Kunle Adelabu
The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo – Olu has charged the newly constituted Governing Councils for the State owned tertiary institutions to assist the government in the achievement of its development goals by running the institutions that they have been put incharge smoothly.
Sanwo-Olu officially inaugurated the Governing Councils for four State-owned institutions – Lagos State University (LASU), Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED), and Michael Otedola College of Primary Education (MOCPED), at a ceremony held in the Banquet Hall of the State House, Alausa, lkeja, on Tuesday (yesterday).
In a release signed by Gboyega Akosile, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Lagos State, Chairmen and members of the newly constituted Councils are: Prof Adebayo Ninalowo (Chairman), Prof Shafiudeen Amuwo, Mrs Adenike Yomi-Faseun, Dr. Adetugbobo Hakeem, Mr Sule Tolani, Mrs Folashade Adesoye, Mr Karl Tokun Toriola, Mr Kunle Soname, Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odili, Mr Adebayo Akinsanya, Mrs Mojisola Tolagbe Taiwo , Mrs Moronke Williams. Mr Anuoluwapo Esho and Mrs Foluke Kafayat AbdulRazaq for the Lagos State University (LASU).
Prof Rasheed Kola Ojikutu is the Chairman for the Governing Council for the Lagos State Polytechnic, with Dr Mrs Awonuga Abiola Olawunmi, Bldr. Saabi, Olakunle Alaba, Mr Habeeb Aileru, Prince Adesegun Ogunlewe, Mrs Iyabo Kuteyi, Mr Nurudeen Oluseni Olaleye and Mrs Olayinka Babalola as members.
For AOECOED, Prof Nuru Olasupo was inaugurated as the Chairman and he is to govern the institution with Mrs Riskat Akiode, Mr Olaolu Mudashiru and Dr. Wole Ajifowoke.
Alhaja Sekinat Yusuf (Chairperson), Mrs Victoria Mopelola Perigrino, Mrs Folashade Agbalajobi, Hon. Toun Adediran, Mr Johnbull Adebanjo and Dr. Waliu A. Ipaye were inaugurated for MOCPED.
Governor Sanwo-Olu said the composition of the Councils marked a watershed in his administration’s drive to reposition the State-owned tertiary institutions from regular degree-awarding schools to world-class citadels of innovation and invention.
He said that the smooth running of tertiary institutions remained critical to achieving the education blueprint of his Government, which, according to him, aims at accelerating the growth of the State’s economy by nurturing young people to become innovators and wealth creators.
The Governor charged the Councils’ members to key into his administration’s reform agenda and bring their “outstanding achievements” to bear in changing the narrative of the institutions.
“We have taken pain to select distinguished and outstanding Nigerians to be the heads and members of Governing Councils of our tertiary institutions. I have no doubt that we have chosen wisely with the calibre of people we have picked. The appointment is a call towards the effort for the advancement of tertiary education in Lagos State and comes with huge responsibilities that must be discharged with integrity, foresight and dedication”, the Governor said while charging Chairmen and members of the newly constituted Governing Councils.
“Tertiary institutions are critical in nurturing individuals to become innovators and wealth creators who will contribute to accelerate the growth of the State economy. Education and Technology form the third pillar in our development agenda, known as ‘Project THEMES’, and our goal is to turn around our schools to become a model of excellence in the delivery of high-quality education.
“I have absolute confidence that members of the Councils will help in enhancing the reforms required to deliver quality teaching and learning in line with the demands of the 21st century.
“With these appointments, the Councils’ members must familiarise themselves with policies and initiatives of our administration in the education, and help build academic institutions that will compete favourably on the global platform.”
Sanwo-Olu further charged the Councils’ members with a responsibility to set the tertiary institutions on the platform of self-sustenance by leveraging their network in global academic and business circles to attract endowment and research grants to the schools.
The Governor pledged that his administration would neither relent nor abrogate its statutory responsibility on the institutions, promising that he would make necessary material and financial resources available to ensure the institutions become places of reference.
“Another important responsibility is to ensure the implementation and monitoring of systems of control and accountability. You also have a role to play in setting out a practical yet ambitious vision for the near and distant future.
“Therefore, your assignment as members of Governing Councils is critical to the success of our Government. We will do everything to support you and ensure that the access required is provided. This Government is ready to work with the Councils and ensure that all students who pass through our schools are fully equipped for the future.”
The Governor described technological education as a “new normal”, saying that the State had targeted key tertiary institutions in the ongoing deployment of metropolitan fibre optics. Provision of digital infrastructure, Sanwo-Olu said, would enable Lagos to realise its Smart City programme and deliver critical components of its education blueprint.
Also, Sanwo-Olu said that the Councils’ members were carefully selected and picked to carry out the responsibility of administering the affairs of the schools based on their track records in their respective professional and commitments to education.
He, therefore, urged them to discharge their duties with “utmost” integrity, accountability, dedication and commitment, while also charging them to work in cooperation with the managements of the schools and promote peace.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Hon. Tokunbo Wahab, said that the Governing Councils were constituted with the objective to work in line with the Governor’s vision to reposition the schools.
Speaking on behalf of all the appointees, Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council, LASU, Prof. Adebayo Ninalowo, said that education remains the bedrock of development.
He said that members of the Councils remain fully equipped and ready to set the institutions on the direction of development.
“At the end of our tenure, I assure that Lagosians would be proud of our service,” Ninalowo said.
Governor Sanwo-Olu also appointed Prof. Gbolahan Elias, SAN, as the Chancellor of LASU. He will be succeeding Justice George Oguntade (rtd) whose tenure expires next month.
