Lilian Imuetinyan Salami (born 8 August 1956) is a Nigerian academic who has served as vice-chancellor of the University of Benin since 2019. She is the second female vice-chancellor of the university after

Grace Alele-Williams Grace Alele-Williams (16 December 1932 – 25 March 2022) was a Nigerian professor of mathematics education, who made history as the first Nigerian woman to receive a doctorate, and the first Nigerian female vice-chancellor at the Universi ...

in 1985. She was director-general/chief executive of th
National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration
(NIEPA),

Ondo State Ondo State ( yo, Ìpínlẹ̀ Oǹdó) is a state in southwestern Nigeria. It was created on 3 February 1976 from the former Western State. It borders Ekiti State to the north, Kogi State to the northeast, Edo State to the east, Delta Stat ...

, Nigeria. A former dean, faculty of education at the University of Benin, Salami is a Fellow of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria and International Federation of Home Economics/Home Professional Association of Nigeria. Salami is a professor of home economics/nutritional education and a member of the advisory council to his royal majesty, the

Oba of Benin The Oba of Benin is the traditional ruler and the custodian of the culture of the Edo people and all Edoid people. The then Kingdom of Benin (not to be confused with the modern-day and unrelated Republic of Benin, which was then known as Dahom ...

, Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Ukukpolokpolo, Ogidigan, Oba Ewuare II.

Early life and education

Salami was born in

Jos Jos is a city in the north central region of Nigeria. The city has a population of about 900,000 residents based on the 2006 census. Popularly called "J-Town", it is the administrative capital and largest city of Plateau State. During British ...

, Nigeria. However, she is from

Edo Edo ( ja, , , "bay-entrance" or "estuary"), also romanized as Jedo, Yedo or Yeddo, is the former name of Tokyo. Edo, formerly a ''jōkamachi'' (castle town) centered on Edo Castle located in Musashi Province, became the ''de facto'' capital of ...

, specifically
Bini
woman. She began her early childhood education in Jos,

Plateau In geology and physical geography, a plateau (; ; ), also called a high plain or a tableland, is an area of a highland consisting of flat terrain that is raised sharply above the surrounding area on at least one side. Often one or more sides ...

State; but due to the

Nigerian Civil War The Nigerian Civil War (6 July 1967 – 15 January 1970), also known as the Nigerian–Biafran War or the Biafran War, was a civil war fought between Nigeria and the Republic of Biafra, a secessionist state which had declared its independence ...

(1967–1970), she received her secondary school education in Edo State and earned a West African School Certificate (WASC) under the auspices of Baptist High School, Benin City. Her hunger for a world-class education motivated her to go to the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...

and earned B.Sc. (Hons) home economics and M.Sc. nutrition degrees at

North Dakota State University North Dakota State University (NDSU, formally North Dakota State University of Agriculture and Applied Sciences) is a public land-grant research university in Fargo, North Dakota. It was founded as North Dakota Agricultural College in 1890 as t ...

in 1979 and 1982 respectively. She was, however, at the

University of Wisconsin A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United Stat ...

and the

University of Minnesota The University of Minnesota, formally the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, (UMN Twin Cities, the U of M, or Minnesota) is a public land-grant research university in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States. ...

for summer classes before transferring to North Dakota State University, where she later completed her studies as a result of being married in 1977. She returned home and served her country under the platform of

National Youth Service Corps The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is a program set up by the Nigerian government during the military regime to involve Nigerian graduates in nation-building and the development of the country. There is no military conscription in Nigeria ...

(NYSC), Benin City between 1983 and 1984. Her love for quality education made her to further her studies at the

University of Nigeria The University of Nigeria, commonly referred to as UNN, is a federal university located in Nsukka, Enugu State, Eastern part of Nigeria. Founded by Nnamdi Azikiwe in 1955 and formally opened on 7 October 1960, the University of Nigeria has th ...

in 1989 where she earned a Ph.D. in human nutrition in 1991. While lecturing at the University of Benin, she enrolled as a student there and earned a postgraduate diploma in education (PGDE) in 2001. She had her postdoctorate degree at

Vaal University of Technology Vaal University of Technology (VUT) is a tertiary institution in South Africa. It attracts students from all over the country. It is one of the largest residential Universities of Technology, with about 25,000 students, 300 programs, all primari ...

, Vanderbijlpark in

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring coun ...

, which she earned in 2005.

Career

Salami began her career with the University of Benin as a senior lecturer in 1994. Prior to her appointment with this institution, she had briefly taught at the then University of Ife, now

Obafemi Awolowo University Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) is a federal government-owned university that is located in the ancient city of Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. The university was founded in 1961 and classes commenced in October 1962 as the University of Ife ...

having completed her national youth service with the NYSC, Benin City in 1984. Subsequently, she lectured at the

University of Maiduguri The University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) is a Federal higher institution located in Maiduguri, the capital city of Borno State in northeast Nigeria. The university was created by the federal government of Nigeria in 1975, with the intention of its ...

from 1985 to 1994. She was head of department from 1996 to 1998 at the University of Benin and attained the status of a professor in 2005. Held administrative positions such as chairman of the board of University of Benin Integrated Enterprise, director of general studies, director of part-time programme, director-general/chief executive, National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA), Ondo State, among others, Salami has successfully supervised over 15 Ph.D. and 40 master's degree students. Salami has contributed to knowledge through written articles in national and international journals, and has taught several courses within the scope of Home Economics and Nutrition.

References

External links

Prof Lilian Salami Appointed New Vice Chancellor Of UNIBEN
{{DEFAULTSORT:Salami, Lilian Living people Nigerian women academics Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian universities Academic staff of the University of Benin (Nigeria) 21st-century Nigerian women 1956 births University of Nigeria alumni North Dakota State University alumni Nigerian academic administrators Nigerian academics People from Edo State