PROFS . Bilkis Lafiaji-Okuneye, the Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University of Education LASUED, says the management has established a foundation for uninterrupted academic sessions designed to stand the test of time.
Describing the management style as pragmatic, Lafiaji-Okuneye told the News Agency of Nigeria NAN in Lagos on Sunday, that this approach inspired proactive learning and ensured students graduated on schedule.
The pioneer VC attributed the institution’s rapid growth – from 3,500 students at its 2023 inception to 16,000 by 2026 – to this stable academic culture and other impressive institutional variables.
Lafiaji-Okuneye, whose three-year tenure had transformed the institution, emphasised that management prioritised staff welfare, a conducive learning environment, and strong moral values.
According to her, by adopting an inclusive decision-making process, the university has successfully prevented frictions that can disrupt the academic calendar.
She noted that policies were tailored toward contemporary solutions that met the demands of the university community.
Three years in, she asserted, LASUED had seen exponential growth in academic programs, infrastructure, and its relationship with the host communities of Oto-Ijanikin for the main campus and Epe for the satellite campus.
“We are moving in the right direction in terms of infrastructure.
“In the last two years, three teaching and learning structures have been constructed in the main campus and Epe campus respectively.
“The Lagos State Government is constructing a 750-capacity auditorium at the Epe campus, that nearing completion too.
“ At the Epe campus also, the management has rehabilitated the centre to modern standard to complement the one at the main campus.
“The student population is growing at geometric proportion, therefore, infrastructure development must continue to enable the school meet up its needs,” she said.
She said that the goodwill enjoyed by the school had continued to attract more infrastructure from donors such as the traditional ruler of Oto, the Oloto of Oto, who constructed a 250-seater capacity hall, with another 1,500-seater capacity ICT centre to be constructed by Chief Fannimokun.
She noted that talks were on top gear for the release of funds for the construction to begin.
The LASUED VC commended the state government and TETFUND for their support toward infrastructure development of the school.
She said that the institution would always produce teacher trainers and industry leaders of high moral standards.
She further noted that the institution, now rooted in a culture of academic continuity and high moral standards for students and academics, had provided a solid legacy for subsequent administrations to sustain and build upon.