academic research. A university leader must understand academic program development, accreditation, staff progression, administration, and institutional planning.
Role in Curriculum Development
Badejo has also played a role in LASU’s academic planning through her service as Chairman of the Senate Curriculum Committee.
According to the university, she contributed to curriculum development and validation, academic planning, and aligning university programs with National Universities Commission requirements. She also participated in the development and introduction of new academic programs.
Curriculum committees have an important role in university administration because academic programs must satisfy disciplinary requirements while also meeting regulatory standards. Changes to programs can affect prospective students, current students, academic departments, staffing requirements, and accreditation.
Research Ethics and University Governance
Another important part of Badejo’s administrative career has been her work in research ethics.
She served as Chairman of the Lagos State University Research Ethics Committee, where her responsibilities included the ethical review of research protocols and capacity-building for committee members. LASU says this work involved professional training and collaboration with relevant national and professional organizations.
Research ethics is particularly important in fields involving human participants, including psychology and counseling. Ethical review helps universities assess whether proposed research adequately addresses issues such as participant welfare, informed consent, confidentiality, and responsible research procedures.
Her broader university governance experience has also included membership of the LASU Governing Council and other university-wide assignments.
Leadership of LASU International School
Badejo also served as Chairman of the Lagos State University International School Board.
According to LASU, the board under her leadership worked on the school’s financial and operational position. The university reports that capital reserves increased from approximately ₦88 million to ₦121 million, while structural financial deficits were eliminated. LASU also reports growth in staff strength and student enrollment alongside strong public examination performance.
These figures are institutional claims published by LASU. They are included here as reported outcomes of her tenure rather than as an independently audited assessment of her personal financial management.
Professional Fellowships and Memberships
Professor Badejo has held professional positions within Nigeria’s counseling profession.
LASU identifies her as a Fellow of the Counselling Association of Nigeria (FCASSON) and a Fellow of the Association of Professional Counsellors in Nigeria (FAPROCON). She is also associated with professional and scholarly organizations including the American Psychological Association and the Nigerian Academy of Education.
Her professional service outside LASU complements her university career by connecting academic work with the wider counseling and education professions.
Awards and Recognition
Badejo has received professional and civic recognition during her career.
LASU’s official profile records her CASSON fellowship in 2015 and APROCON fellowship in 2022. The university also states that she received a Distinguished Personality Award for excellence in higher education in Africa in Pretoria, South Africa, in 2025.
Another distinction attributed to her is the Key to the City of Niagara Falls, New York, which was presented in recognition of her professional standing and contributions.
These recognitions should be understood within their respective professional or civic contexts rather than treated as academic degrees.
How Professor Badejo Became LASU Vice-Chancellor
The appointment process culminated on September 9, 2026, when Lagos State Governor and LASU Visitor Babajide Sanwo-Olu approved Badejo’s appointment as the university’s 10th substantive Vice-Chancellor.
She was selected to succeed Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, whose five-year tenure had concluded in September 2026.
The appointment was made under the provisions of the LASU Law 2004, as amended, according to the announcement released by the Lagos State Government. Badejo’s appointment is for a single five-year term.
Her selection also meant that LASU would be led by an academic who had spent much of her professional life within the institution. Her previous experience included departmental, faculty, committee, council, research ethics, and school-board responsibilities.
When Did Professor Badejo Assume Office?
Professor Badejo assumed office as LASU Vice-Chancellor in September 2026.
The appointment announcement initially stated that she would begin her five-year term on September 20. Current reports from LASU and contemporary coverage place her formal assumption of office in the September 20 to 21 transition period. LASU’s current leadership page identifies her as Vice-Chancellor.
Because the university’s current official leadership information is the most relevant source for her present status, she should be identified as the 10th substantive Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University.
Professor Badejo’s Leadership Priorities at LASU
Following her assumption of office, Badejo has been associated with an administration emphasizing inclusive governance, collaboration, academic standards, and institutional development.
Contemporary reports say she pledged an open-door approach to administration and emphasized collaboration with academic staff, non-teaching employees, and students.
Her responsibilities now extend considerably beyond her original field of counseling psychology. As Vice-Chancellor, she is responsible for the overall academic and administrative direction of LASU, including teaching, research, student affairs, staff development, finances, infrastructure, partnerships, and relations with the university’s governing structures.
