The 13th Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Folasade T. Ogunsola has called for a collaboration between the arts and sciences to infuse the African essence in research design and outputs.
Speaking further on her vision for the university and its organs, Professor Ogunsola disclosed her administration’s plans to have the Department of Creative Arts unbundled from the Faculty of Arts.
In the same vein, the Vice-Chancellor urged members of the Faculty of Arts to play strategic, intentional and notable roles in championing the renaissance of the Nigerian culture.
Some of the ways to achieve this, in Professor Ogunsola’s view is for the arts and culture of our land to be deliberately re-introduced to the world beyond the university campus.
Some other issues raised by the faculty included: the acquisition of a language laboratory, effective maintenance of facilities and employment of more skilled hands, etc. To these, the Vice-Chancellor requested detailed plans to be shared with her.
Speaking on effective maintenance of facilities, Professor Ogunsola urged Heads of Departments/Units to endeavour to resume work early so that the overtime period of staff can be significantly reduced.
Just before leaving, Professor Folasade Ogunsola expressed her wish to have the Vice-Chancellor’s lodge adorned with paintings, sculptures and various art pieces made by students of the University of Lagos.
In her parting words to members of the Faculty of Arts, she encouraged them to “keep dreaming, keep pushing, not to feel limited and believe we will all do our best to excel.”
At the Faculty of Engineering, Professor Ogunsola acknowledged with great delight that the University boasts brilliant minds in its Faculty of Engineering as highlighted in the welcome address of the Faculty Dean, Professor Obanisola M. Sadiq.
Pointing out the fact that no nation can develop without engineers, she expressed her hope to see the faculty play a crucial role in building the University of Lagos to be future-ready. She encouraged the faculty to collaborate with the Faculty of Arts in infusing African/Nigerian essence into its discoveries and products.
Professor Ogunsola challenged members of the Faculty to produce prototypes for electricity generation in the university and develop different systems of solving problems faced by the university and the nation at large. This was in response to faculty members who prided themselves on being capable of generating electricity for the faculty and by extension, the university but complained of the lack of an enabling environment and dwindling staff strength.
The Vice-Chancellor asserted that with working prototypes, the faculty would be able to attract viable funding to upscale its discoveries. In turn, this will motivate the university management to assist in providing the faculty with a better enabling environment to maximise its potential, especially that of its students, beyond expectations.
Other issues raised were curriculum development and the development of soft skills for students among others.
