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Tag: Oluwatoyin Ogundipe

Nigerian varsities can rank as best with stable calendar – UNILAG VC

Nigerian universities can rank best in Africa, if we can have a stable academic calendar, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, the Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos ( UNILAG ), has said.

Ogundipe spoke on Thursday in Lagos against the backdrop of incessant strikes by labour unions in the nation’s university system.

According to him, there is need for everyone, especially the key stakeholders in the education sector to look inward to ensure that crisis which gives rise to strikes are managed effectively.

“I make bold to say that universities, especially the first generation institutions in the country, can be ranked best in Africa if we can have a stable academic calendar.

“There is need for everyone to look inward and manage the crisis in the system effectively so that our university system can be ranked among the best in the world,’’ Ogundipe said.

He said that there was need for Nigerian Government too to take the running of universities and other related issues seriously.

“If you want to run a university, you should go all out and do it in line with the best practices.

“We are talking about the global ranking of universities, and here we are still grappling with the issues of strike.’’

The UNILAG VC noted that such development do not speak well about the country as “lots of people around the world are reading and taking note of it’’.

He explained that most of the facilities that would guarantee conducive teaching and learning environment were being handled by non-academic (support) staff that were on strike.

Read also: UNILAG postpones candidates’ screening

Ogundipe added that with the strike, their academic staff counterparts and others were now forced to adjust to the situation.

“The strike has affected the operations of the university indirectly,’’ he said.

According to him, issues of power and water supply, the use of laboratory and others have taken their toll on the operations of the university.

“I am sure that the academic staff will be up to their assignments.

“This group of staff is not on strike; the classrooms are open, lectures are going on since the inception of NASU strike.

“Even, as we resumed on December 27, lectures have started in most faculties in Unilag.

“The non-teaching staff has their grievances; the strike is a national strike and not a local one.

“To this effect, there is little the university authorities can do,’’ the vice-chancellor said.

The unions, under the aegis of JAC, had on September 11 declared an indefinite strike across all the federal universities over the non-implementation of an agreement they entered into in 2009 with the Federal Government

The strike was suspended while dialogue continues between the parties, only to embark on another strike on Dec. 5.

Mr Solomon Ugwoke, the National President of JAC, who also doubled as the president of SSANU, one of the striking unions, had stated that there was no going back on the strike.

NAN

December 28, 2017
PHOTOS: New VC, Prof. Ogundipe meets UNILAG Muslim community

The new Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos ( UNILAG ), Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe meets with Muslim community, Prof. M A Badmus standing for prayer session at the reception held at the central mosque Islamic Center Hall during a courtesy visit of the VC to the Muslim community on Friday.

UNILAG VC, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe (second left), UNILAG Muslim Community Chairman, Prof. Lai Olurode, Bursar, Mr. Nurudeen Lawal and the Chief Imam, Central Mosque, Prof. M A Badmus

UNILAG VC, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe (second left), Muslim Community Chairman, Prof. Lai Olurode, bursar, Mr. Nurudeen Lawal and the Chief Imam, Central Mosque, Prof. M A Badmus

November 17, 2017
UNILAG to admit only 8,000 – outgoing VC

No fewer than 24,000 applicants to the University of Lagos ( UNILAG ) who scored 200 marks and above will still be unable to secure admission in the institution in the 2017/2018 academic session.

The outgoing Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Rahamon Bello, gave the indication at a forum with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

He said that although 32,000 applicants to the university scored 200 marks and above in this year’s Unified Tertiary matriculation examination ( UTME ), Unilag would not admit beyond 8,000.

Bello said that the university insisted that an applicant must also score at least 40 per cent in Unilag’s post-UTME before consideration for admission.

“We know what goes on in our public examinations. That is why we insist on candidates undertaking our post UTME and scoring at least 40 per cent,’’ he said.

According to Bello, who steps down as Unilag’s Vice-Chancellor on Nov. 11, the aim is to promote excellence.

“We admit the best so that we can produce the best,’’ he said.

He said that the university held 75 inaugural lectures during his five-year tenure in an effort to promote scholarship.

The professor of chemical engineering noted that the university had held a total of 374 inaugural lectures since its existence.

Bello said that the university produced 103 professors in the past five years, representing about 20 per cent of the 292 professors it had produced in its 55 years of existence.

“They just don’t come and get them; the process of becoming a professor in Unilag is very tedious.

“We have peer review from inside and outside and we have interview internally, so that at the end, you know why you are promoted or why you are not,’’ he said.

