International Women’s Day, celebrated each year on March 8, serves as a focal point for the women’s rights movement. It highlights issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence against women, while also celebrating women’s achievements, raising awareness of discrimination, and encouraging action toward gender parity.
In commemoration of IWD 2023, six female vice‑chancellors in Nigeria were highlighted:
**1. Prof. Lillian Salami – University of Benin (UNIBEN)**
Prof. Salami is the second female vice‑chancellor of UNIBEN, following Prof. Grace Alele‑Williams, who became the institution’s first female VC in 1985. A fellow of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria and the International Federation of Home Economics/Home Professionals Association of Nigeria, Salami was born in Jos and hails from Edo State. After completing secondary school at Baptist High School, Benin City, she earned a B.Sc. in Home Economics (1979) and an M.Sc. in Nutrition (1982) from North Dakota State University, USA. She returned to Nigeria for the National Youth Service Corps in Benin City. Prior to her 2019 appointment as VC, she held several administrative roles, including Head of Department (1996‑1998), Chairman of the Board of the University of Benin Integrated Enterprise, Director of General Studies, Director of a part‑time programme, and Director General of the National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration, Ondo State.
**2. Prof. Florence Obi – University of Calabar (UNICAL)**
Prof. Obi is the 11th substantive VC of UNICAL and its first female vice‑chancellor. A professor of special education, she previously served as deputy VC (academic) and as Commissioner for Women Affairs in Cross River State. She holds a Ph.D. in the Psychology of Education from UNICAL (2002). Her academic journey began as an assistant lecturer at UNICAL’s Institute of Education in 1990. She attended St Bridget’s Primary School (Cross River), St Thomas’s Teachers Training College (Ogoja), and earned a B.Sc. (1990) and M.Ed. (1990) in Special Education from UNICAL before completing her doctorate. In 2020, she was selected from 13 candidates to succeed Prof. Zana Akpagu.
**3. Prof. Nnenna Oti – Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO)**
Prof. Oti, a professor of Soil Science and Environmental Conservation, became FUTO’s first female vice‑chancellor after defeating six rivals. She holds a postgraduate diploma in Irrigation Engineering from the Catholic University, Leuven (Belgium) and has over 34 years of experience in teaching, research, and administration in Nigeria and abroad. Before her appointment, she served three terms as Head of the Department of Soil Science and Technology, chaired the university’s Gender Policy Unit, and was dean of the postgraduate school. She succeeded Prof. Francis Eze, whose term ended in June 2021, winning 75.5 % of the votes against Prof. Ikechukwu Dozie’s 69.7 %.
**4. Prof. Ibiyemi Bello – Lagos State University (LASU)**
Prof. Bello, a professor of Physiology, is LASU’s ninth vice‑chancellor. Born on 23 April 1964 in Ologbowo, Idumota, Lagos Island, she attended Anglican Girls Grammar School (Surulere) and Methodist Girls’ High School (Yaba). She earned a B.Sc. in Physiology from the University of Ibadan (1985) and an M.Sc. from the University of Lagos (1987), followed by further studies at the University of Texas at San Antonio (1994‑1998). Starting as an assistant lecturer at the University of Lagos College of Medicine, she rose to become the institution’s first professor of physiology (2007). Her LASU leadership roles included Deputy Vice‑Chancellor (2008‑2011), Acting Vice‑Chancellor (July‑December 2010 and January‑October 2011), and various council and senate positions.
**5. Prof. Kaletapwa Farauta – Adamawa State University, Mubi (ADSU)**
Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri appointed Prof. Farauta as ADSU’s substantive vice‑chancellor in 2020, after she had served as acting VC. Born on 28 November 1965 in Numan, Adamawa State, she attended Numan II Primary School and Federal Government Girls College, Yola. Prior to her VC role, she was Executive Chairman of the Adamawa State Universal Basic Education Board (July‑October 2014) and Commissioner of Education (August 2015‑July 2017). She was first appointed acting VC by Governor Senator Muhammad Jibrilla on 17 July 2017. Prof. Farauta is known for her commitment to adding value to humanity through hard work and sincerity.
**6. Prof. Folasade Ogunsola – University of Lagos (UNILAG)**
Prof. Ogunsola became UNILAG’s first female vice‑chancellor on 7 October 2022, the 13th substantive VC of the university. She previously served as Deputy Vice‑Chancellor (Development Services) (2017‑2021) and briefly as acting VC in 2020 during a leadership crisis. Born in 1958 and raised at the University of Ibadan where her father, Akin Mabogunje, lectured, she attended Queen’s College, Lagos (1974‑1982). She holds an M.Sc. in Medical Microbiology from UNILAG’s College of Medicine and earned a Ph.D. in Medical Microbiology from the University of Wales (1992‑1997).
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