It is still too early to make definitive claims about the outcomes of her administration because she only assumed office in September 2026.
LASU’s Recent Institutional Context
Badejo began her tenure at a time when LASU was receiving attention for developments in sustainability and international university rankings.
In September 2026, LASU reported that it had climbed to 493rd globally in the 2026 UI GreenMetric World University Rankings, placing it first among universities in West Africa according to the ranking. The university said the result represented a 267-place improvement and its fifth consecutive year at the top of the West African table.
That achievement predates Badejo’s assumption of office and therefore should not be attributed to her administration. It does, however, form part of the institutional environment she inherited as the new Vice-Chancellor.
What Does Professor Ayodeji Badejo Do Now?
As of October 1, 2026, Professor Ayodeji Olawunmi Badejo serves as the Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University. LASU’s official website lists her as the university’s Vice-Chancellor.
Her current responsibilities include providing academic and administrative leadership for the university and working with its governing bodies, staff, students, and other stakeholders.
Because her administration is still new, assessments of its long-term performance would be premature. The more appropriate focus at this stage is on her documented background, the responsibilities she has assumed, and the priorities announced at the beginning of her tenure.
Frequently Asked Questions About Professor Ayodeji Olawunmi Badejo
Who is Professor Ayodeji Olawunmi Badejo?
Professor Ayodeji Olawunmi Badejo is a Nigerian professor of Counselling Psychology and the 10th substantive Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University.
How old is Professor Ayodeji Badejo?
She was born on August 4, 1962, making her 64 years old as of October 1, 2026.
When did Professor Ayodeji Badejo become LASU Vice-Chancellor?
She was appointed on September 9, 2026, and assumed office in September 2026 as the university’s 10th substantive Vice-Chancellor.
What did Professor Badejo study?
Her qualifications include an NCE, a B.Ed., an M.Ed., and a Ph.D. in Guidance and Counselling. LASU identifies her Ph.D. as part of her academic qualifications, while the NUC directory records the doctorate as having been obtained from the University of Lagos in 1998.
What is Professor Badejo’s area of specialization?
She is a Professor of Counselling Psychology. Her research interests have included psychosocial problems among adolescents and young adults, trauma, psychological and social issues, diversity, social justice, and gender-related concerns.
Was Professor Badejo a Dean at LASU?
Yes. She served as Dean of the Faculty of Education from 2014 to 2016.
Is Professor Badejo a Fellow of CASSON?
Yes. She is a Fellow of the Counselling Association of Nigeria. LASU also identifies her as a Fellow of the Association of Professional Counsellors in Nigeria.
How long will Professor Badejo serve as LASU Vice-Chancellor?
Her appointment is for a single five-year term under the applicable LASU framework.
Who did Professor Badejo succeed as LASU Vice-Chancellor?
She succeeded Professor Ibiyemi Ibilola Olatunji-Bello, whose five-year tenure ended in September 2026.
What is Professor Badejo’s current position?
She is the Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University as of October 2026.
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Conclusion
Professor Ayodeji Olawunmi Badejo’s career combines counseling psychology, teaching, research, postgraduate supervision, academic administration, and university governance. Her academic progression from teacher education to doctoral-level training and eventually to professorship reflects a career developed largely within the Nigerian university system.
Her long service at Lagos State University has given her experience at several levels of institutional administration. As Dean of the Faculty of Education, Chair of the Senate Curriculum Committee, Chair of the Research Ethics Committee, member of the Governing Council, and Chairman of the LASU International School Board, she held responsibilities that extended beyond classroom teaching and academic research.
Her appointment as the 10th substantive Vice-Chancellor in September 2026 now places her in the university’s highest executive and academic leadership position. At this early stage of her tenure, her previous record provides the clearest basis for understanding her professional background, while the results of her new administration will need to be assessed over time.
For students, teachers, researchers, and prospective university applicants, her story is particularly relevant because it shows how a career in education and counseling can develop into senior university leadership. Her current position also places her at the center of decisions that will affect teaching, research, student development, academic programs, and institutional management at one of Nigeria’s major public universities.