The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Professor Folasade Ogunsola, has announced the impending reinstatement of the Students’ Union, emphasising the need for responsible leadership and constructive engagement with the university administration.
The VC, while speaking at the official swearing-in ceremony for faculty presidents and student leaders for the 2023/2024 academic session, which held at the Tayo Aderinokun Hall midweek, said, “Arrangements are being fine tuned to ensure that the Students’ Union meets its true purpose as a students’ welfare body and not an opposition or pressure group against the university management.”
In a statement released and signed by the Public Relations Officer, Alaga Ibrahim, she congratulated the faculty presidents and student-leaders, and added that their swearing-in ceremony was holding at at a critical period.
“Your emergence is happening at a very critical time especially when viewed against the backdrop of the various challenges which are not peculiar to UNILAG. The task before you, the faculty presidents and student leaders will require you all to take tough, unpopular but impactful decisions in the interest of the university and the students.”
Prof. Ogunsola charged them to see their new assignments as a call to responsibility and leadership, one which they must pursue with diligence, commitment, open-mindedness and sincerity of purpose.
She cautioned the students against ill-conceived notions about the generality of staff of the universityand advocated the need for a common front with a conscious commitment to a common good.
She also urged the student leaders to prioritise the overall interest of the university in all their engagements.
Meanwhile, Prof Ogunsola debunked insinuations about the privatisation of hostels and halls of residence in the university.
She stated that hostels are being renovated in phases and with available resources while management is also working on Public-Private-Partnership arrangements to ensure that students’ hostels are made more befitting.
The VC assured the student representatives of access to management for constructive engagement whenever the need arises. She also reiterated management’s readiness to groom and expose them to opportunities.
Prof. Ogunsola cautioned the entire student community against continued assaults on the university especially on social media as against the choice of constructive engagements with management during conflict.
She stated the impending impacts of such persistent negative social media posts on the university’s ratings, public image and especially on their prospects after graduation.
