Dr Abiola Akinyode-Afolabi of the Department of Public Law, Faculty of Law, University of Lagos (UNILAG) has received the baton as the next trusted hands to steer the affairs of the Safeguarding Centre, University of Lagos, as the Acting Director.

Her appointment is to run for a tenure of one (1) year, from Friday, May 2, 2025 to Friday, May 1, 2026.

As Acting Director, Safeguarding Centre, Dr Abiola Akinyode-Afolabi will promote the tenets of the Centre, which is to create a safe and conducive environment for members of staff, students and visitors of the University.

The Safeguarding Centre, UNILAG, was first set up in May, 2023 to prevent undesirable harm and abuse of vulnerable people in the University. This mandate was adeptly fulfilled by the pioneer Director, Professor Mopelola Olusakin, a Professor of Counselling Psychology at the Department of Educational Foundations, Faculty of Education, UNILAG.

Once, again, the University of Lagos places a round peg in a round hole for this crucial Centre with the appointment of Dr. Akiyode-Afolabi, a distinguished legal scholar and human rights advocate. She has under her belt, nearly three (3) decades of experience in promoting gender equality, democratic governance, and social justice.

Beyond her academic and administrative roles, Dr. Akiyode-Afolabi is the founding director of the Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), an organization dedicated to advancing women?s rights and providing pro bono legal services to victims of violence. Her leadership in various national and international initiatives, including her recent nomination to the United Nations Spotlight Initiative Global Reference Group, reinforces her commitment to safeguarding human rights.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade T. Ogunsola, OON, FAS, on behalf of the entire University of Lagos community, congratulates and wishes Dr Abiola Akinyode-Afolabi a successful and impactful tenure. (

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