Celebration of Academic Excellence: LASU holds two inaugural lectures, Faculty Lecture in one week

^{In line with the prevailing peace, uninterrupted academic calendar, copious infrastructural development evident in the institution, the Lagos State University (LASU) has shown that with excellence nothing positive is impossible to achieve. Recently the citadel of learning was able to hold two inaugural lectures and Faculty Lecture in one week; SUCCESS DAMIAN writes.}
 

The Lagos State University has become synonymous with firsts in all departments of institutional endeavors, be it research, academics, administration, sports, among others since the inception of the administration of Professor Olanrewaju  Fagbohun,

Another first was added to the scorecard of the university recently with the successful holding of the 70^th and 71^st inaugural lecture which took on the campus within a week.

October 2, 2019, was the date for the 70^th inaugural lecture and was delivered by Prof (Mrs) Foluso Olutoyin Okebukola, a distinguished professor of Language Education.

At the Lecture titled, “Light Dawns on Literacy, Illiteracy, Alliteracy and e-literacy, the erudite Professor stated that the Policy Makers and Government need to restore the dignity and quality of teachers by reducing the workload of teachers; improve teacher training and; avoid overcrowded classrooms. 

To achieve the recommendations she stated that government should establish a national working committee to discuss and debate the shape and design of literacy policy, pedagogy and curriculum at all levels of education; adopt the proposed model of emergent level reading programme designed to focus on the needs of the learners.

Speaking further she said “Government should embark on language policy enlightenment campaign on the mass media to educate parents on the benefits of introducing literacy in the mother-tongue; organise conferences and seminars for teachers to allay their fears. They should be allowed to air their views on the logistics and modalities for implementing the language policy: recruit teachers of indigenous languages to teach in the primary schools,” Okebukola recommended.

Prof. Olushola Basirat Oladipupo, on October 8, delivered the 71^st Inaugural Lecture of the Lagos State University (LASU). On her part she called for attitudinal change towards environmental health challenges in Nigeria.

She titled her lecture ‘Goodie Bag of Health Problems: Health Educator The Town Crier’.

Oladipupo stated that attitudinal change would help to solve all identified health problems.

She said zero-waste city can be achieved when we avoid and minimize generation of unnecessary waste and also convert waste to resources-based products that can be utilized by the community.

“Zero-waste city can be achieved when we avoid and minimize generation of unnecessary waste and also convert waste to resources-based products that can be utilized by the community,” Oladipupo maintained.

She said a culture of disaster safety should be inculcated into the fabrics of society and added that it will lead to reduction in disasters and unwarranted emergencies.

Oladipupo advised government, non-governmental organizations, communities and individuals to do more to educate the people on what they could do to avoid harmful traditional practices “Government, non-government organisations, communities and individuals should take an in-depth interest in the issues that concern all these harmful tradition practices that could affect health status of the sub urban woman and enact laws that will guide against these harmful practices.”

Also, she said that Non-governmental Organizations can help to rehabilitate victims and educate women on their rights as far as their womanhood and general well-being are concerned.

 

She reiterated that more researches and revaluation are needed on the study of adolescents and all school health related problems.

Earlier Oladipupo spoke on Environmental Effects of Solid Wastes which include: Accidental fire outbreak; Atmospheric pollution; Emission of offensive odour; Attraction of rodents and flies infestation; Flooding and blockage of drains; Traffic accident; Pollution and contamination of water sources; Transportation of diseases like dysentery, diarrhea, cholera, typhoid fever; Breeding of mosquito leading to spread of malaria and dengue fever.

Further epitomizing academic excellence in the institution was the 2019 Annual Faculty Lecture of the Faculty of Social Sciences, where the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, as the Guest Speaker stressed the need for the introduction of entrepreneurship in all disciplines in Nigerian institutions of learning.

The theme of the Lecture was ‘Addressing the Unemployment Scourge in Nigeria: The Role of Agriculture and Technology.’

He said graduates after spending years in university should be able to create jobs especially now that there is limited job opportunity in the country.

In stressing the gains of agriculture globally, he stated that since 1999, successive governments in Lagos have focused on innovative programs to foster job creation and empower entrepreneurs in the states.

Going further he said “Agriculture contributed 1.053 trillion (5.4%) of the United States GDP in 2017,  7.2% of the GDP of China in 2018, while in Nigeria, it contributed 20.85% which clearly showed the size and status of our economy “Agriculture also enhances food security, creates jobs in the rural areas, improve foreign exchange earnings and reduces rural-urban migration.”

While stressing the need for investment s in Research and development, as part of solution to address agricultural challenges, he said Lagos has some other measures towards enhancing economic wellbeing of the people, he disclosed “Lagos has the IBILE Micro Finance Bank that makes loans easily accessible for SMEs; the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund also provide loans to SMEs at 5% interest rate spread over four (4) years.”

He added “Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s led administration will build on the successes achieved in these areas and continue to support SMEs to grow the economy of Lagos and create jobs for our rapidly growing population.

While reiterating Government readiness to complete the first stage of the Imota Rice Mill in Ikorodu, by second quarter of 2020, he said the mill when completed has capacity of 32 metric tons of rice per hour and ability to provide 2.8 million bags of 50-killogram bags per annum, generate over 1500 direct jobs, while 254 000 indirect jobs are expected to be created in the value chain.

Talking about the role of Technology he said, “We understand that Technology is the catalyst that will solve many of the problems that population has put on our state, including unemployment. We intend to harness its potential to achieve our focus and areas of development anchored on the six pillars captured in the acronym T.H.E.M.E.S.”

Hamzat stated that the state has started the metropolitan fibre optic infrastructure project that will build the fibre conduit across the state with the total length of 3000km. “This is to build the digital Lagos , and help citizens from all walks of life realize the benefits of broadband connectivity that will enhance sustainable economic growth, modernize education, health and other services delivery and improve quality of life.