– Media Report
The Governing Council of the Lagos State University, Ojo has held a special session to formally welcome and receive the new Vice Chancellor, Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello.
Presenting the VC at the meeting held in the Council Chamber, Babatunde Raji Fashola Senate Building, main campus of the institution, the Chairman of Council and Pro-Chancellor, Sir David Sunmoni, stated that the selection process that ushered her in was free, fair and followed due diligence.
“During the selection process, she emerged the best hand to steer the affairs of the university for the next five years.”
He described the new Vice Chancellor as an erudite scholar, administrator per excellence and academician of great repute.
The Council members congratulated the Chairman on the successful exercise that produced the Vice Chancellor. They wished the Vice Chancellor a successful tenure.
In her remarks after her citation was read by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Wahab Elias, Professor Olatunji-Bello officially presented her vision and mission statement which titled “PATH TO A GREATER LAGOS STATE UNIVERSITY.”
She stated that part of her core values include diligence, integrity, to promote excellence, while her goals are to get accreditation of courses, quality research, galvanised infrastructural facilities, improve internal generated revenue and financial sustenance, promotion of welfare of students and staff as well as participation in sports and recreational activities for both staff and students.
Speaking on her detailed document, she touched on professionalism, which she promised to promote.
The Vice Chancellor stressed that work had reached an advanced stage in creating three additional faculties, two at Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeja and one at Epe Campus of the university.
“We intend to make LASU a research and development hub. Part time programmes to return, using the College of Medicine as the centre, complementing the ones already in existence at Epe campus and Ojo,” she sated.
Speaking further on some of her vision, Prof Olatunji-Bello averred “long term and short term. “To shore up our IGR, we intend to go into Rice and Cassava plantation at the Epe Campus, where we have our school of Agriculture.
We equally have land donated around Badagry, we will be looking at Palm Oil plantation. We are coming on board with film and television production. We intend to increase the bandwidth of LASU Radio, for wider reach and coverage, already in talks with the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) on this.
“We will be holding monthly meetings with staff and Students’ unions. We will have suggestion boxes, everywhere for input by all, to make the university better. We will invest in human capital with focus on capacity building”
Touching on welfare, the VC said staff would always get their entitlements as well as benefits. She assured that salaries would be paid on or before every 23rd of every month.
Her words: “On welfare, the staff will always get their entitlements and benefits. Staff salaries would be paid on or before 23rd of every month. I have instructed the Bursar on this.
“We will also institute the culture of mentorship, the DVC (Academic) has started that. We will organise symposia, seminars for captains of industry, this is a way for the town and gown to connect.
“We will promote participation in sporting activities to curb students’ restiveness. We will bid for NUGA games, this will put LASU on the World map. Also, we will better the image of the university”
As she rounded off her well-presented vision and mission, the Professor of Physiology, with over fifty five (55) well published papers affirmed that she would always uphold the laws of the university as amended in 2015.
She assured that her team would have amorous relationship with the State Government, the regulatory body, National Universities Commission (NUC), others such as JAMB, WAEC, NECO, Federal and State Ministry of Education, TETFUND, security agencies and the media.
“I am committed to creating an enabling environment, where we can all share dreams and ideas. Your support is key. The students and staff, too. Our vision is to take LASU to an enviable position by 2025.
“These challenges are not insurmountable. I have a great passion to reach all these goals.
The Chairman, Sir Sunmoni commended her foresight, saying the vision and mission are very robust. He assured her of the Governing Council support at all time.
“We will continue to make laws that will create enabling environment for the university. The vision is laudable and we will continue to work with you,” Chairman of the Governing Council said.