UNILAG: Acting VC Promises To Upgrade Institution, Address Staff Welfare

The Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof Omololu Soyombo, has pledged to upgrade the school in many ramifications.

Soyombo made the promise at a news briefing held on Wednesday at the school’s Senate Chamber.

“I will certainly ensure the University of Lagos is lifted to a higher pedestal than the point it was on the 12th of August when I was appointment; our core responsibilities include research, teaching and community service.

“We shall ensure effective delivery of lectures by upgrading our teaching facilities, provide modern multimedia, projectors and upgrade research facilities for better performance because the university is the repository of knowledge”, he said.

Furthermore, he stressed that the school’s staff would be treated well under his administration.

“My major focus will be on staff welfare, my believe in this regard is that human resource is the core asset of the university and any organisation.

“If humans are not there, we cannot achieve anything. I can assure you that the issue of staff welfare and promotion will be properly addressed”, Soyombo added.

Recall that the Governing Council led by Mr Wale Babalakin, SAN, had on August 12 appointed Soyombo.

Prior to that, it said it had removed Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, who was then the VC, for alleged financial misappropriation.

However, the school’s chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) had backed the embattled Ogundipe, instead of the newly-appointed one.

The union said it took the position on the grounds that due process was breached in the whole management rift.

But, Soyombo, while reacting to ASUU’s stand, said that varying views about what happened were welcome, adding that he too was part of ASUU.

“ASUU is our union, I am a member of ASUU; we will continue to dialogue with ourselves.

“It is rare to have 100 per cent agreement in any organisation or group, there will always be different opinions.

“We need a cordial and peaceful environment for us to progress and discharge our duties”, he said.