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Tag: LASU

  • LASU disciplinary panel begins probe today

    A disciplinary committee set up by the Lagos State University (LASU) to investigate the alleged abduction of the Students’ Union president, Tayo Sekoni, by two undergraduates and one alumnus on Thursday last week will begin investigations today.

    The LASU management has denied the claim by the trio on social media that they are being witch hunted in favour of Sekoni.

    Oladadayo Mojeed Babatunnde a final year student of the School of Transport; Adebanjo Fatai Adekoya another final year student of Law, as well as Fola Kososko who graduated last year, were reportedly suspended last Friday for attempted kidnap of Sekoni and for general misconduct.

    At briefing on Monday, Dean of Student Affairs Dr Oluwafemi Obayori, promised that the investigation would be fair, as the management would look into the current and remote causes of the incident.

    Explaining what prompted the investigation, Obayori said that that on July 24, Sekoni drew his attention to threats by Adebanjo to assault him, which he (Adebanjo) did not deny.

    Obayori said he traced the animosity to the NANS convention held in Gombe July 13-16, which Sekoni and the trio attended as supporters of two different factions for the position of NANS PRO.   There was   a faceoff between the two parties at the venue, which neither reported when they got back to LASU until the assault issue came up.

    Obayori said: “He (Adebanjo) said it in my presence that he was going to beat Sekoni right inside the campus. I asked him why and he said it was because he (Sekoni) brought some other people against the candidate they presented at NANS convention in Gombe two weeks ago. I then instructed our PR to take minutes of our encounter. I also brought in some other people as witnesses.

    “These students have been claiming on social media that when they returned from Gombe, they drew management’s attention to what happened but we paid no attention because we wanted to be biased. I want to put it on record that until Sekoni notified me that his life was being threatened by Adebayo that I desired to know why he wanted to attack the SUG president.

    “It was at that point he narrated everything that occurred in Gombe to me. I immediately asked he and others involved to present their individual accounts and some have already submitted. In fact the last person submitted on Friday. But on Thursday Sekoni was waylaid by Adebayo and his cohorts while returning to his hostel.  According to reports, the situation would have gotten out of hand, but for other students that prevented Sekoni from being dragged out of the commercial bust he was in.

    Prior to Kosoko’s graduation, the DSA said management had restrained him from participating in union activities due to some misconduct. Kosoko however became more prominent on social media launching insults at management.

  • LASU to clear 3,000 results in two weeks

    In the next two weeks, the Lagos State University (LASU) would have cleared over 3,000 students from its External System for graduation.

    Of the number, the university has already sorted out 1,071 results, and now aims to clear an additional 2,000 within a fortnight, says chairperson of Task Force (TF) on LASU Eternal System (LASUES), Prof Cordelia Nwaboku.

    When completed, it would bring the number of students whose results have been cleared to 6,071. This is in addition to 2,500 results cleared in April before the TF started its work in earnest.

    Addressing reporters at the university Senate at the weekend, Nwaboku said the university’s ICT team developed three software applications that helped the TF address issues of students’ identities and results.

    Ag. Director of ICT, Dr Moses Akanbi, said the applications allow students to view their results, print, and access requirement for graduation.

    Before Prof Lanre Fagbohun became VC in January, LASUES, had been enmeshed in scandals ranging from admission racketeering, missing results, financial fraud, poor academic workers, and inability of many students in the system to graduate after many years.

    Nwaboku said now, all students’ records since LASUES began, as well as their results and graduating status have been uploaded on a dedicated website, http://dpu.lasu.edu.ng.  She said they can also fill a complaint form on the website if they have grievances.

    As at last Friday, Nwaboku said the website had received 4,747 complaints from the Ogba, Agege, Anthony, Festac, Ikorodu, Ikoyi, Isolo, Jibowu, and Lekki external campuses, while an additional 1,571 complaints were lodged through lasuestaskforce@edu.ng.

    “As at 9.00am this morning (Friday), over 254,391 visits had been recorded at the site. Students’ complaints/responses are being analysed and processed accordingly, while resolved students records are uploaded online immediately.”

    She said the students’ complaints included inability to view profiles online; mistakes in course registration; double matriculation numbers; unavailability of bursary number for payment purposes, as well as missing results.

