The Governing Council of Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), Ikorodu has inaugurated the institution’s 70-member Senate, to shape its academic culture and character.
Prof. Rasheed Ojikutu, Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of the University said at the inauguration, on Wednesday, in Lagos, that the role of the senate, one of the statutory organs and supreme academic body, could not be overemphasised.
“The law establishing a university empowers its senate, amongst several other responsibilities, to regulate teaching, discipline staff and students and promote research.
”The responsibilities of the senate are humongous and therefore the governance structure must be strict and decisive.
“There should be little space for sentimentalism and emotion in decision making, lest the standard expected will dwindle and consequently lower the quality of the university in the comity of its peers.
“The new senate can not afford to toe the same line that many new universities go through in their formative years, which in the course of time turns them into another tutorial center rather than a hub of research, innovation and technology,” he said.
Ojikutu urged the elected senate members to create an environment for innovative teaching strategies and competency-based learning that would eventually nurture societal change-makers.
“We must, right from the beginning, design, and develop for ourselves and our community a brand that will be second to none in Nigeria, Africa and the world.
“LASUSTECH must be identified for its specialisation, because there are many opportunities that we can explore for the greatness of this university,” he said.
Prof. Olumuyiwa Odusanya, Vice-Chancellor, LASUSTECH, said that the inauguration had moved the institution one step further in the adoption of the best university tradition and culture.
Odusanya said that there were many responsibilities and functions of the senate and a lot would be expected from its members.
“I am sure that the members of the senate will live up to the responsibility, thus, we must be exemplary in our behaviour, and familiarise ourselves with the university law and regulations.
“Let us arise to move forward this university of excellence,” he said.
Shakirudeen Bello, Registrar and Secretary to Governing Council, LASUSTECH, said that they had pledged to complement the efforts of the state government.
He said they would work assiduously toward taking the institution to an enviable height in the league of tertiary institutions.