Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, Thursday disclosed that the institution in the outgoing year won research grants and awards worth over Eleven billion naira (N11,000,000,000.00).
Address a gathering of journalists during the Annual Media Parley of the institution which was held at the hallowed chamber of the Senate Building, Prof. Ogunsola said the university also leverages scholarship opportunities including the Professorial Chair Endowment of the Nigerian Copyrights Commission (NCC) worth thirty million naira (N 30, 000,000.00), a feat she described as part of the low hanging fruits of the financial re-engineering efforts of the incumbent management’s Future-Ready Agenda.
While addressing journalists from both the print and electronic media platforms who converged for the Annual Media Parley, Prof Ogunsola acknowledged and appreciated them for staying true and thorough despite the challenges of the year.
She described 2023 as trying for the Nigerian education sector due to the Japa syndrome which saw many universities losing their young researchers to other countries.
The VC said the persistent surge in exchange rates also impoverished the earnings of university staff across the country while infrastructural decay could not be substantially arrested.
In her review of her management’s stewardship for the outgoing year, she listed the successes to include various scholarship support for over 750 indigent students through payment of their obligatory fees in fulfilment of her promise to ensure that no student drops out due to recent increase in obligatory fees, provision of various palliatives for children and wards of staff members, engagement of 170 students in Work-study (of 40-hour monthly) and upward review of work-study stipends from N200 to N500 or N1000.
Professor Ogunsola itemized efforts being put into supporting and promoting scholarships among both students and staff to include the annual students’ prize of One million naira (N1,000,000.00) and twelve thousand dollars ($12,000,00) scholarship grant for 3 lecturers annually courtesy of Sahara Energy, the remremodelling the UNILAG Library, renovation of Jaja Shopping Complex under a Public-Private Partnership arrangement, renovation of lecturers’ offices and donation of a 416 seater classroom by the Faculty of Engineering Alumni, upgrading of some critical infrastructures across campus to improve water supply as well as ongoing renovation of students’ hostels and hall of residence among other milestones.
The Vice-Chancellor also highlighted feats recorded so far in training and capacity building for both staff members and students alike, including COURSERA Certification courses and training in disaster prevention and management under the auspices of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA).
She said UNILAG has concluded unbundling of various courses and faculties while new programmes/courses have been created to ensure compliance with global trends.
Speaking on internationalization, Prof. Ogunsola said UNILAG within the outgoing year, hosted the 4th Biennial International Conference of the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA), the UMOJA African Student Leaders Network Summit and the annual International Week which was attended by over 40 Vice-Chancellors of various universities across the world.
The events, according to her, aided the university’s efforts at conquering borders and fostering partnerships to further expand the frontier of knowledge and carving a niche for UNILAG in the global community of Ivory Towers.
While offering insights into the incoming year, Prof. Ogunsola said, 2024 offers a window of consolidation for UNILAG, especially in terms of staff recruitment, career advancement for both teaching and non-teaching staff as well as infrastructural improvement.
Posers from the media practitioners present at the Media Parley covered salient issues such as security, infrastructure and ways of consolidating on the gains of the outgoing year, the Vice-Chancellor used the avenue to reiterate management’s commitment towards harnessing every available means to improve the university infrastructurally for greater community impact as well as increased relevance nationally and international without prejudice towards bettering the lots of staff and students.
The event saw the Education Writers’ Association of Nigeria (EWAN) presenting a plaque to the University of Lagos in acknowledgement of the long-standing relationship.