    She appealed to students to be patient because of the volume of documents needed to resolve their complaint is massive.

    On their achievements, Nwaboku said over 5,509,863 scores have been uploaded.

    “We have been collecting all results since inception (of LASUES) and putting them on permanent record. This will be ongoing. The students will now see their results because some did not even find their profile,” Nwaboku added.

    Director, LASUES, Dr Steve Ogunpitan, said the management compelled members of TF to work between 8am and 6pm daily for the first two months, engaging 30 key punch operators and redeploying 15 executive staff to man various complaints by students.

  • Promotion for LASU dons

    The Governing Council of Lagos State University at its 111st statutory meeting on May 31 2016, elevated Rotimi Williams Olatunji to the status of professor of Mass Communication (Advertising).

    Olatunji, whose promotion was back dated to last October 1, became the third professor of Communication Studies in LASU School of Communication.

    Also, Dr. Yinka Alawode has been elevated from Senior Lecturer to Associate Professor, Mass Communication.

    Olatunji, while thanking God for the elevation, appreciated his mentors and professors from whom he said he drew inspiration.

  • LASU x-rays Brexit

    The Faculty of Arts, Lagos State University (LASU) has organised one-day seminar on the exit of the United Kingdom (UK) from the European Union, and its global implication, as well as the fate of Nigerians living in the UK.

    The UK voted to withdraw from the European Union (EU) in a referendum won by the ‘leave camp,’  forcing Prime Minister, David Cameron to resign.

    Going down memory lane, Dean of the faculty, Prof Abolade Adeniji, traced the origin of the EU to the time the continent engaged in inter-ethnic and inter-fratricidal wars that eventually culminated in the Second World War. According to him, the six founding countries of the EU-Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg and Netherlands – also made the move to liberate Europe from technological and economic backwardness before and after the war.

    Adeniji of the Department of History and International Relations believed neither Nigeria nor the UK would benefit from the Brexit phenomenon. However, his colleague, Pius Akhimien from the Department of English, thinks otherwise.

    Akhimien said Brexit would leave the blacks with some advantages as to countries they would henceforth, interact with regarding politics and economy.

    Dr. Dapo Thomas of the Department of History noted that the development has opened a new vista for Europe.

    “I strongly feel that with this development is precedence; and Europe may never be the same again as countries that may feel disenchanted in EU, might want to toe the line of Britain,” he said.

    According to him, Brexit phenomenon simply means it could kickstart the rise of European nationalism.

    Adeniyi Harrison, a professor of Linguistics from Departments of African Languages and Literatures, noted that the English Language, which the EU has adopted for deliberations may now face a growing threat from other member countries of EU.

    “Now, my concern borders on the implication on the continuous use of the English Language by EU? Since Britain is no longer part of them, there may be resistance against the use of its language,” Harrison  noted,  while examining the linguistic implication of Brexit.

  • LASU, OAU shine at moot court contest

    Lagos State University (LASU)  Law Faculty students have won the maiden Gbenga Ojo National Inter-University Moot Court, Counselling and Mock Competition” held last week  at  the institution.

    Adebanjo Fatai and Ayeyemi Taofeek appeared as counsel for Team LASU, while Ehinmosan Olukolade  and Tijani Taofeeq appeared for Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife, Osun State, which came second at the  event.

    At the moot court session presided over by Justice Olugbenga Ogunfowora of the Ogun State High Court,  Team LASU defeated its counterpart from OAU, Ile-Ife.

    Aside from certificates, Team LASU got a N50,000 cash prize, OAU went home with N30, 000.

    Other universities that participated in the three-day programme include Ajayi Crowther University, Bowen University and National Open University ( NOUN).

    In the debate competition, which centered on contemporary issues and topics, such as  “State policing; to be or not to be?”; “Amnesty as a palliative measure to terrorism in Nigeria”; “The need for special courts in the fight against corruption in Nigeria”, OAU came first, ASU came and Ajayi Crowther University came third.  They went away with cash prizes of N30,000, N20,000 and N10,000.

