Kunle Adelabu
The pioneer Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), Prof. Olumuyiwa Omotola Odusanya, has informed that the university which came into existence four years ago is deliberately and strategically expanding its infrastructures, building staff and students manpower to attain a world -class status and become an institution of excellence.
Prof. Odusanya, who spoke at the 4th Founder’s Day of LASUSTECH, said that the new university has presented 39 of its 41 programmes for accreditation to the National Universities Commission, completed three academic sessions, and now has a students’ population of over 12,600.
The well -attended celebration held on Monday, at 500 – seater auditorium of the College of Agriculture, LASUSTECH, is themed, “Mapping the Future with An Enlarging Impact”
Prof. Adenike Temidayo Oladiji, FAS, Vice-Chancellor, The Federal University of Technology, Akure, who was the Guest Speaker delivered paper on “Achieving the Objectives of Universities of Science and Technology”
Welcoming guests, university staff and students to the ceremony, Prof. Odusanya, emphasised the institution is progressively charting its course towards excellence.
“As individuals and particularly as universities, we must keep our eyes and focus on the future. The future may be uncertain, but we define it by policies, philosophies, practices, programmes, and actions all of which collectively can be termed university culture. We are mapping the future progressively.
“At our university, all our actions particularly at this time led by the pioneer vice-chancellor is to lay the building blocks of excellence for the years to come. In mapping the future, we chose to be strategic, intentional, and aggressively pursue excellence in both deeds and words. Our goal remains to be a highly competitive, much-sought after, globally acclaimed, world-class university. The impact agenda is still the blueprint for achieving our future.
“Our infrastructure is expanding, same is true for our manpower with the diverse opportunities to building capacity through trainings, attendance at conferences. We celebrate our students who become chartered accountants through the institute of chartered accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) in 2025 and of increased productivity and prosperity of the university community,” Prof. Odusanya said.
While stating that he is leading a team of staff and students to nurture the vision of LASUSTECH into reality, the VC also unveiled some of the ways the institution has been progressing towards academic excellence.
“We are growing stronger in the pursuit of academic excellence. We have now presented 39 of our 41 programmes for accreditation by the national universities commission.
“We have completed three academic sessions, grown students’ population to over 12,600 and the pioneer students in the four-years programme will conclude their training by August 2026 waiting for convocation on February 02 2027.
“Our collaboration with the Lagos State Government is growing as a catalyst and solution provider to Mr. Governor’s Themes – Plus Agenda. Our town and gown collaboration is expanding as shown in the Research and Innovation fair held in December 2025.”
He called for rededication and total commitment on the part of staff and students to continue to work towards making the university a world – standard institution.
“We must not rest on our oars. There are lands yet to conquer. The future is filled with possibilities that we must not only dream of but nurture to reality. We can and must do more as my letter for this year administered. The 2026 accreditation must be successful. The Post Graduate College will commence. We will continue to build a bigger brand for university and remain a university of repute in the comity of universities,” he charged.
Delivering the keynote lecture, Prof. Adenike Oladiji, Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), urged universities of technology to align their vision with Nigeria’s STI policy. She stressed the need for institutions to strengthen industry partnerships, attract competitive grants, and form a consortium of Nigerian universities of technology for resource sharing.
Prof. Oladiji, urged LASUTECH to work in practical terms towards the national vision that berthed University of Science and Technologies in Nigeria. She Cited her institution – FUTA, which is also a University of Science and Technology, established 46 years ago and had made giant steps, the university don said that FUTA runs 95% of her programmes as B. Tech Programmes and also focus on science & technology programmes which are at 90%.
“Tech reflects in the names of our programmes, especially those that do not appear to be science disciplines e.g., entrepreneurship technology, transport technology, financial technology, etc
“Our Education programmes are basically science education, not all comers (no early child education, etc). Every student (99%) takes courses in Engineering drawing and ICT at 100 & 200 levels and every student (99%) takes courses in Agriculture,” Prof. Oladiji said.
Prof. Oladiji further called for increased government investment in early-stage research and development, noting that private industry often under invests in basic research.
She recommended policies mandating industries to dedicate a percentage of their R&D budgets to universities, warning that failure to meet the mandate of universities of technology would harm Nigeria’s developmental roadmap.
Scholarship awards were presented to five top-performing students from each college. The Overall Best Student in the institution and College of Agriculture, award was presented to Ruth Ayomide Ajayi, a student of Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture with CGPA of 4.797.
She received Prof. Adebisi M. Balogun’s Scholarship award in the tune of N75, 000.
Acknowledging the fatherly roles and leadership of the VC, LASUSTECHStudents’ Union Government leadership presented him with a big frame and sang ‘Aluta’songs to lighten up the hall that was filled to capacity.
