A civil society organization, CSO, Centre for Social and Economic Rights, CSER, has congratulated and felicitated with the government and people of Lagos State over the grant of certificates of operation for two newly approved state-owned universities; Lagos State University of Education, LASUED, Ijanikin and the Lagos State University of Science and Technology, LASUST, Ikorodu.
A press release jointly signed by CSER Executive Director, Nelson Ekujumi, and Programme Officer, Gbenga Omage, in Lagos, and made available to newsmen on Friday 11th February, 2022, stated that it is elated by this educational feat achieved by the Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led administration in Lagos State, which has once again restated the position of Lagos State as the pace setter and Centre of Excellence in governance in Nigeria.
The CSO stated, “The benefits of these two new citadels of learning to human capital development within and outside our shores, cannot be overemphasized.”
It added that with the addition of these two higher education centres, “It is expected that they will not only contribute to the growth and development of education in their areas of primary focus, but that they will also become innovative centres for groundbreaking research and findings, which will uplift and alleviate the human condition.”
The organization also have expressed delight that the two new universities have not only expanded the higher education space in Lagos State and Nigeria, but also the economic space in terms of investment in human and capital development, which will manifest in the near future.
CSER also applauded the Lagos State government for using intellectualism through the upgrade of the two institutions of higher learning to overcome the decade-long dichotomy, existing between colleges of education/polytechnics and universities’ certificates to the detriment of our society.
Basking in the euphoria of the addition of the two universities, the CSER noted that the office of the Special Adviser on Education, which is in charge of higher education, also deserves a big kudos for it’s role in ensuring that the birth of the two universities became a reality by putting in place all necessary logistics that guaranteed the National University Commission, NUC’s approval of operating licences, while urging it to continue to perform it’s oversight functions responsibly at all times.
In the same vein, the group also used the occasion of the congratulatory message to admonish the Lagos State government to ensure that it’s investment in education, which the two new universities are a testimonial of, continues to receive high priority and attention.
To the students, teachers and management of the schools, CSER admonished them to remain focused on academic pursuit by making hardwork, discipline and scholarship their watchwords as they strive to contribute their own quota to national development excellently to the glory of God and benefit of humanity.
