The Pro-Chancellor, Lagos State University (LASU), Babatunde Ogala, has charged professors in the institution to produce research papers to drive more innovation and advancement.

Mr Ogala, who is also the chairman of the newly elected LASU Governing Council, gave the charge at the opening of the institution’s 13th Governing Council and Management Retreat on Saturday in Lagos.

The three-day retreat has the theme: ”Purposeful Governance; Charting a Strategic Roadmap for LASU’’.

The outcomes of the retreat are expected to promote responsive governance and position LASU for sustained growth in an increasingly competitive higher education landscape.

Mr Ogala urged the professors to conduct robust research, particularly by leveraging the blue and marine economy. 

He said that the new governing council was determined to take hard decisions when needed.

“Distinguished professors, go back and give us research papers on how we can leverage. It is a challenge; let us challenge ourselves.

“Distinguished council members, we have no excuse. We have to leverage the blue economy; we have over 200 professors.

“If people can employ us to do research for them, then the university should employ itself. 

“We have transport and logistics, we must leverage on it. We have the LASU Consult, we must leverage on them. We cannot have some professor emeritus with us and not leverage,” he said.

According to him, LASU must also strive to produce more lawyers who would become Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN).

“Our anthem says we are LASU, we are the greatest. We must be the greatest not just in the name, but in what we do,” he said. 

Lagos State commissioner for tertiary education, Tolani Sule, who declared the retreat open, commended the pro-chancellor for starting the new year with a clear purpose. 

“Let me commend the pro-chancellor and chairman  of council and the entire university management for convening this timely and strategic retreat. 

“This is to reflect and plan at the beginning of a new council’s tenure. It  speaks to foresight, responsibility and a clear sense of purpose. 

“For LASU, the expectations are understandably higher. The council must strike the right balance between ambition and sustainability, innovation and regulation, progress and prudence.

“No university can achieve excellence in an atmosphere of disharmony. The relationship between the governing council and management must, therefore, be one of cooperation, mutual respect and shared responsibility,” he said.

According to him, while the council provides strategic oversight and policy direction, management is responsible for the implementation and day-to-day administration. 

“These roles are distinct, but they are deeply interconnected. When trust, transparency and open communication exist between both arms, the institution thrives. 

“I, therefore, encourage the council and the management to see themselves, not as parallel authorities, but as partners working toward a common goal.

“Expectations of Lagos State Government, students, parents and society, from our universities are very clear.

“We expect universities to produce graduates who are intellectually sound, ethically grounded, innovative and equipped with skills relevant to the needs of a rapidly-changing world,” he said.

He added that LASU must remain a centre of knowledge creation, research excellence and problem-solving scholarship.

“For our students, the university must offer a safe, inclusive and stimulating learning environment, one that nurtures talent, promotes discipline and encourages holistic development.

“For the  society, the university must serve as a moral compass, a reservoir of ideas and a driver of social and economic development. 

“LASU, in particular, must continue to reflect the resilience, diversity and dynamism of Lagos State,” he said. 

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, said  the retreat was a strategic convergence of minds committed to shaping the present and securing the future of  the university.

“The theme is both timely and compelling. It underscores the critical role of governance that is visionary, accountable and impact-driven. 

“Purposeful governance demands that our decisions are guided by clarity of vision, fidelity to our mandate and an unwavering commitment to excellence in teaching, research and innovation.

“As a university with a proud history and an even more promising future, LASU must continually reposition itself to respond effectively to evolving global standards, national priorities and the aspirations of our students, staff and stakeholders. 

“This retreat, therefore, provides us with a unique opportunity to critically examine our governance structures, reassess our strategic priorities and collectively chart a sustainable roadmap to propel LASU to greater heights,” she added.

(NAN)