    According to the President of the LASU LSS, Mr Kamilu Abdu-Ganiu, the students decided to honour Ojo because of his, “zeal, drive and determination to encourage the spirit of excellence amongst students.”­

    Also for his contributions to the Legal profession, both at practice and impartation of knowledge.”

    On the  objectives of the programme, Abdul-Ganiu said: “The moot court competition helps to introduce students and budding lawyers to the practical aspect of the study of law, as well as create a healthy rivalry amongst sister Faculties of Law from several institutions.”

    The honoree, Ojo, was given an award which was presented by the Dean, Faculty of Law, LASU, Prof Mike Ikhariale, for his support and contributions to the development of the faculty.

  • Inter-varsity moot court holds at LASU

    The maiden Gbenga Ojo Inter-Universities Moot, Client Counselling and Mock Competition begins today at the Lagos State University (LASU) in Ojo.

    The preliminary round will hold simultaneously at the Faculty of Law Moot-Court, Faculty of Law Lecture Room 1 and Faculty of Law Lecture Room 3. It will be rounded off with a picnic from 3pm to 6pm.

    The semi finals of Client Counselling will hold at the Faculty of Law Lecture Room 1 tomorrow. It will be capped with a visit to Oniba-Ekun of Iba land Oba Yashua Goriola Oseni.

    The three day event will climax with presentation of awards and certificates at MBA Hall.

    LASU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun is the chief host; Dean Faculty of Law Prof. Mike Ikhariale is the host. LASU law students are holding the competition in honour of their lecturer, Mr Gbenga Ojo.

    The said the competition is their own way of paying him back for all he has been doing for them.

  • ‘Sit-tight syndrome, mistrust, cause of LASU crisis’

    ‘Sit-tight syndrome, mistrust, cause of LASU crisis’

    Major-General Cecil Esekhaigbe (retd) has been re-elected as the National President of the LASU Alumni Association. His inauguration was held at the conference hall of the LASU Vice Chancellor Office. In this interview with ADEGUNLE OLUGBAMILA, Esekhaigbe spoke on plans by the alumni to partner with the university in its ongoing rebranding project

    Congrats on your inauguration, sir. How long have you been an active member of LASU alumni?

    I graduated from LASU in 1990 and became a financial member of the alumni association in 1995.

    LASU in the past has been synonymous with crises, with the last two administrations ending in crisis? Why is it now that the alumni are rising up to solidarise with the present administration? Does it mean the alumni abandoned previous administrations?

    In human interactions there are bound to be crises but the ability to resolve them is what makes the difference. The alumni association has always interfaced with the Lagos State government, university management and the various unions in efforts aimed at resolving their crises. What had been the main cause of the malignancy was firstly the quest for every stake holder to hold on tenaciously to their positions without the spirit of ‘good and take’. Secondly, there was mistrust among stakeholders which made meaningful dialogue difficult. Thirdly, there was simmering students frustration which bred violence.

    (Cuts) And do you think government is doing anything in this direction?

    Yes! We now have turning point which is a renewed commitment by government and LASU management and other stake holders to put LASU first in deliberations. The humility and forthrightness of the present leadership have also created an enabling environment for engagement. The important revelation here is that in almost all unions, alumni are great members. The executive has to leverage on this to address early warning signals of crises.

    There are still issues of LASU graduates being turned back by corporate organisations during screening because of its once bad image. What role would the alumni play in stepping up campaign to reverse this trend?

    We heard that rumour too and immediately tasked some members to investigate. But so far from the reports we have received, it is still a rumour. LASU ranked among leading state universities and even among older universities in Nigeria. Every university has her own share of crises so I really do not see where that bad image is coming from. The crises in the recent past did not stop LASU students from working hard and coming tops in various disciplines as we have seen with some of our students that recently excelled in international competitions. In fact, the association recently honoured a graduate of LASU who bagged a PhD in her early 20s. I don’t think any genuine certificate issued by LASU can be discriminated against.

    You emerged at a time it appeared a populist VC has taken the baton. What are the steps lined up by the alumni to support him?

    I was returned for a second term. The alumni body is the third leg of support after the government and management. We will all work together to take LASU to greater heights. We are determined to support the quest for academic excellence through robust contribution towards acquiring the state -of- the-art facilities. We  will also partner with the management and government in ensuring a crisis-free environment.

