Professor Olusola Abiola Ladokun (née Okunola) is a distinguished Nigerian academic, researcher and university administrator whose career exemplifies excellence in higher education management, scientific research, academic development and institutional leadership. As Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Science and Technology) of Lead City University, Ibadan, she has continued to contribute to the advancement of university education through strategic planning, quality assurance, research development, curriculum innovation and the mentoring of emerging scholars.

With over two decades of teaching, research and administrative experience, Professor Ladokun has built an impressive academic career marked by a commitment to institutional growth, academic excellence and the development of human capacity. Her contributions span departmental leadership, faculty administration, university governance and international academic collaboration, positioning her as an influential figure in the management and development of higher education in Nigeria.

Professor Ladokun’s administrative career at Lead City University reflects a steady progression through key leadership positions, each providing opportunities to strengthen academic structures, improve institutional processes and promote quality education. Since December 2023, she has served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Science and Technology), providing strategic oversight for science and technology programmes and contributing to the university’s research and innovation agenda. In this capacity, she participates in high-level institutional decision-making as a member of the Governing Council and Senate, helping to shape policies and initiatives that support academic development and institutional effectiveness.

Before her appointment as Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ladokun served as Dean of the Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences from September 2014 to September 2025. During her tenure, she coordinated teaching, research and examinations across multiple departments, promoted curriculum development and supported efforts to sustain academic standards.Her experience as Head of the Department of Biochemistry, first from 2010 to 2011 and subsequently from 2014 to 2017, further strengthened her record of academic leadership. She played important roles in departmental accreditation, the restructuring of academic programmes and the mentoring of junior academic staff, particularly in research proposal development and grant writing.

Earlier, as Pioneer Sub-Dean of the Faculty of Information Technology and Applied Sciences from 2005 to 2014, Professor Ladokun contributed to the establishment and development of a new faculty. This foundational assignment demonstrated her capacity to support institutional expansion, build academic structures and navigate the administrative demands associated with developing new areas of university education.

 A defining feature of Professor Ladokun’s career is her commitment to quality assurance and strategic planning as essential instruments for improving higher education. She recognises that sustainable university development requires sound institutional policies, effective implementation strategies, measurable academic standards and continuous improvement. In recognition of her expertise in this area, she became a certified accreditor for programme and institutional accreditation through the Global University Network for Innovation (Africa) and the African Quality Assurance Network in 2021.

She has also undertaken specialised professional training in university strategic planning, academic development and institutional governance. Her programmes include New Thrusts in Academic Planning and Development and Upgrading of University Strategic Documents, completed through the Virtual Institute for Capacity Building in Higher Education in 2022 with a distinction.

Further demonstrating her commitment to administrative excellence, she earned a distinction in Theory and Practice of Strategic Planning and Implementation and a distinction plus in Development and Implementation of University Law. These areas of training have strengthened her understanding of the policy frameworks, planning processes and governance mechanisms required for effective university administration.

Professor Ladokun has equally embraced emerging technologies and their implications for higher education. Her completion of The ABC of Artificial Intelligence and the Delivery of Quality Higher Education earned her the Professor Peter A. Okebukola Prize for Distinction in Project. She also completed Mastering University Rankings for Global Visibility with a distinction plus, reflecting her interest in institutional competitiveness, international visibility and the strategic positioning of Nigerian universities.

As a Professor of Biochemistry,  Ladokun has devoted more than two decades to teaching, research and academic mentorship. Her teaching portfolio encompasses specialised areas including Advanced Food and Nutritional Biochemistry, Bioinformatics, Industrial Biochemistry, and Nutrient-Drug Interactions. Her approach to academic development combines disciplinary expertise with a commitment to preparing students and emerging researchers for the intellectual and professional demands of their respective fields. Through her teaching and supervision, she has contributed to the development of scientific knowledge, research competence and critical thinking among students at different levels of university education. She has supervised more than 50 undergraduate research projects, eight graduate students and four PhD dissertations to completion. These achievements reflect her sustained involvement in developing research capacity and preparing the next generation of academics and professionals.

