Lilian Imuetinyan Salami (born 8 August 1956) is a Nigerian academic who was the vice-chancellor of the University of Benin between 2 December 2019 to 2 December 2024. 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 University ...

in 1985. She was director-general/chief executive of the (NIEPA),

Ondo State Ondo () is a States of Nigeria, state in Points of the compass, southwestern Nigeria. It was created on 3 February 1976 from the former Western State (Nigeria), Western State. Ondo borders Ekiti State to the north, Kogi State to the northeast fo ...

, 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 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 Daho ...

, 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. The city is situ ...

, Nigeria. However, she is from

Edo Edo (), also romanized as Jedo, Yedo or Yeddo, is the former name of Tokyo. Edo, formerly a (castle town) centered on Edo Castle located in Musashi Province, became the '' de facto'' capital of Japan from 1603 as the seat of the Tokugawa shogu ...

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

Plateau State Plateau is a northern states of Nigeria, Nigerian state. It is located in the north-central geopolitical zone of Nigeria and includes a range of hills surrounding the Jos Plateau. Plateau State is described as "The Home of Peace and Tourism". Th ...

, but due to the

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

from 1967 to 1970 she went to secondary school in Edo State, where she earned a West African School Certificate ( WASSCE) under the auspices of Baptist High School, Benin City. She earned B.Sc. (Hons) home economics degree in 1972 and M.Sc. nutrition degree in 1982 at

North Dakota State University North Dakota State University (NDSU, formally North Dakota State University of Agriculture and Applied Sciences) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Fargo, North Dakota, United States. It was ...

, United States. She was at the

University of Wisconsin A university () is an institution of tertiary education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. ''University'' is derived from the Latin phrase , which roughly means "community of teachers and scholars". Uni ...

and the

University of Minnesota The University of Minnesota Twin Cities (historically known as University of Minnesota) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint ...

for summer classes before transferring to North Dakota State University, where she later completed her studies after marrying in 1977. She returned home and worked with the

National Youth Service Corps The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is a mandatory, post-tertiary scheme set up by the Nigerian government during the military regime of Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, to "reconstruct, reconcile and rebuild the country after the Nigerian ...

(NYSC), Benin City between 1983 and 1984. She carried out post-graduate studies at the

University of Nigeria The University of Nigeria, commonly referred to as UNN, is a federal and public research university located in Nsukka, Enugu State, South-east Nigeria. Founded in 1955 by Nnamdi Azikiwe who was Governor-General of Nigeria between 1960 and 1963 ...

from 1989, earning 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 The Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE), also known as a Graduate Diploma of Education (GradDipEd), is a one-year postgraduate course in several countries including Tanzania, Australia, Ghana, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, Scotland, Hong ...

(PGDE) in 2001. She took a post-doctorate degree at

Vaal University of Technology Vaal University of Technology (VUT) is a higher education institution in South Africa. It attracts students from all over the country. It is one of the largest residential universities of technology, with about 20 000 students, 40 programs, al ...

, Vanderbijlpark in

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...

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 university in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. The university was founded in 1961 and classes commenced in October 1962 as the University of Ife by the regional government of Western Nigeria, which w ...

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. Salami supervised over 15 Ph.D. and 40 master's degree students. Salami has published 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 Vice-chancellors of the University of Benin (Nigeria)