    How old is the association. Does it have a database of members and their spread?

    The association is as old as the year the first set graduated in 1988. The pioneer leaders have laboured to create a database which we are now updating. We have branches in Abuja, Lagos, Ibadan and Uk, US and Canada, and we are still expanding.

     

  • LASU suspends student over Indian hemp

    LASU suspends student over Indian hemp

    The Lagos State University (LASU) has suspended a second year Computer Science undergraduate for being in possession of a substance suspected to be Cannabis Sativa (Indian hemp).

    The suspension is contained in the university’s bulletin made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Lagos.

    According to the bulletin, the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, suspended the student in line with the powers conferred on him under Section 28 of the law establishing the institution.

    The suspension will subsist until he appears before the Students’ Disciplinary Committee (SDC) to defend himself.

    The institution’s security men apprehended the student last May 3, with the suspected substance. The possession of such hard drugs contravenes the university’s rules.

    “In view of this development, the student is not expected to participate in the academic activities of the university until the suspension is lifted.’

  • LASU’s road to peace

    LASU’s road to peace

    For years, the Lagos State University (LASU) was embroiled in crises. Now, things are looking up for the 33-year-old institution under the vice-chancellorship of Prof. Lanre Fagbohun. What is the magic? ADEGUNLE OLUGBAMILA reports

    The coconut breaking ceremony signalled the beginning of the convocation ceremony at the Lagos State University (LASU) on May 30.  Workers trooped out, dancing to the music supplied by Ballad Singers, as the Vice Chancellor (VC), Prof Lanre Fagbohun, led the breaking of the coconuts. It was followed by prayers for the institution.  The ceremony was rounded off with a breakfast of garri and coconut. The participation of members of the university community in the ceremony was taken as a sign that peace is returning to the institution.

    Last year’s coconut breaking scheduled to hold on March 16 ended in violence as the then Vice-Chancellor, Prof John Obafunwa, was pelted with sachet of water and chased out of the campus.  He did not enter the campus again until his tenure ended last October.  A similar crisis also marred the tenure of his predecessor, Prof Lateef Hussain.

    At this year’s coconut breaking ceremony to mark the 20th convocation, there were signs that things are looking up for LASU and that Fagbohun, who assumed office last January, has wormed his way into the workers’ hearts.

    Throughout the week-long event that featured lectures, inauguration of projects and conferment of graduate, post-graduate and honorary degrees, repeated calls were made for the sustenance of the new found peace in the institution.

    The Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode said he had taken steps to salvage the institution.

    Ambode said he assented to the bill on the Lagos State University Law on January 5, which allows academic staff on professorial cadre to retire at 70, and 65 for non-academics; one single term of five years for vice-chancellor; and residential status for the university. He said he is working to complete outstanding projects in the university.  These, he said, contributed to the peace in the institution.

    The chancellor, Justice George Adesola Oguntade (rtd) said workers, students and other stakeholders must be ready to work for peace in the 33-year-old institution.

    “The fulcrum of peace is justice and rule of law. We all must be ready to pay a price for it. We all must shed our ego and be ready to come to a roundtable in any event of disagreement. We must show understanding if things do not turn the way we desire,” he said.

    Though optimistic about lasting peace in the LASU under Fagbohun, leaders of the  Academic Staff Union of Universtities (ASUU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT)  and Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and Allied Institutions (NASU) warned urged him to sustain the tempo without allowing some people to mislead him.

    NASU chairman Comrade Agosu Albert and his SSANU counterpart, Comrade Saheed Oseni said the unions were giving Fagbohun time to see if he would live up to expectation. So far, they said, he has done well.

    Agosu praised him for providing for workers’ entertainment during the convocation.

    He said: “In truth, even a blind man can see the development going on in LASU since the new administration came on board in January. We can all say the VC has been on track especially as regards promises he made to us.

    “I have been in this university for 17 years; I can tell you categorically that no vice chancellor held a convocation in LASU and made special provision for staff entertainment. This administration is the first.

    “Let me also say that nobody is an angel; but when a man’s positive performance outweighs his negative, we can all conclude that the man has done well or has performed. We also had outstanding issues such as the ‘no vacancy; no promotion’ before he came on board but he has been addressing them via various committees.”

