When the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) unveiled the list of the top 10 first-choice universities for UTME 2025 last week with Lagos State University climbing to the number one position with over 70,000 candidates, up from second place in 2024, and third place in 2023, jubilant stakeholders erupted in celebration, flooding social media with messages of pride and gratitude. For those familiar with LASU’s story, this achievement is far more than a surge in application numbers. It is a powerful testament to the university’s remarkable transformation.
Once a candidates-reject, dismissed as a “last resort” university, LASU has risen to become a first-choice destination, an irrefutable testament to the visionary leadership, strategic reforms, and unwavering commitment to excellence that has been the hallmark of the institution in recent years.
For almost three decades after its establishment, LASU wobbled under the heavy cloud of public scepticism and outright disdain, characterised by the industrial actions, poor facilities and internal crises that plagued it. The institution, established in 1983 by the enabling Laws of Lagos State (2015 as amended) with the vision to provide Lagos State with the required human capital for the sustenance of her position as the commercial and industrial hub of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, struggled year after year to attract the number of students that it had the potential to accommodate, even as it bore the brunt of its bad reputation.
The situation worsened just over a decade ago when a new fee regime, widely regarded as astronomical, was introduced, further plunging the University’s standing to its lowest point in terms of student enrolment.
In 2014, LASU was able to admit just over 1,000 students out of about 5,000 candidates who chose the university either as first or (mostly) second choice institution. As the late Prof. Tunde Fatunde wrote in an article published online, “One of the consequences of the declining student numbers was that in some departments there were fewer students than teaching staff. The Vice-Chancellor wanted to close down some departments, merge some and even anticipated the closure and transfer of an entire faculty to a nearby institution.
However, over the past decade, the narrative at Lagos State University began to shift dramatically. Slowly but steadily, the University pulled back from the brink of decline. Driven by the determination of stakeholders and the proactive leadership of the immediate past administration, a new era of peace and renewed commitment to the LASU project emerged. As stability took hold, the University’s reputation started to rise once again.
However, it was the appointment of Professor Ibiyemi Ibilola Olatunji-Bello, mni, NPOM, as the 9th substantive Vice-Chancellor in September 2021 that marked a true turning-point. At this watershed moment, the power of visionary leadership became unmistakable. Professor Olatunji-Bello came armed with six strategic goals designed to fulfil her ambitious vision of transforming LASU into the best university in West Africa. Her leadership style —strategic, human-centred and inclusive — prioritised discipline, excellence, and a student-friendly environment.
Perhaps the most striking and immediate outcome of her purposeful, focused leadership has been the sustained peace that LASU has enjoyed since 2021. This hard-won stability has paved the way for a reliable, accelerated academic calendar, restoring confidence among students, staff, and the wider public alike.
Furthermore, with Prof. Olatunji-Bello’s managerial acumen, LASU witnessed unprecedented improvements in academic achievements. It is on record that the University has produced the highest number of first-class graduates in its history in the last three convocations. Thanks to research
excellence, infrastructural developments, local and international collaborations, digitalisation of processes, improvements in income generation and staff and students’ welfare. Four new faculties and two schools housing about 26 new departments were also established by the administration to expand opportunities for admission seekers.
All these have culminated in a sterling global reputation that is now making the University the number one choice for admission seekers in Nigeria.
Those who attempt to downplay LASU’s recent feats by attributing it solely to Lagos State’s large population (and I have seen a few of them on social media), fail to acknowledge the shift in the reputation of the Iniversity in recent years. I dare ask: If population were the sole determinant of university patronage, shouldn’t LASU be the top institution since its establishment over 40 years ago? Why wasn’t LASU even in the top ten as recently as 5 years ago? Why was UNILORIN consistently the most sought-after university for nine straight years until LASU dislodged it from that position?
LASU’s feat is even more impressive against the backdrop that among the 10 most sought-after universities, only LASU is state-government owned, demonstrating LASU’s capacity to compete favourably with federal universities that traditionally enjoy better funding, resources and national recognition.
Another critical factor in LASU’s remarkable transformation is the unwavering support and cooperation of the University’s staff unions. Working hand-in-hand with the Vice-Chancellor, they have played a vital role in fostering and sustaining an academic environment that is truly conducive to learning and growth. At LASU today, student welfare is prioritised, outstanding performance is encouraged and duly rewarded, and opportunities abound for individuals to realise their full potential. Indeed, there is no better academic atmosphere in any public university in Nigeria today than what LASU offers, a testament to a shared commitment to excellence and collective progress.
Indeed, LASU’s transformation from candidates-reject, “vegetable university” or “glorified secondary school” to Nigeria’s most sought-after university is a testament to what is possible with the right leadership and support.
This unwavering focus, even in the face of distractions, is exactly the reason we can say, “We are LASU, We are the Greatest!”.
– Gbanja is the media assistant to the LASU VC
