A Non-Governmental Organization under the aegis of Lagos State University Development Foundation, LASUDEF on Friday handed over Ninety-eight bed units of female hostel to the management of the Lagos State University, Ojo.
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Speaking at the handover event,the Chairman, executive Committee of LASUDEF, Hon. Justice Solomon Olusola Hunponu-Wusu said the purpose for the hostel accommodation was to change Lagos state University from a non residential institution to a residential and to also ease the harrowing accomodation challenges confronting the female students.
Justice Hunponu-Wusu disclosed that the main objective of the Lagos State University Development Foundation, LASUDEF is to ensure the involvement of all the active people of Lagos State in funding LASU and other tertiary institutions in the state through gifts, endowments are bequest on a continues basis, as it in realization that the Lagos state government cannot adequately fund tertiary education. Hence,the reason to assist the University with 96 bed Units of hostel.
While reiterating the foundation’s commitment to supporting LASU, the Justice went back memory lane that the founding members of the Non-Governmental Organization decided to assist the state Universities by putting up complementary infrastructure as its main priority and objective.
He further stated that, LASUDEF was established in 1992, and was inaugurated by former governor of Lagos state, Michael Otedola under the Chairmanship of the first Military administrator,late Brigadier General Mobolaji Johnson among other prominent personalities like Chief Babatunde Benson, Alhaji S. Sule, Chief Molade Okoya Thomas, Prof. Babatunde Fafunwa, Alhaji Kayode Taiwo.
According to him, by year 2019, a little over #100 (One hundred million naira) was expended on the ground floor of the one storey building comprising of 48 beds units complete with the appurtenance. The devastation of COVID-19 that started in February 2020 and its consequences including the complete lock down and most importantly the crippling global economy were consequential to the stoppage of work on the project.
“But today, I am proud and accomplished that another 48 bed units making a total of 96 bed units had been added on the 1st floor with a cost of #204,040,000,00 (Two hundred four million and forty thousand naira) only for both the ground and first floors.
I also want to use this opportunity to inform that the foundation has begun the process of repeating similar gesture to the Lagos State Universities of Science and Technology and the Lagos University of Education”, he averred.
The Honourable Justice however crave the indulgence of the LASU Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello to implement a policy wherein at least 30% of the female hostel would be reserved for the indigenes of the state.
Earlier in her remarks, the Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University, Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji Bello expressed heartfelt gratitude to LASUDEF for the magnanimous donation of the 96 bed units hostel facility for the female students, adding that the noble initiative is coming at a time of dire economic situation and outrageous hikes in rent and prices of other goods, making decent accomodation outside of the campus unaffordable for many of the students.
She affirmed that the donation comes at an auspicious time just ahead of the completion of the 8,000 beds hostel facility under construction on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) basis with the support of the Lagos state government.
According to her, in addition, this hostel building complements our infrastructural development in the university, thereby fulfilling our third strategic goal to ensure that infrastructural facilities are improved and made readily available for seamless performance of academic and administrative duties.
“We must like an Oliver Twist request for more interventions, especially in the areas of lecture halls, power generation plant and research and innovation hubs amongst others” She concluded.
Dignitaries present at the event includes: Mobee of Badagry, High Chief Patrick Yebenu, Executive Director, LASUDEF, Tayo Lawal, board members of LASUDEF, Alhaja H.O Sunmonu, Rev.Dr.Idowu Akindele, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tertiary Education Mr. Adeniran Kasali, Registrar, LASU, Emmanuel Fanu, Dean of faculties amongst others.
