VC’s 2 years: LASU has been transformed, staff, students say

Members of staff and students of the Lagos State
University ( LASU ) said on Thursday that the
institution had experienced positive changes in
the first two years of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof.
Olanrewaju Fagbohun, in office.
Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State
appointed Fagbohun as eighth substantive Vice-
Chancellor of LASU on January 6, 2016 and
inaugurated him on January 11, 2016.
Fagbohun, a professor of Environmental Law, was
appointed following Ambode’s approval of five-
year single-term tenure for all helmsmen of the
state-owned tertiary institutions.
Fagbohun’s appointment also followed the
expiration of the tenure of Prof. John Oladapo
Obafunwa, the seventh substantive Vice-
Chancellor of the institution on October 31, 2015,
after which Prof. Fidelis Njokanma, Deputy Vice-
Chancellor (Academics) held office as Acting
Vice-Chancellor.
Mr Saheed Oseni, Chairman, Senior Staff
Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU),
LASU Chapter, told NAN that several segments of
the institution had to a large extent, experienced
transformation within the last two years.
Oseni said although there were ups and downs
which were humanly inevitable, the incumbent
vice-chancellor’s administration was quite
commendable .
He, however, urged Fagbohun not to rest on his
oars, but to initiate policies that would bring
more smiles to the workers’ faces because the
end justifies the means .
“To a large extent, things have been transformed
in LASU within the last two years; but the vice-
chancellor must endeavour to do more because it
is not the beginning that matters, but the end.
“He must also ensure that all pending contentious
issues are resolved amicably, while the rule of law
must be upheld to the letter while making sure
that no party within the system is unjustly
treated, ” he said.
Mr Samuel Olalere, President of LASU Students
Union (LASUSU) said the university was not what
it used to be, because it had seen a lot of
progress.
Olalere said the students community was pleased
with the current administration and its system
because the atmosphere in the campus had been
relatively serene.
“This is my fourth year in LASU and I would not
have been involved in students unionism if it was
the LASU of then.
“But because things have really changed under
Prof. Fagbohun, and we are enjoying peace, that
is why I am now a student union leader,” he said.
Read also: LASU undergoing
internal cleansing – Spokesman
Olalere, however, urged Fagbohun to continue to
maintain the peace enjoyed within the university
community and to ensure that the LASU brand
was incomparable globally.
Mr Adekoya Martins, the University Spokesman,
said that LASU had witnessed tremendous
improvement in all facets within the last two
years, compared to its 35 years of existence.
Martins said that Fagbohun’s achievements so
far hinged on the Lagos State Government’s
support and funding, to ensure that all roads in
the institution are in good shape and to ensure
the community was well lit.
“Other infrastructure being put in place, aside
beautifying the entire university environment,
include installation of a new generator at the
Faculty of Arts, renovation of some classrooms
and the university’s Iba road entrance,” he said.
According to him, the restoration of peace in the
university has ensured uninterrupted academic
calendar within the period.
“Staff, within the two years administration, got
their outstanding and due promotion; and no staff
duly qualified was denied promotion, while the
end of the year package was improved upon,” he
said.
Martins said the Open and Distance Learning and
Research Institute (ODLRI) established to replace
the LASU External system which was recently
phased out was recently approved by National
Universities Commission.
NAN