The management of McPherson University has announced the appointment of Professor Lawal A. Babatunde as the Director of Academic Planning. This appointment is for a period of two years and reflects the university's commitment to enhancing academic quality, institutional development, and strategic planning.

As the Director of Academic Planning, Professor Lawal will be responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of the university's academic plans and policies. His duties will include coordinating curriculum development and review processes, analyzing academic data to inform decision-making, collaborating with faculties and departments to improve academic programs, and leading accreditation and quality assurance initiatives.

Professor Lawal is a distinguished alumnus of several prestigious institutions, including Olabisi Onabanjo University, Obafemi Awolowo University, Saint Monica University, and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, where he obtained his degrees in Accounting and Finance. He holds numerous professional affiliations, including fellowships and memberships in reputable bodies within and outside Nigeria.

Professor Lawal is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, the International Association of Research Scholars and Administrators, the Association of Forensic Accountants Researchers, and the Institute of Educational Leadership Practitioners of Nigeria. He is also a member of the Certified National Accountants, the Chartered Institute of Forensics and Certified Fraud Investigators of Nigeria, and the Institute of Public Accountants Australia, among other professional bodies.

Throughout his academic and professional career, Professor Lawal has made significant contributions to national development and policy formulation. In 2018, he worked as a Specialist Consultant on a research project titled Expanded Review of the Nigerian Tax System, which focused on reforms aimed at driving tax revenue growth. He has served McPherson University in various capacities, including as a Council Member, Chairman of the University Ceremonies Committee, and Chairman of the Space Allocation Committee.

Professor Lawal has also served as an External Examiner to several universities, including Babcock University, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, and the University of Johannesburg. He has been a member of several accreditation panels of the National Universities Commission. As the immediate past Dean of the College of Postgraduate Studies and former Head of the Department of Accounting and Finance at McPherson University, Professor Lawal brings a wealth of experience to his new role.

His research interests include Environmental Accounting, Oil and Gas Accounting, Auditing and Assurance, International Accounting, Forensic Accounting, and Financial Management. With over sixty scholarly publications in reputable journals and active participation in conferences, Professor Lawal is a respected scholar and administrator. He is happily married.

The university community congratulates Professor Lawal on his appointment as the Director of Academic Planning.