Beyond formal teaching and supervision, Professor Ladokun has mentored junior colleagues in research proposal development, grant writing and academic career progression. Her support for early-career academics contributes to the strengthening of the university’s intellectual community and the continuity of scholarly excellence.

Her academic influence also extends beyond Nigeria. She has served as a guest lecturer at the University of Mauritius and as a Visiting Professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem under the Lady Davis Trust Fellowship for the 2021/2022 period. These international engagements have provided opportunities for scholarly exchange and have further broadened her academic experience.

Professor Ladokun’s research career is characterised by an interdisciplinary interest in biochemistry and its applications to nutrition, health, environmental sustainability and scientific innovation. She has published more than 44 articles in learned journals, with research interests spanning nutritional biochemistry, ethnopharmacology, functional foods, bioinformatics and bioremediation. Her work reflects the practical relevance of scientific research to human health, food and nutrition, environmental concerns and the development of knowledge that can inform policy and practice. In addition to her journal publications, she has authored two books, Times and Seasons and The Manufacturer’s Diet, further demonstrating her engagement with scholarly and public-facing writing.

An important milestone in her academic career was the delivery of her inaugural lecture in 2016, titled Nutritional Biochemistry: Sequential Professedly Unsequential. The lecture provided a platform for presenting her scholarly perspective on nutritional biochemistry and highlighting the significance of her discipline within the broader scientific community.

Professor Ladokun has also participated as Principal Investigator or Co-Principal Investigator in several international research grants. These include National Institutes of Health-funded projects focusing on youth-friendly HIV self-testing and music-based interventions for blood pressure control. Such collaborations demonstrate her involvement in research addressing public health concerns and exploring innovative approaches to health promotion and intervention.

Her research interests, publication record and involvement in externally supported research initiatives underscore the importance she places on scientific inquiry, collaborative scholarship and the application of academic knowledge to practical challenges.

Professor Ladokun’s contributions extend beyond teaching and research to the structures responsible for university governance, ethical oversight and postgraduate education. As a member of the Governing Council and Senate of Lead City University, she participates in institutional decision-making and the development of policies that guide the university’s academic and administrative direction. She also serves as Chair of the University Research Ethics Committee, a responsibility that places her at the centre of efforts to promote ethical standards and responsible research practices. Her involvement in the Board of the Postgraduate School further demonstrates her commitment to postgraduate training, advanced scholarship and the development of research capacity. These responsibilities reflect a broad understanding of university leadership as a combination of academic stewardship, sound governance, ethical accountability and institutional service.

Her professional affiliations also demonstrate her engagement with scientific, technological and professional communities. She belongs to the Nutrition Society of Nigeria, the New York Academy of Science and the Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria. She is also a charter member of the National Association of Artificial Intelligence Practitioners, the Association of Cybersecurity Practitioners and the Association of Ranking Professionals.Through these professional networks, she maintains engagement with developments in science, technology, research practice and the evolving demands of higher education.

Professor Ladokun’s career has attracted recognition from academic and professional organisations in Nigeria and internationally. In 2022, she benefited from the Lady Davis Trust Fellowship, through which she served as a Visiting Professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The fellowship represents a significant milestone in her international academic engagement and scholarly development. In 2021, she received the Outstanding Lecturer of the Year award at the Nigeria National Education Awards and was named Outstanding Ambassador of the Year by the African Skills Centre. Both recognitions reflect the professional standing she has established through her involvement in education and academic development. Her earlier honours include the Pillars of Nation Building Award presented by the Strategic Institute for Natural Resources and Human Development in 2011 and a MASHAV Scholarship Award from Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2004.

In addition to these honours, her distinctions in strategic planning, university law, artificial intelligence in higher education and university rankings demonstrate her sustained commitment to professional development and excellence in academic administration.

Professor Olusola Abiola Ladokun represents a blend of scientific scholarship, administrative competence, strategic thinking and commitment to human development. Her career demonstrates that the effective management of university education requires more than the administration of academic programmes; it demands vision, continuous professional development, ethical leadership, research support and investment in the next generation of scholars.

It is in recognition of her Sterling Accomplishments in the Management and Development of University Education in Nigeria that Professor Olusola Abiola Ladokun is deemed worthy to be conferred with the Woman of Merit Gold Award.