    Oseni described the present and the past administration as poles apart.

    He said: “When Obafunwa was appointed, workers’ expectations were high because of what he did while he was the provost of the College of Medicine. But…Obafunwa drastically reduced imprest, sacked about 44 of our members on temporary appointment, introduced rationalisation of workers, appointed academic staff to administrative positions and promoted some of his cronies at the expense of others.

    “The present administration has started well. Management and Governing Council are still meeting to address our outstanding demands. However, these are things we want them to learn from if this peace must be sustained. All members of staff should be given fair treatment. Issues regarding promotions, appointments, and training and welfare packages should be fairly distributed.  No category of staff should be made to look inferior to the other. We should all remember that the system will outlive us.”

    NAAT Chairman Dr Isiaka Ola-Gbadamosi also scored Fagbohun high.

    “To our own union, this new administration has been trying to heal old wounds.  It has been attending to issues as presented before it. If it can sustain this, I can assure you that peace will not only reign but will be entrenched in the mind of an average LASU worker,” he said.

    ASUU Chairman Dr Isaac Akinyoloye said the union chose to be vigilant.

    “Like my predecessors have said: ‘Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty,” he said.

    “ASUU has only won the battle and not the war. Wars are won in phases and we are engaging all mechanisms to resolve issues internally before they get to the court of public opinion.

    “Though peace is relative, all we are doing is to ensure that this peace finally comes to stay. We hope this will be a departure from the past where a VC will spend one or two years in LASU and then the rest in violence.”

    LASU Students Union has also pitched their tent with the Fagbohun administration.  Its Public Relations Officer, Motunrayo Abinde, told The Nation, “truly, a new era is here.”

    “Generally, everything has changed for the better. The current management carries everybody including the Students Union along in decision making. There is a synergy and it is a win-win situation for us all,” Abinde said in a phone interview.

    Fagbohun, has promised not to go back on his “all-inclusive” style of governance.

    The 49-year-old professor of Environment Law said he would leverage on his training as a social engineer in approaching issues before him.  He said the secret was in dialogue.

    “For me, engaging in dialogue with stakeholders involved in the LASU project is a sine qua non and a critical component of governance,” he said, adding:

    “One other thing about me is: I see power as very transient. I do not see myself as Lord of the Manor. I have also never seen myself as the man with all the answers. Most times, I work from the perspective of: ‘I know the bit  I know’ therefore let me leverage on others for me to get more. I always believe in allowing others to give me their perspective on issues; and premised on that I am able to take decisions.”

  • ‘Let peace reign in LASU’

    ‘Let peace reign in LASU’

    Staff and students of the Lagos State University (LASU) have been urged to ensure peace on the campus.

    Lagos State Governor Akinwummi Ambode and Chancellor, Justice Adesola Oguntade made the call during the recent 20th Convocation of the institution.

    In an address the Governor told the graudands, members of staff, students and well wishers that he could not hide his happiness that the state university was being repositioned as one of the best in Nigeria.

    He also congratulated the management on their vision to provide the next leaders that will be job creators rather than just job seekers.

    The Govenor noted that  “Good reason has prevailed” in the University while the subvention has been  increased to ensure better functioning of the institution.

    He however restated the unrelenting stance of the Government to push the institution to greater heights.

    Justice Oguntade said what has been lacking in the University was peace, adding that there was need for peace at the inst9itution.

    ” You can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs; we should bid a goodbye to the act of crisis and making things ungovernable,” he stressed.

    It can however be recalled that the university’s 20th convocation ceremony earlier scheduled to hold last year was postponed to this year due to the crisis which occurred between the immediate past Vice Chancellor, Professor John Oladapo Obafunwa, and other members of the Non teaching, Academic and Senior Staff Unions of the institution.

    The former Vice Chancellor was accused of  being a failure  in steering the affairs of the institution.

    Oguntade, who is pleased by the peace on the campus since the arrival of Professor Olanrewaju Fagbohun, the current Vice-Chancellor of the institution, encouraged all staff and students alike to continue the peace.

    The Chancellor ended his address by congratulating all the graduands conferred with the degree from the institution as he urged them to go all out to represent the new LASU.