LASU crisis will soon be over, says Sanwo-Olu
Members, Special Visitation Panel on appointment of 9th Vice Chancellor of Lagos State University (LASU), Prof. Ayo Olukotun (left); Prof. Joseph Ajienka; Chairman of the Panel, Prof. Bamitale Omole; Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Secretary of the panel, Mrs. Funmilola Olajide; other panel members: Lawal Pedro (SAN) and Olujimi Olukoya during the presentation of the report by the LASU visitation panel at Lagos House.<br />
• Institution partners U.S. varsity on the teaching of GNS courses
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has assured stakeholders that the crisis rocking Lagos State University (LASU) would soon be over.
Speaking while receiving a report of the six-member special visitation panel on the appointment of the 9th substantive Vice Chancellor for the institution, Sanwo-Olu expressed hope that the report would enable the state government to achieve a peaceful transition and foster peaceful industrial relations in the school.
The panel, chaired by former VC of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Prof. Bamitale Omole, turned in three volumes of the report to the governor – the Visitor to the university – 37 days after it was constituted to examine if the extant laws of the university and other relevant guidelines were followed in the process of appointing a new helmsman for the institution.
The governor pledged his commitment to giving all stakeholders level-playing ground and equal opportunity, noting that the panel was raised in the overall interest of students and the image of the institution.
He said: “I received reports of the special visitation panel on the VC of LASU, which looked into issues surrounding the appointment of a new vice-chancellor, especially the remote causes of the impasse in the selection process and procedures for the appointment. Report of this panel will be well utilised and recommendations fully implemented in the appointment of the 9th Vice-Chancellor of LASU.”
Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Tokunbo Wahab, said the panel was constituted in accordance with the provisions of Section 23 of Lagos State University Law, Chapter 69, Volume 7 Laws of Lagos State 2015.
Wahab said the panel was charged to review the relevance of the deluge of petitions against the first and second selection processes for the appointment of a substantive VC and to examine if the extant laws of the university and other relevant guidelines were followed in the appointment.
He added that the panel was also tasked to review and advise on all other relevant matters in respect of the process adopted so far and make recommendations for the smooth running of the university.
Presenting the report, Prof. Omole said: “Individuals, groups, associations, unions, guild, the academia and traditional rulers who submitted memoranda were given ample opportunities to present their submissions. The documents we are submitting to the Visitor of the university are final products of the careful and punctilious exercise for official consideration.”
Other eminent members on the panel include former VC of University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Joseph Ajienka, Council of Oba Adetona on Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago Iwoye, Prof. Ayo Olukotun, former Lagos Solicitor-General, Mr. Lawal Pedro (SAN), former Registrar of University of Ibadan (UI), Mr. Olujimi Olukoya, and a Director on Grade Level 17 in Lagos public service, Mrs. Funmilola Olajide, who is the panel’s Secretary.
MEANWHILE, the institution has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Triune Biblical University, Global Extension, United States of America, on the teaching of General Nigeria Studies (GNS) courses in the institution.
The MoU was signed by acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oyedamola Oke and Legal Adviser to Triune Biblical University, Dr Sam Bamgbose.
Oke said the partnership was for his institution to teach students of Triune Biblical University GNS courses.
The acting VC noted that the university had recently gone virtual in all its GNS courses, and assured that it would deliver the GNS courses perfectly well.
Director, Centre for General Nigerian Studies, Prof. Biodun Akinpelu, said LASU has the capacity to accommodate thousands of students in any of its online courses.
Akinpelu said the school is ready to initiate academic programmes at degree, diploma and certificate levels with Triune Biblical University, based on core areas of need of the Nigerian society.
“The centre has reviewed its curriculum in each of the four GNS courses, as mandated by National Universities Commission (NUC). We have produced relevant textbooks and course materials on each of the courses before finally migrating to an online learning platform,” he said.
On his part, Director of Studies Online, Triune Biblical University, Prof. Valentine Iheukwumere, said the institution had covered a lot of countries, especially Africa, and assured that the cost of GNS courses would be affordable for students.
