PROFESSOR IBIYEMI OLATUNJI-BELLO’S EDUCATIONAL AND CAREER TRAJECTORIES: SETTING THE RECORDS STRAIGHT

PROFESSOR IBIYEMI OLATUNJI-BELLO’S EDUCATIONAL AND CAREER TRAJECTORIES: SETTING THE RECORDS STRAIGHT

Our attention has been drawn, in the last few days, to various essays in the media space, written either in commemoration of the 60th birthday anniversary of Professor Ibiyemi Ibilola Olatunji-Bello, mni, NPOM, which held on 23rd April, 2024, or to celebrate her successful career trajectory as a professor of Physiology and the 9th substantive vice chancellor of Lagos State University. Reading through some of the essays, we couldn’t help but observe a few errors and inconsistencies in her educational and career profiles, versions that ostensibly were innocently lifted from an unidentified online resource. While the vice chancellor expresses gratitude for all well-intentioned works in her honour, she wishes that clarification is made on the inaccuracies in her profile, as follows: i. Her name is “Professor Ibiyemi Ibilola Olatunji-Bello” NOT “Professor Ibiyemi Bello” or “Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji” as published on some platforms; ii. As against the narrative that “She attended Anglican Girls Grammar School in Surulere, Lagos, between 1970 and 1974 and Methodist Girls’ High School, Yaba, Lagos, between 1974 and 1979 for her junior and senior secondary education, respectively”, she infact attended Anglican Girls Primary School, Surulere, from 1970 to 1974 and then Lagos Anglican Girls Grammar School, Surulere, between 1974 and 1979. She then proceeded to Methodist Girls High School, Yaba, and Lagos State College of Science and Technology, Ikosi Campus where she did her “A” levels in 1982, after which she gained admission to the University of Ibadan in the same year; iii. The narrative that “She proceeded to the University of Texas at San Antonio, Health Science Centre, San Antonio, United States of America, between 1994 and 1998” is also inaccurate. Instead, her sojourn to the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio in the US in 1994 was for a 6-month research training in the institution; iv. Additionally, the version that “She was as an assistant lecturer at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, and rose through the ranks, eventually becoming the first professor of physiology of the institution in 2007” is also flawed. What is correct, however, is that Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello rose through the ranks from Assistant Lecturer (1988-1991), Lecturer II between 1991 and 1996, Lecturer I from 1996 to 1999, Senior Lecturer (1999 – 2005), Associate Professor between 2005 and October 1, 2007, all in the College of Medicine of the University of Lagos, Idiaraba. She assumed duty as the first Professor of Physiology in Lagos State University College of Medicine on the 2nd of October, 2007. Members of the general public and especially our respected media friends are to please take note of the foregoing to avoid profilferating the flawed narratives in future. Previous HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR DEAR VICE CHANCELLOR, PROF. IBIYEMI IBILOLA OLATUNJI-BELLO, mni, NPOM