The University of Lagos Senate, on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, held a special session in honour of two eminent scholars—Professor Oko Okoro of the Department of English and Professor Gabriel Kayode Babawale of the Department of Estate Management—who are set to retire from the institution in September.
Professor Okoro’s retirement officially takes effect on September 1, while Professor Babawale’s date is September 14.
In her remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, OON, FAS, commended the duo for their distinguished service to the university, the academic community, and the nation at large. She lauded their commitment to knowledge production, mentorship, and leadership within the university system.
Responding separately, Professors Okoro and Babawale expressed deep gratitude to the Senate for the recognition and to the entire UNILAG community for providing a platform that enabled them to achieve career fulfilment while contributing to national and global development.
Professor Oko Okoro, born on September 1, 1955, is a homegrown academic with BA, MPhil, and PhD degrees in English from UNILAG. He joined the institution as an Assistant Lecturer in 1985 and became a Professor in 2019. Over four decades of service, he has supervised 15 PhDs, 181 Master’s dissertations, and more than 400 undergraduate projects. He has also served in numerous administrative capacities, including Ag. Head of Department, Faculty and Departmental Examination Officer, and member of key academic and quality assurance committees. His expertise bridged academia and industry, serving as a consultant and resource person for professional bodies and institutions such as ICAN, WAEC, ECOWAS, and the British Council.
Professor Gabriel Kayode Babawale, born on September 14, 1955, graduated with First Class Honours in Estate Management from the University of Ife (now OAU), and later obtained an MSc from the University of Reading, UK, and a PhD from UNILAG. He joined UNILAG in 1999 and rose to become Professor in 2019.
He served as Head of Department, Sub-Dean of the Faculty of Environmental Sciences, and an external examiner in several Nigerian universities and beyond. He has supervised eight PhDs and assessed numerous doctoral theses and professorial promotions across the country. A certified Estate Surveyor and Valuer, Babawale also practiced professionally through his firm, Kayode Babawale & Co., while combining academic rigour with community service as a pastor with Living Faith Church (Winners’ Chapel). Together with his wife, he runs Christ Relief Ministry, a charity supporting widows and orphans.
Both professors leave behind legacies of scholarship, mentorship, and service, marking the end of an era for the University of Lagos Senate.