Bello said that Unilag had to change its curriculum in a bid to sustain academic excellence.

“We are neither a technology university nor a business university; we are comprehensive, except for agriculture.

“The only agriculture we do is marine.’’

He expressed satisfaction at the performance of the university in its new fields of study such as cell biology and genetics.

“When we started them, they were almost nothing.

“Cell biology and genetics, for instance, are the ones that drive the health sector when you talk about working in the sub-cell region, especially in the area of In-Vitro-Fertilisation ( IVF ).

He also expressed delight at the performance of the university’s creative arts department.

“When we started it, some saw it as laughable. Today, most of our graduates are the ones making money in Nollywood,’’ Bello said.

Bello, the 11th Vice-Chancellor of the university, came into office in 2012, following the death of the then Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adetokunbo Sofoluwe.

Bello will be succeeded by Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, the university’s Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics).

NAN

November 9, 2017
Unilag VC harps on interdisciplinary research to drive development

Nigeria needs multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary researches to drive the needed development in the country, outgoing Vice-Chancellor of University of Lagos (Unilag), Prof. Rahamon Bello, has said.

Bello made the observation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

“If I carry out a research on my own, I am limited because it is only what I know that I will work on.

“If I am doing a research in engineering, I must bring along a sociologist, a lawyer, a psychologist to look at the output and its impact on the society so as to ensure a high economic value,’’ Bello said.

He said that Nigeria had yet to adequately fund research, noting that no economy would thrive without elaborate research input.

“We have not put enough resources into research to harness as much as we should be harnessing as a big nation.

“A nation that has the kind of population we have should have enough resources to be able to do that.

“You cannot own an economy, either human-based or technology-based, without research.

“Research will look at what is inherent within the system and convert it for the use of humanity to raise economic advantage for the nation,’’ the professor of chemical engineering said.

The vice chancellor told NAN that the National Research Fund had not adequately tackled inadequate research funding.

“If one looks at the percentage due for carrying out the research itself, one will know that we are not there.

“In Singapore, Malaysia, U.S. and U.K., a large percentage of the gross domestic product is used for research.

“If you compare that with what we are putting into research here, you will discover we are not yet there,” he said.

He said that Unilag was doing its possible best in research, but was being hindered by fund constraint.

“In-house in here, we are carrying out research but the level is limited because of funding.

“The equipment is not there just as the facilities. If you do not have constant electricity supply, technological research is hampered.

“I am happy that the government is trying to assist institutions with IPPs, and I can say that we have advanced on that,’’ he said.

Bello added the university created a Research and Innovation Office to assist scholars to carry out research not just for the purpose of promotion but for national development.

“These are the ways things are done to improve on research value for a greater impact on both the economy and the researcher.

“Now, we are attracting international research grants and support from international organisations on equipment for research.

“We were recently interviewed for support for equipment worth over 300, 000 U.S. dollars from one of the organisations in the U.S.,’’ he said.

NAN reports that Bello’s five-year tenure as Unilag’s vice chancellor ends on Nov. 11.

The 11th Vice-Chancellor of the institution came into office in 2012, following the demise of the then Vice-Chancellor, Prof. AdetokunboSofoluwe.

Bello will be succeeded by Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, the university’s Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics).

November 9, 2017
Ambode hails Ogundipe’s appointment as Unilag VC

Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Monday congratulated Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe on his appointment as the new Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos ( Unilag ).

“Being a product of the university himself, I am proud to say that his appointment is thoroughly deserved; Prof. Ogundipe does not need any introduction in the academic world.

“He has distinguished himself in the service of the prestigious University of Lagos over the years and his leadership skills are not in doubt,” Ambode said in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Habib Aruna.

The university’s Governing Council at the end of its meeting on Oct. 27, approved the appointment of Ogundipe as the 12th Vice-Chancellor of the institution.

Ambode, an alumnus of the university, noted that Ogundipe had over the years proved his competence in the academia.

He said it was based on his professionalism and integrity that his administration appointed him as the Chairman of the Lagos State Research and Innovation Council in June this year.

“He has risen through the ranks to the pinnacle of his career,” the governor added.

Ambode, while acknowledging the strides of the outgoing, Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Rahmon Bello, expressed confidence that Ogundipe would bring his wealth of experience to bear in building on the enviable legacies of the university in the next five years.

“I am totally confident that Unilag is destined for greater heights; I want to, on behalf of the people of Lagos State, congratulate him and wish him the very best throughout his tenure.”

NAN

October 30, 2017