Wale Jagun
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday (yesterday), inaugurated a Special Visitation Panel to look into issues relating to the appointment and other issues in Lagos State University (LASU).
The Visitation Panel was raised following the controversy trailing the appointment of a substantive Vice Chancellor for the only State owned University.
The panel, which comprises of former vice chancellors, seasoned administrator, technocrats and top public servants, is headed by the Pro-Chancellor of the Ekiti State University and former Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Prof. Bamitale Omole.
Other members of the Special Visitation Panel are; former Vice Chancellor of University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Joseph Ajienka; a renowned University don, Prof. Ayo Olukotun; former Registrar of University of Ibadan, Mr. Olujimi Olukoya, former Lagos State Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mr. Lawal Pedro (SAN) and a Level-17 Officer in the Office of the Special Adviser, Education, Mrs. Funmilola Olajide, who will serve as the Secretary of the Panel.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Special Visitation Panel to LASU, Governor Sanwo-Olu urged members of the panel to discharge their responsibilities with fairness, firmness and forthrightness to continue to ensure that the State University takes its rightful place in the comity of universities.
“I want to thank you because we know that you are donating your time and intellect for the State Government to be able to put a lasting solution to the current situation that we found ourselves in the appointment of a new Vice Chancellor for the Lagos State University (LASU)”, he said.
“As enshrined in the laws setting up LASU, the procedures for the appointment of a Vice Chancellor are clearly stated there and as the Visitor, my responsibility is to ensure that fairness, firmness and forthrightness are emboldened in that process and become a process that is flawless.
“We have been hit by a barrage of complaints and unimaginable issues coming out from it. And by the power that has been reposed in me as the Visitor, I need to step in to ensure that we put LASU on the proper footing again and ensure that it takes its rightful place in the comity of universities.
“This assignment will be time driven. There is an advert that has gone out and which the general public are meant to respond to.
“Timeline has been stipulated for the panel to thereafter review whatever has been brought forward to them and be able to make decisions and recommendations to me so that we can resolve the current impasse and we can appoint a substantive Vice Chancellor into our university.”
In his Vote of Assurance, the Chairman of the Special Visitation Panel to LASU, Prof. Bamitale Omole , thanked Governor Sanwo-Olu for finding members of the Panel worthy of the assignment, promising to ensure that it is done properly, promptly and efficiently.
“I want to assure you (Governor Sanwo-Olu) on behalf of the distinguished members of this panel that we are going to give the assignment our best, not only in examining the issues but also in charting a way forward so that LASU will continue to own its own in the comity of respected and respectable universities in Nigeria.
“In carrying out this assignment, I want to assure you that we shall be fearless, forthright and indeed very objective”, he assured Governor Sanwo-Olu.
