The Chancellor of Lagos State University, Oba Olufolarin Ogunsanwo, has outlined the university’s intention to pursue partnerships with Ivy League and other leading international institutions as part of efforts to enhance learning, research and global opportunities for its students.
Ogunsanwo spoke with The PUNCH on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Institute Universities Leaders Conference recently held in Lagos.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who is the visitor to LASU, had, in February, appointed Oba Ogunsanwo as the sixth chancellor of the university.
He succeeded Gbolahan Elias, who served as the university’s fifth chancellor.
Speaking on his plans as chancellor, Ogunsanwo said fostering relationships with top universities abroad would be among his priorities, alongside promoting technology-driven learning and balanced development across LASU’s campuses.
Ogunsanwo said, “We want to promote collaboration with other Ivy League institutions so that we can have a kind of relationship to advance the course of study for the students as well.”
The Ivy League is a prestigious athletic conference of eight private universities located in the Northeastern United States, synonymous with world-class academics, historic traditions, and highly competitive admissions.
The schools are Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, Princeton University, University of Pennsylvania and Yale University.
It would be recalled that LASU, through the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, in 2020, signed a partnership agreement with Cornell University to start a Business School.
While acknowledging that his role as Chancellor is largely advisory, Oba Ogunsanwo said he intends to use his position to support the university’s growth and development.
Ogunsanwo added that his vision for LASU includes leveraging Artificial Intelligence, Information and Communications Technology and other emerging technologies to position the institution alongside leading universities in developed countries.
“Another thing that we need to do, that I would like to do, is to see how the institution can leverage AI, ICT and other things to bring it up to speed with other institutions in developed countries,” he said.
He also highlighted the need for more infrastructure, particularly student accommodation, and pledged to encourage equitable development across the university’s four campuses in Ojo, Badagry, Epe and the College of Medicine.
“Part of my vision is to ensure that there is even development in all four campuses, so that development is not only seen in the main campus but spreads around the other campuses,” he said.
According to him, achieving those goals will require increased funding and revenue generation to support infrastructure expansion and other development projects.
The Chancellor further pledged to promote industrial harmony among academic and non-academic staff, describing it as essential to sustaining the progress LASU has made since its establishment more than four decades ago.
Read the full article here
