The Lagos State University (LASU) on Tuesday confirmed the dismissal of three of its academic staff for sexual harassment and misconduct.
The university’s spokesman, Mr Ademola Adekoya, said the institution’s Governing Council took the decision at its 119th Statutory Meeting on Oct 4, as recommended by the Joint Council/Senate (Academic) Disciplinary Committee.
Adekoya named the affected staff as Dr Sunkanmi Odubunmi, Associate Professor, Department of Economics, Dr Ajani Ogunwande, Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry.
“Also, Dr Emmanuel Gbeleyi, Lecturer II, Department of Anatomy, Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM), Ikeja, Lagos,” Adekoya said in a statement.
According to him, the council also approved the promotion of 49 Academic Staff and 200 Non- Academic Staff into various positions.
The spokesman said 29 non-academic staff of the university had benefited from an internal recruitment exercise recently conducted by the university.
“They include 18 Administrative Officers II, three Technologists II, four System Analysts, two Academic Planning Officers II and two Industrial Liaison Officers,’’ he said.
Adekoya, however, noted that the current authority of the university by the development had further demonstrated its zero-tolerance for sexual harassment and general indiscipline.
He said the decision of the university was also in line with its drive to continually promote the welfare of both deserving staff and students of the institution.
Dr Odubunmi and Ogunwande had invited the female students whom they had harassed and failed their courses to their office to write an exam on a Saturday.
The students had reported the lecturers to the university security unit who bombarded them with recorders to trap them in the act.
However, the LASUCOM lecturer, Gbeleyi was reported by two female students who he asked to buy an injection, which he allegedly used to sedate them before he sexually took advantage of them.
Tag: LASU
-
Sexual Harassment: LASU confirms dismissal of 3 lecturers
-
LASU Prof. to face disciplinary committee over sex scandal
The Lagos State University on Tuesday said it had issued a query to an Associate Professor in its Department of Economics over the alleged sexual assault of a student, and the case was already before a Joint Action Disciplinary Committee.
Mr Adekoya Martins, the University’s spokesman told the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos that the management of the institution had zero tolerance for such act.
NAN reports that an Associate Professor of Economics in the Lagos State University was allegedly caught two weeks ago sexually assaulting an unidentified female undergraduate of his department.
Martins said the case, already before the disciplinary committee, would thereafter be forwarded to the University Senate for consideration.
Meanwhile, the University Registrar, Mr Olayinka Amuni, had told NAN in an earlier interview that the sanction for such act once established would be dismissal.
“Once we are able to establish that a staff engages in an illegal relationship with any student, the person is dismissed from the system because it is the height of academic irresponsibility.
“We are an institution guided by rules and regulations, and once we have an official report or an allegation of someone indulging in sexual harassment, the first thing we do is to issue query to the person.
“The query is to get information from the person whether indeed that really happened or not.
“We would examine whatever response you give with the evidences before us and if the evidences are not genuine, we won’t push further.
“But if we can find element of truth in what is before us, the matter is sent to disciplinary committee and the sanction for such activities is dismissal,” he said.
Amuni said the university management had continued to encourage its students to confide in them and report any form of harassment from their lecturers or non-academic staff.
NAN reports that the alleged incident in LASU is coming soon after the Governing Council of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, dismissed one of its lecturers, Prof. Richard Akindele, who was allegedly involved in a sex-for-marks scandal.
NAN
-
TheNewsGuru newscaster graduates with honours as Gov. Ambode splashes gifts [Photos]
Mr. Akpevwe Eghubare, TheNewsGuru pidgin newscaster on Wednesday graduated from the prestigious Lagos State University (LASU) even as Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, has promised to sponsor the best graduating student in his post-graduate programme.
Akpevwe, who graduated with an honour degree in public administration, has anchored the TheNewsGuru pidgin news with an unflinching panache that leaves his audience wowed.
