Kunle Adelabu
-Calls for scrapping of management courses in LASTECH
Mr Ayodeji Babatunde Iginla, a former Rector of the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), has reacted to the establishment of two new Universities in the state with the signing of the bills by Governor Babajide Sanwo – Olu, on Wednesday, February 2, 2022.
Iginla charged that the University of Science and Technology which LASPOTECH transformed into according to the new law, should be sited in Ikorodu while Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), which is a merger of Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED) and Michael Otedola College of Education (MOCOED), should be situated in Epe.
He said that LASTECH should be allowed to run National Diploma (ND) Programmes only in Science, Technology, Engineering and Environmental Studies while other management programmes must be scrapped.
The former Rector who, in a chat with THE IMPACT spoke about his views on the establishment of the two Universities, also said that the products of the ND programmes would serve as feeds for the degree programmes in the new institutions.
“The University of Science and Technology (LASTECH) should be sited in Ikorodu and LASUED in MOCPED, Epe (AOCOED is too close to LASU and so should not be used as that will mean two varsities close to each other)”, he advised.
“LASTECH should use ND graduates in Science, Technology, Engineering and Environmental Studies as primary feedstock into its programmes”, he said.
“LASTECH should not run any Management programmes like Accountancy, Bus. Admin, Insurance, Banking and Finance etc.
“It should continue running ND programmes in Science, Technology, Engineering and Environmental Studies to provide part of its feedstock. The remaining ND feedstock will come from other Polytechnics. It should not take in A Level qualifications. In this wise, it should have been appropriately named a Technical University”, Mr Iginla emphasized.
The former Rector, who is a honourary chieftaincy title holder of ‘Akomolede’ of Ikorodu Kingdom, also charged that minimum educational qualifications for employment of lecturers must be doctorate degree from the inception of the two Universities.
“Right from inception, minimum teaching qualification in both varsities should be a Ph.D”, Iginla said.
“Suitable academic and non-Academic Staff from LASPOTECH, AOCOED and MOCPED should be absorbed into the two varsities”.
Speaking on how to achieve smooth transmission from Polytechnic and Colleges of Education, Mr Iginla said that present students in the institutions should be allowed to complete their programmes and graduate before the commencement of new Universities’ programmes.
“Smooth transition from the Polytechnic and Colleges of Education to the two varsities should ensure that all ND, HND, NCE etc students are allowed to graduate before the old programmes are terminated”, he said.
He also said that all the Education courses being offered by the Lagos State University at the moment should be moved to LASUED.
“All Education programmes should be transferred from LASU to LASUED”, Mr Iginla said.
