McPherson University Appoints Prof. Lawal Babatunde as Director of Academic Planning

McPherson University has announced the appointment of Prof. Lawal A. Babatunde as its new Director of Academic Planning for a renewable term of two years, in a move aimed at strengthening academic coordination, institutional planning and quality assurance across the university.

The appointment underscores the institution’s ongoing commitment to enhancing academic standards, improving curriculum delivery and reinforcing strategic institutional development.

In his new role, Prof. Lawal is expected to oversee key academic planning functions, including the development and implementation of academic policies, coordination of curriculum design and review processes, analysis of institutional academic data for decision-making, collaboration with faculties and departments to improve programme quality, and leadership of accreditation and quality assurance activities.

Prof. Lawal’s academic profile reflects extensive multidisciplinary training and professional exposure. He is an alumnus of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Obafemi Awolowo University, Saint Monica University and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, where he obtained his first, second and third degrees in Accounting and Finance.

His professional affiliations include fellowships and memberships in several bodies, including:

• Fellow, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN)
• Fellow, International Association of Research Scholars and Administrators (IARSA)
• Fellow, Association of Forensic Accountants Researchers (AFAR)
• Fellow, Institute of Educational Leadership Practitioners of Nigeria (IELPN)
• Member, Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN)
• Member, Chartered Institute of Forensics and Certified Fraud Investigators of Nigeria (CIFCFIN)
• Member, Certified Institute of Hospitality, Tourism and Management (CIHTM)
• Member, Institute of Public Accountants Australia (IPA)
• Associate Member, Institute of Financial Accountants, United Kingdom (IFA)

Beyond academia, Prof. Lawal has contributed to national policy research and development. In 2018, he served as a Specialist Consultant with the Nigerian Economic Summit Group on a study titled “Expanded Review of the Nigerian Tax System,” presented at the 24th Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja.

Within McPherson University, he has previously served in several administrative capacities, including:

• Council Member representing Congregation
• Chairman, University Ceremonies Committee
• Chairman, Space Allocation Committee
• Dean, College of Postgraduate Studies
• Former Head, Department of Accounting and Finance

He has also served as an external examiner to several universities, including Babcock University, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Crescent University and the University of Johannesburg, as well as participating in accreditation exercises under the National Universities Commission.

His research interests span Environmental Accounting, Oil and Gas Accounting, Auditing and Assurance, International Accounting, Forensic Accounting and Financial Management. He has over 60 scholarly publications in peer-reviewed journals and has presented papers at conferences within and outside Nigeria.

The university described the appointment as a strategic step toward strengthening academic planning systems and improving institutional efficiency.