The Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University of Education, LASUED, Professor Bidemi Bilkis Lafiaji-Okuneye, has urged members of staff to foster unity and love within the institution as they work towards making it attain greater heights.
The vice-chancellor made the call on Thursday during a prayer sessions organised by the university’s management at the main campus in Oto-Ijanikin.
During the prayer session, Christian and Muslim staff members came together to seek divine guidance and offer gratitude for the institution’s accomplishments.
Christian leaders, including Dr. Egbetokun Samuel, Asikhia Olubusayo, Deacon Okebukola Alexander Olufemi, and Pastor Asaju Stephen, led a Christian prayer session, while the Muslim prayer session was overseen by Alhaji Muhideen, the Grand Imam of Oto-Ijanikin campus; Dr Ishola, Chief Imam of Odo-Noforija, Epe campus; Dr Salahudeen Arriyady; Dr Quozeem Ajagbe, Khalifa Otuniyi; Dr Salako, Mr Asamu Rasheed; Mr Abdul Rauf and Mr Salami Idris.
Members of the university’s management, such as the Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Dr. Adeniyi Daodu; the Librarian, Dr. Abayomi Imam; the Registrar, Mr. Opeoluwa Akinfemiwa, and the Bursar, Mr. Abdul Ganiu Adeniyi Ajose, were in attendance.
Staff members from both Odo Noforija, Epe, and the main campus in Oto-Ijanikin also participated in the event.
The vice-chancellor after the prayer sessions addressed the university congregation where she listed the university achievements.
She said the university management had been making efforts to strengthen the bonds between the institution and the local communities and government agencies.
With that in mind, the vice-chancellor said the university management had made courtesy visits to traditional rulers of host communities, including the Oloto of Oto, Onijanikin of Ijanikin, Aladeshoyin of Odo-Noforija, and Oluepe of Epe.
Government agencies such as the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB, the Nigerian Universities Commission, NUC, and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund, were also visited, she said.
She stated too that the LASUED Community Relations Committee was inaugurated for both Oto-Ijanikin and Odo Noforija, Epe in August 2023, with the goal of fostering positive relationships between the university community and the surrounding communities and government agencies.
Professor Lafiaji-Okuneye, who was appointed as the substantive vice-chancellor in February 2023, highlighted the university’s achievements further, stating that the NUC granted resource verification for sixty-six out of sixty-seven programmes offered at the university, with only Civic Education lacking verification due to the absence on the BMAS.
She said the academic year 2022/2023 ended successfully with the completion of the second-semester examinations in September 2023, and the admission process for 2023/2024 was already underway, with the release of the merit list and other lists in due course.
