It was a momentous occasion at the Lagos State University on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, as the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. (Mrs) Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, the 9th Substantive Vice Chancellor of the university marked one year in office.
The occasion was also used to honour 556 students of the institution who were rewarded with 50% refund of their tuition fees.
The lucky students were those who made Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.7 in their various academic pursuit in the school.
In her Welcome Address. Prof. Olatunji Bello Speaking on her vision for the university said “Prior to my appointment as Vice Chancellor, I had conceived a vision to make the Lagos State University the best in West Africa and it was in pursuit of that vision I applied for the post of Vice Chancellor on three different occasions before my eventual appointment in September, 2021.
“On assumption of duty as Vice Chancellor, I unveiled my vision to you, our stakeholders, beginning with my first meeting with the University’s Governing Council, inviting you all to key into our vision to facilitate the attainment of our set goals. Right from day one, I had clear, specific ideas to guide me in actualizing the vision I set for the University; ideas that were later crystalised into the six strategic goals that have formed the thrust of my administration’s policy agenda to which include the following: To ensure that academic and professional programmes are and remain accredited by the relevant bodies; To make the University a research, innovation and development hub for Lagos State and National development; To ensure that infrastructural facilities are improved and readily available for seamless performance of Administrative and academic duties; To improve Internal Generation of Revenue with the aim of achieving financial sustainability of the university; To promote the welfare of all Staff and Students in the University; To promote participation in Sports and Recreational Activities,” Olatunji-Bello said.
Decrying the incessant crises in the nation’s education system. She said “In the last seven months, most public Universities have been shut following the stalemate in the negotiations between the Federal Government and the leadership of ASUU. These perennial strike actions do not augur well for our nation, and undercut the unique role of universities as incubators of innovative ideas and solutions to the society’s pressing needs. It bears mentioning that development will remain a pipe dream in a situation where research is trivialised, when the synergy between the university and the industry does not receive the attention it deserves, and when there is a disconnect between the gown and the town.”
Commending the Government of Lagos State and other stakeholders for their mutual cooperation with the university she added “We are not saying there are no challenges, but with the support of our Visitor, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and a dedicated workforce, management team that share the same vision with me and world-class students, we are on the right track,” Olatunji-Bello added.
Senator Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos Central) represented by Mrs Bola Olujobi, maintained that education had always been of topmost primacy for successive administrations in the state.
The British Deputy High Commissioner in Nigeria, Mr Ben Llewellyn-Jones, while delivering a lecture on “The significance of education to the growth of a nation,” disclosed that the girl child education must be taken seriously for the overall development of the country.
He said “Girls education, though a game changer, is one of the smartest investments we can make to lift people out of poverty, grow economies, save lives and build back better from COVID-19. Research shows that a child whose mother can read is 50 per cent more likely to live beyond the age of five and 50 per cent more likely to be immunised against major potential infections.”
Llewellyn-Jones also called for more budgetary allocations to education as a way of providing quality education that would take more citizens out of poverty.
Among those that graced the occasion were, the husband of the Vice Chancellor and Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Hon. Tunji-Bello; the Pro-chancellor and Chairman of Council, Sir, David O. Sunmoni; Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration, Professor Adenike Boyo; the Registrar, Mr. Emmanuel Fanu; the Bursar, Mr. Said Olayinka; University Librarian, Dr. Layi Adebayo; Royal fathers here present; Professors and other Senate Members and Directors of Academic and Non-Academic Centres.
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