Lagos State Deputy Governor Assures LASU Stakeholders Of Appointing Capable Successor Of Prof. Fagbohun

The Family of the Vice Chancellor with the Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Oluranti Adebule (middle) at a dinner in honour of the Vice Chancellor Professor Olarenwaju Adigun Fagbohun, SAN, Saturday at the Civic Center, Lagos. 

***As Fagbohun Charges Alumini To Wake Up

By LOVETH AZODO, Lagos

The Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Oluranti Adebule, has urged Lagos State University stakeholders to refrain from entertaining fears of how to get another visionary and focused Vice Chancellor capable of sustaining the prevailing peace and high standards set by the current Vice Chancellor, Professor Olarenwaju Fagbohun, SAN.

She expressed optimism that God at the appointed time would appoint a suitable candidate that will fit into the shoes of Prof. Fagbohun.

“When people get into office so many of them get distracted but God has helped you to be focused and I’m so proud of what you are doing in this university.” she said

The Vice Chancellor had earlier in his address titled “Alumni the time to be proactive is now” , charged the Lagos State University Alumni Association to wake up to establishing strategic approach that will make the University a great institution.

He cited that an Africa Centre of Excellence does not accept strike and crisis as it is meant to create new knowledge and attract foreign students.

The Deputy Governor and the Vice Chancellor spoke at a dinner in honour of the Vice Chancellor Professor Olarenwaju Adigun Fagbohun, SAN organised by LASU Alumni Association, Saturday at the Civic Center, Lagos.

Adebule said “that the same way God assisted us to pick the present focused and dodged VC, God will also assist us to appoint a suitable candidate for the position.”

She charged Fagbohun to pray always for God’s provision of a successor that will do
more than he has done in his time, adding that the stakeholders should think about what will be their input when the successor comes.

Dr Idiat Oluranti Adebule and LASU VC, Prof Olanrewaju Fagbohun seated together at the event.

Fagbohun who recalled his approach towards LASU selected by the World Bank as Africa Centre of Excellence said: ” When I heard of the World Bank Africa Centre of Excellence I told my team we can’t run away from competing with the world, to be the best we must compete with the world.

“We put in place a directorate for research and innovation immediately we learnt about it, Benue State University was a center and was given an Extension but now LASU has been selected as a Centre of Excellence.”

“An African Centre of Excellence does not accept strike and crisis because they create new knowledge, they believe LASU now creates new knowledge and that is why it is of importance we must be strategic.”

Addressing theAlumni, Fagbohun charge them to wake up ” some of the Alumni don’t understand that they should assist in protecting the university but they are always at the fore front of the crisis. Benefactors will run away from LASU if we continue the old trend” he said

The VC noted Obafemi Awolowo University’s disengagment from the ASUU strike, stating that LASU has been porous to Strike and Crisis.

“LASU has consistently been saying come and use our backyard as a wall and that is why the Alumni need to wake up.

“I am so passionate about LASU because that is where I started and that is where I met people who supported me and influenced me to what I am today”, the VC said.

Also Speaking, the president of LASU Alumni Association General, Cecil Esakhaigbe stated that the connection between the Alumni and the University is that it is the platform to give back.

“The Alumni is meant to give back to the University, you can’t give back to the University with empty hands or by meet and greet, it is driven with money. It is not an all comer affair”, he said.

In furtherance, he reassured Fagbohun of the Alumni Support, adding that the association have distinguished men and women who are willing to give their best and support the University to make it a great citadel of learning.

Speaking on the selection of LASU as an Africa Centre of Excellence, he said: ” This wouldn’t have been possible without the visionary leadership of the man of the moment and his management team.

“lt will shock you that LASU was synonymous to crisis, there was a point when you carry a certificate people will doubt you, but we thank God for peace, we don’t run away from crisis it’s an inevitable part of human existence, but the management of it is very paramount.

The University’s registrar, Mohammed Amuni, in his goodwill message highlighted some of the elements the VC has ignited in the teaching and non-teaching staff which he said has caused them to take a limb from where they were last two years to where they are now.

“He made us realize that we are responsible for our actions, he is not thinking of today but tomorrow, we have an enduring academy culture so that in the next two years we will be where we are meant to be.” he stated