LAGOS/Nigeria: The Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, has urged women in leadership positions to be courageous and decisive, stressing that effective leadership requires firmness, fairness, and empathy.
Speaking in an interview in Lagos, Prof. Ogunsola, who is UNILAG’s first female Vice Chancellor, said women leaders must not be afraid of making hard decisions when necessary, noting that true leadership is rooted in service to humanity and guided by transparency and competence.
“Courage, competence, fairness, empathy, and transparency are what distinguish great leaders,” she said. “Leadership is about service, and it requires facing situations with an open mind.”
Prof. Ogunsola advised women in leadership to remain inclusive and pragmatic while upholding institutional rules. She cautioned that compromising integrity or serving narrow interests could have damaging consequences.
“If you throw caution to the wind, you will end up serving a small group of people while neglecting many others,” she warned.
She also rejected the notion that female leaders should be shielded or handled with leniency, describing such attitudes as counterproductive.
“It is often misconstrued that as a female, I need help or that I should be shielded from bad news. That is a grievous mistake. There is no gender in leadership. If there’s an issue, we deal with it. You cannot be shielded from reality,” she asserted.
Reflecting on her two and a half years in office, the vice chancellor said she had remained true to her principles of fairness and merit, ensuring that competence, not connections, determines appointments and opportunities in the university.
“I believe that after two and a half years in office, most people have come to realise that I try to be fair. I always put out criteria that are open to all. If you meet them, you qualify, regardless of whether you know me or not,” she explained.
Prof. Ogunsola acknowledged that leadership comes with enormous pressure, especially in public institutions, but emphasized the importance of maintaining discipline and balance.
“We keep saying our leaders don’t do enough, but we must also consider the pressures they face. You cannot be too rigid, but you must know the boundaries you must never cross,” she noted.
The vice chancellor, who made history as the first woman to lead UNILAG in its 60-year existence, said she never aspired to the position but was driven by the desire to serve and contribute meaningfully.
“I never came into the university with plans of becoming vice chancellor,” she said. “Many women are capable, but few position themselves for leadership roles. We must change that mindset.”
Prof. Ogunsola encouraged women to embrace leadership and actively participate in shaping the society, saying their perspectives and contributions remain critical to national development.
“Women should not shy away from leadership. We have so much to offer. Our strength lies in our ability to lead with empathy, wisdom, and courage,” she said.
