Sanwo-Olu installs Epe monarch as LASU’s sixth chancellor
Lagos State University (LASU) has installed Oba (Dr) Olufolarin Ogunsanwo, the Alara of Ilara Kingdom in Epe, as its sixth chancellor.
The investiture ceremony, held on Tuesday at the Banquet Hall of the State House in Alausa, was presided over by Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the visitor to the university.
The event was attended by members of the institution’s Governing Council, management staff and traditional rulers.
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*Oba (Dr) Olufolarin Ogunsanwo
Etim Ekpimah
Lagos State University (LASU) has installed Oba (Dr) Olufolarin Ogunsanwo, the Alara of Ilara Kingdom in Epe, as its sixth chancellor.
The investiture ceremony, held on Tuesday at the Banquet Hall of the State House in Alausa, was presided over by Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the visitor to the university.
The event was attended by members of the institution’s Governing Council, management staff and traditional rulers.
Ogunsanwo succeeds Prof. Gbolahan Elias (SAN), whose tenure has ended. His appointment, made in accordance with the Lagos State University Law (2004, as amended), is for a five-year term, renewable once.
A former Chairman of the Lagos State Inland Revenue Service, Ogunsanwo, becomes the first traditional ruler to serve as chancellor of LASU.
Gboyega Akosile, Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, on Tuesday, 7 April 2026, noted that Sanwo-Olu described the appointment as both “deliberate and historic”, noting that it reflects the importance of traditional institutions in governance, social cohesion and moral leadership.
“Oba Ogunsanwo’s emergence represents a convergence of tradition and modernity, which is essential for a society seeking sustainable progress,” the governor said.
He added that the chancellor’s role goes beyond ceremonial duties, describing it as one that embodies continuity, dignity and the core values of the institution.
The governor urged the new chancellor to uphold the university’s traditions, promote unity among its governing bodies and sustain its reputation as a centre of academic excellence.
He also emphasised the need for LASU to remain a hub for policy-relevant research and a strategic partner in addressing contemporary challenges.
Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Tolani Sule, described the appointment as “a fusion of intellect, heritage and higher learning”, expressing confidence in Ogunsanwo’s leadership. In his acceptance speech, Ogunsanwo pledged to work collaboratively with the Visitor, Governing Council and university management to strengthen the institution’s values and advance its aspirations.
