Sanwo-Olu inaugurates 10-member full Visitation Panel to address LASU challenges

Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu has inaugurated a 10-man full Visitation Panel to identify and proffer solutions to challenges in Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo.

Speaking during the inauguration ceremony, held at the Lagos House, Marina on Tuesday, Sanwo-Olu said the constitution of the panel further demonstrated government’s commitment to making LASU one of the best universities in the world.

He said that government wanted LASU to be best in terms of quality research, pedagogical and administrative excellence, as well as industrial harmony.

The governor said the setting-up of the full visitation panel was based on the recommendation of the Prof. Bamitale Omole-led LASU Vice-Chancellorship Special Visitation Panel, constituted to resolve issues trailing appointment of the university’s ninth vice-chancellor.

”The special visitation panel recommended the immediate inauguration of a Full Visitation Panel to holistically assess LASU’s administrative process, academic programmes and finances.

”The special visitation panel recommended the inauguration of a Full Visitation Panel to holistically assess LASU’s projects, staff welfare, industrial harmony, progress and challenges, in order to ascertain if the university is being run in accordance with relevant Laws and the objectives/vision of its founding fathers,” he said.

Sanwo-Olu expressed confidence that the panel would justify the trust reposed in them as seasoned professionals, with experience in the education sector and impressive track records of excellence.

Sanwo-Olu urged them to be objective and meticulous in executing this critical assignment.

He said that terms of reference of the LASU Full Visitation Panel included to inquire into the level of implementation of the White Paper on the last Visitation Panel Report of 2009.

According to him, the panel is to evaluate the quality of leadership in the university, in terms of roles of the governing councils, the vice-chancellors and other principal officers since the last visitation panel.

“Examine the financial management of the university, including statutory allocations and internally generated revenue over the recommended period and determine whether it was in compliance with appropriate regulations, statutes, acts and laws of the university;

“To investigate the application of funds, particularly special grants and subventions for accreditation exercises, TETFUND and loans meant for specific projects, in order to determine the status of such projects and their relevance for further funding.

“To determine the adequacy or otherwise of staff and examine the quality of its staff development programmes in the context of emerging changes and development in the global arena.

“Examine compliance with the law and extant regulations of the university in terms of promotion, welfare, and disciplinary procedures/measures for both staff and students.

“Determine the relationship between the university and the various statutory bodies it interacts with, according to its law, for the purpose of supervision, planning, finance, discipline, guidance and any other relationships with the Governing Council, the National Universities Commission, the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, the Office of the Special Adviser on Tertiary Education as well as the Visitor to the University,” he said.

Members of the panel are Prof. Abdulrahmon Bello – Former Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos (Chairman); Prof. Dipo Kolawole – Former Vice-Chancellor, Ekiti State University (Member); Prof. Ebun Adejuyigbe – Professor of Medicine (Member);

Also, Prof. Joseph Ajienka – Former Vice-Chancellor, University of Port Harcourt. (Member); Mr Ayo Ogunruku – Former Registrar, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (Member), Mr Lawal Pedro SAN – Former Solicitor General, Lagos State (Member); and Mr Ibrahim Olaniyi Aponmade- Former Bursar, University of Ibadan (Member).

Others are Mr Wale Ayodeji – Former Director of Works & Physical Planning OAU; Mr Paul Kalejaiye; and Mrs Yemisi Omoloye – Director, (Investigation), Inspection and Monitoring Department, Office of the Special Adviser on Education (Secretary to the Panel).

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, said the raising of the full Visitation Panel was the last leg of the Omole-led team recommendations being implemented by the governor.

Wahab said that a thorough assessment would help put all challenges facing the school in the last 12 years to rest.

In his vote of assurance, Bello assured the governor that the members of the panel would perform their assignment diligently.

He assured that the university would come out healthier after the work of the panel.