The management of Lagos State University has awarded scholarships of 50 per cent refund of school fees in the academic session to 556 outstanding undergraduate students of the institution.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that this is in line with a promise made by Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, when she assumed duty on September 20, 2021, as the ninth substantive Vice-Chancellor of LASU.
She promised 50 per cent refund of school fees to students with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.50 every academic session.
Olatunji-Bello had said that the decision to introduce the policy was to promote healthy competition among the students.
The VC announced the scholarship awards to 556 beneficiaries at a public lecture on the first anniversary of her assumption of office on Tuesday, in Lagos.
She said that the administration’s vision remained to make LASU the best university in West Africa.
Olatunji-Bello said that within a year, the administration, with the support of all stakeholders in LASU, had added three new faculties of science and a school.
“The new faculties are Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Environmental Sciences; and School of Library, Archival and Information Science.
“Other achievements include admission of new international students, expansion of programmes, and the Epe Campus,” she said.
Olatunji-Bello said that to achieve its vision, the administration set out six strategic goals.
These, she said, include: ensuring that academic and professional programmes are and remain accredited by the relevant bodies.
Another is to “make the university a research, innovation and development hub for Lagos State and national development”.
It also aims to “ensure that infrastructural facilities are improved and readily available for seamless performance of administrative and academic duties.”
Others are, “to improve internal generation of revenue with the aim of achieving financial sustainability of the university, promote the welfare of all staff and students in the university and promote participation in sports and recreational activities.”
Olatunji-Bello reaffirmed the university’s commitment to providing a platform that engenders intellectual debates and proffers workable solutions to the deplorable state of education in Nigeria.
“We are bearing in mind the unique place of higher education in the development of our nation.
“Indeed, given the dire state of higher education in the country today, no other discussion would have been more pressing.
“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,” she said.
Olatunji-Bello said that the modest achievements so far demonstrate the administration’s unwavering commitment to the vision that drives its policies and the development of the University.
“Also, the cardinal point of this administration’s mission is to place the university on a solid foundation of excellence in research, learning and community service,” she said.
The VC appreciated Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, who is the Visitor to the University, and his Special Adviser on Education, Mr Tokunbo Philip Wahab, for their support.
She also thanked the Chancellor of LASU, Prof. Gbolahan Elias and the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Mr David Sunmoni, as well. (NAN).
