Our Reporter
The Vice Chancellor of the Lagos State University of Science and Technology, Prof. Olumuyiwa Odusanya on Monday, February 10, 2025 re-echoes the vision and mission behind the establishment of the Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM).
Prof. Odusanya spoke as the guest speaker at the 26th LASUCOM Flounders’ Day with the theme: “Founders’ Vision, Future and Triumph” held at MRC Auditorium LASUTH/LASUCOM Complex, Ikeja.
According to him, the founding fathers’ vision was “to be the leading college of Medicine in Africa”, while their mission was “to produce world-class graduates in the health sector who would be contributors to global medical practice and research, utilizing cutting-edge technology and innovation for the advancement of humanity.”
Odusanya, while giving the anniversary lecture with the topic: ‘Promoting and Sustaining Excellence in Medical Education’, noted that the College has produced standard professionals as some of the graduates of the College are now academic staff members of the College while some others are gilding key positions in various sectors at both national and international levels.
He noted that the first edition of the Founders’ Day occurred when he was the Provost of the College in 2013 with Prof. Tolu Odugbemi as the keynote speaker.
While commending the founding fathers, Prof. Odusanya also hailed the LASU VC and LASUCOM Provost for the progress being made in the college especially the new additional faculties and programmes.
In her remark, the Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, recognised the roles played by the first Vice Chancellor of the Lagos State University, late Prof. Folabi Olumide and the fourth Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Matthew Ademola Akesode, saying they were particularly instrumental to the establishment of the Lagos State University College of Medicine.
“The history of this college is indeed incomplete without reference to these great personalities,” she stated.
She added: “The late professors constituted an advice report on the establishment of LASUCOM. The board submitted a favorable report, but further actions could not be taken due to some factors. About 10 years after, in 1997 late professor Akesode reunited the idea of establishing the College of Medicine at the Lagos State University, and with the approval of the then Lagos State Military administrator, it was established on the 19th of February, 1999.
“The Founding Fathers envisioned classical as an institution that will not only train medical doctors and other allied health professionals, but also conduct grant breaking researches and provide exemplary healthcare services, 26 years after its inception, can we confidently assert that LASUCOM has fulfilled the vision of its founding fathers? The answer is unequivocally yes.”
Speaking on the achievements of the College so far, Olatunji-Bello said LASUCOM has produced over 1100 medical practitioners that have successfully completed their training.
“This impressive track record is a testament to the college unwavering commitment to academic excellence and its founding fathers’ vision. The number of faculties at LASUCOM has also increased significantly in 2021 it was ranked the best medical college In Nigeria.”
She also talked about the huge infrastructure developments since its inception, and boasted of research as well as academic environment for sustained developments and expansion of medical research in the future.
In his welcome address, the LASUCOM Provost, Prof. Olufemi Idowu, specially appreciated the LASUSTECH VC, who is a former provost of the College for his role in the development of the College.
He also commended the staff and students of the College for their cooperation in the development if the College.
He, therefore, reeled out various progress and achievements recorded so far saying, “these achievements, yes, in the last few weeks, they are remarkable, and we appreciate God. From this today, we set our lives in the future. The legacy of our fathers is a world of action, funding us to embrace progression, inclusivity, excellence of global scale, while challenges presented to us opportunities to expand our impact, education, research and science, to humanity. I would like to thank everyone here who has participated with the success of today’s celebration, to the organizing committee. I appreciate you all.”
