Kunle Adelabu
After five-year tenure as the 10th Rector of the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) , Mr Samuel Olayinka Sogunro will today, Friday, May 29,leave office to pave way for a new Rector to assume the exalted position.
His tenure was clouded with several crises and clashes with the three unions in the institution – Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP), Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnic (SSANIP) and Non- Academic Staff Union (NASU), particularly over the issue of the controversial CONTISS 15 Salary Migration Scheme.
Rather than abate after several interventions, the faceoff became worsen while the institution, notable for its peace and harmonious atmosphere, turned battle field for the Sogunro-led management and the union.
There were interventions by stakeholders in Ikorodu, Office of the Special Adviser on Education, Office of the Head of Service, former Deputy Governor, Lagos State House of Assembly among others but all proved abortive.
At a point, the protesting unionists were prevented from gaining access into the institution while the Rector too was prevented by the aggrieved union members to operate for many months as he was declared persona non grata on the campus.
There were also periods when the union members were frying bean cakes in front of the administrative complex to reflect their grievances against the Rector. The staff had also kept vigil on the campus on several occasions at the height of the crisis.
The crisis also witnessed physical engagements by the warring parties while there was ‘juju’ (diabolical) scare on the campus. Many deaths and accidents involving the unionists and members of the management during the protracted struggle were ascribed to the crisis.
During the trying period, many staff members were allegedly sacked and demoted, while the unions tagged such actions as political persecution by the Rector.
The crisis also led to many cases which were reported at the police stations and were also heard in the court of law.
It was a turbulent five years for Sogunro as the leadership of the three unions strived to get him sacked and tried on many allegations but like cat of many lives, he survived and completed his tenure.
With the flood of crises that bedeviled the institution in the last five years, there is no doubt that the Sogunro regime is the most turbulent in the history of the polytechnic.
However, in spite of the crises, the Sogunro-led administration also witnessed several infrastructural developments, innovations and technological breakthrough, improvement of academic standard, accreditation of several courses, improvement in the relationship between the institution and its host community and organisation of various lectures, seminars and workshops that were rated highly.
Many staff members were also sponsored to attend academic programmes and study within and outside the country.
Sogunro became the Rector in June 1,2015, after the tenure of Dr Abdulazeez Lawal under whom he was the Deputy Rector (Administration).
Meanwhile, just like his tenure, his exit is also being clouded by uncertainties as there is no indication yet that a new Rector would be announced by the government.
According to the rumored making the round, the government may pick someone within the institution to act as Rector for six months, while there is another report that the government may second an official from the Ministry to oversee the affairs of the institution pendng the time a substantive Rector would be appointed.
Mr Samuel Oluyinka Sogunro was born on March 17, 196, in Lagos Island, Lagos.
He attended University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, where he obtained B.Sc. (Ed) Honours (Mathematics) in 1987 and also M.Sc (Statistics) in 1995.
He is a member of the Nigerian Mathematical Society (MNMS) and Associate member, Nigerian Institute of Management, Mathematical Association of Nigeria (MAN) and Nigerian Statistical Association (NSA).
Sogunro began his academic career as staff of the Lagos State Polytechnic in January 1990, when he was appointed as a Lecturer III in the Department of Mathematics. His appointment was confirmed in January 1992.
Sogunro, who hails from Lagos Island Local Government, attended Ansar-Ud-Deen Grammar School, Surulere (1975), Jubril Martins Memorial Grammar School, Iponri (WASC, 1980); Ansar-Ud-Deen College, Isolo (Higher School Certificate -HSC, 1983); University of Lagos (B.Ed, Mathematics Education, 1987, and MSc Statistics (1996).
He served as Lecturer III in the Department of Mathematics. He was promoted Lecturer II (October 1, 1993); Lecturer I (October 1, 1996); Senior Lecturer (October 1, 1999); Principal Lecturer (October 1, 2005); and Chief Lecturer (August 11, 2010).
He also served as the Director, Academic Planning, from December 2010 to April 2013, when he became Deputy Rector.
Sogunro has several publications to his credit.
