A biopic on Ibiyemi Olatunji Bello, the former vice chancellor of Lagos State University (LASU), has premiered in Lagos, highlighting her journey to the top of the university. The film, Madam Vice Chancellor: Against the Odds, was produced by the Women & Girls Empowerment Foundation International (WOGEFI) and explores themes of resilience and women's leadership. Olatunji Bello's story is one of perseverance, having attempted to become vice chancellor twice before eventually securing the position. Her journey has been turned into a feature film, bringing together members of the university community, cast, and others involved in the production.
The film was inspired by the lessons in Olatunji Bello's career, particularly her rise as the second woman to occupy the highest office at LASU. Olawunmi Oni Buraimoh, founder of WOGEFI, said she was driven by the need to document Olatunji Bello's story and share it with women, girls, and young people. The production team interviewed over 50 people, including Olatunji Bello's friends, colleagues, lecturers, staff, and students, to reconstruct her career and the experiences surrounding her rise through the university system.
The film's director, Bakare Adeoye, said the project was initially conceived as a documentary before the team decided to tell the story as a biopic. Adeoye said he wanted to create a story that would hold an audience, beyond a documentary. The research for the film lasted about three to four months, with the production team conducting interviews before putting the accounts together.
The film also seeks to challenge the tendency to view women's achievements through their husbands or family connections rather than their own qualifications and work. Oni Buraimoh said that a woman's aspirations should be taken seriously and her achievements assessed on their own merit. The film aims to preserve an account of Olatunji Bello's years in academia and university leadership.
Olatunji Bello, who attended the premiere, thanked the cast and crew, particularly Ireti Osayemi, who played her in the film. She said she was impressed by Osayemi's portrayal, noting that she looked like her, even down to her glasses. Olatunji Bello rose through academia after studying physiology and later becoming a professor in the field.
The film comes as Olatunji Bello's tenure as vice chancellor has ended, giving the production an opportunity to open a wider conversation about persistence and women's advancement into leadership positions. For Adeoye, turning the story into a film was an exercise in balancing personal accounts with the need to create a story that would hold an audience.
The premiere of the film marks a significant milestone in the story of Olatunji Bello's rise to leadership. The film's message of resilience and perseverance is expected to inspire women and young people.
Key points
- The biopic, Madam Vice Chancellor: Against the Odds, tells the story of Ibiyemi Olatunji Bello's journey to becoming LASU's first female vice chancellor.
- The film was produced by the Women & Girls Empowerment Foundation International (WOGEFI) and explores themes of resilience and women's leadership.
- Olatunji Bello's story is one of perseverance, having attempted to become vice chancellor twice before eventually securing the position.
