Okebukola: Fagbohun And Ninalowo's Appointments Help Restore LASU Glory

The former National Universities Commission Executive Secretary, Prof. Peter Okebukola, has commended the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi #Ambode, for the restoration of peace at the Lagos State University.

The governor’s fresh interventions, Okebukola said, would lift the ivory tower to loftier heights.

The professor of Science Education, who spoke to our correspondent on the sidelines of the 20th convocation of the university, noted particularly that the action of the governor would end the “festering unrest” in the 33-year-old ivory tower.

He identified the five-year single term for vice-chancellor; 70-year retirement age for full professors and 65 years for others as well as the provision of infrastructure as some of the fresh measures that would bring lasting peace to the university.

Okebukola added that the appointment of professors 'Lanre #Fagbohun and Adebayo #Ninalowo as the #VC and the Chairman of the Governing Council respectively would help to restore the university’s lost glory.

Meanwhile, #Okebukola has disagreed with his successor, Prof. Julius Okojie, on the call for the establishment of more universities by the Lagos State Government.

Okojie, represented by the Executive Director, Quality Assurance, at NUC, Prof. Chiedu Mafiana, had during the convocation urged the state government to establish more universities.

Okebukola, who said time was not ripe for the call, rather canvassed the expansion of LASU’s carrying capacity to admit more candidates.

He advised the governor, “With the inclement economic state of the nation and its federating units and with the huge financial investment needed to achieve your vision for LASU of being the best university in Africa in the shortest possible time, venturing into setting up more universities will be biting more than the state can chew at this time.

“I believe the spirit of the #NUC advice is to expand access to the teeming youth who are unable to gain university admission by encouraging states that have the financial muscle to establish more universities.

“I am unsure if the “thickness” of the financial muscle of Lagos State can support more universities, hence my advice is to shunt part of the financial muscle to elevate #LASU to be the best in Nigeria and among the top five in Africa during your administration.”