TheNewsGuru publisher, Mr. Mideno Bayagbon, and his amiable wife, Mrs. Christie-Mideno Bayagbon, graced the convocation ceremony of the vibrant public administrator and newscaster that held today at the LASU premises.
See photos:
TheNewsGuru Publisher, Mideno Bayagbon and wife, Christie with Akpevwe Eghubare 
TheNewsGuru Publisher, Mideno Bayagbon and Akpevwe Eghubare 
Christie-Mideno Bayagbon and Akpevwe Eghubare Best graduating student… WAEC and NECO results dotted with F9s
In his speech, Governor Ambode promised to sponsor in his post-graduate programme, and also gifted the sum of N5 million to, Mr. Adetoro Ogunsanya, who emerged the best graduating student from the 2016/2017 session with a Cumulative Grade Point Aggregate (CGPA) of 4.7 from the Department of Business Administration.
Ambode, who said he was impressed by Ogunsanya’s performance at the 22nd Convocation and Award of degrees by the university to its graduating students, noted that the state government had stopped offering scholarships to students, but was only giving them bursaries.
He enthused that his coming to the university on the first day of the convocation was divine.
“There is a divine side to the story of the best graduating student, maybe I choose to come today because of the best graduating student.
“The visitor to the university usually attends the higher degree ceremony of the convocations.
“But I will adopt the best graduating student because his story is too compelling and reflect on my story,” Ambode said.
Governor Ambode with graduating students and officials of LASU Ogunsanya, the best graduating student, narrated his first WAEC and NECO examination results were dotted with F9s due to health challenges.
According to him, the health challenge, cataract he inherited from his father, greatly affected his performance in the final examination in secondary school.
He said the cataract, which initially affected one eye, later spread to the other and this affected his academic performance.
“My Parents helped me to seek medical help but the first operation I had was not successful.
“When my first WAEC and NECO came out, it was dotted with F9s, so I left home and went to stay with my uncle and his wife.
“My uncle and his wife also helped me to seek medical treatment at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan and the operation was successful,” he said.
Ogunsanya said following the treatment, he went back to secondary school to rewrite his WAEC and JAMB, after three years of staying at home.
“I was able to make four A’s and three B’s and scored 215 in JAMB to gain admission to LASU,: Ogunsanya recalled.
According to him, he had applied for Accounting at LASU but opted for business administration giving reasons Accounting was not accredited at the time.
Ogunsanya noted that his academic journey was rigorous and herculean, even as he lost his father in 2015.
“But my doggedness and tenacity yielded a good result,” he added, while also requesting that he should be given scholarship for his master’s programme in the United Kingdom.
In response Governor Ambode said “I will personally sponsor him to any university of his choice in the world and as the best graduating student, I am giving him a gift of N5million”.
LASU VC’s remarks
In his remarks, Professor Olanrewaju Fagbohun, the Vice-Chancellor, said the graduating students had been well tutored and certified to succeed in the corporate world.
The VC, however, urged the students to be good ambassadors of the institution and give back to their Alma Mata.
Fagbohun said the university graduated 29,710 students for the session, out of which 26 students made First Class division.
He said 21,481 students graduated with first degrees, 201 with diplomas, 7,982 in the Post-graduate cadre and 46 PhDs.
-
LASU to graduate 26 first class students at 22nd convocation
Lagos State University (LASU) says 26 out of the 26,637 students billed to graduates during its 22nd convocation would bag First Class Honours.
Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, Vice -Chancellor of the institution, announced this at the media briefing heralding the university’s convocation on Monday in Lagos.
The convocation would hold on May 23 and 24 the university campus at Ojo, along the Badagry Expressway.
Fagbohun said the best graduating student for the 2017/2018 academic session, whose name and the department was still withheld, recorded a Cumulative Grade Point Aggregate (CGPA) of 4.7.
He said out of the 21,637 students, 201 were diploma students, 21,481 were first degree on both part-time and full-time while 4,955 were higher degree students, whose results have been approved by the University Senate.
“For the diploma level, two graduates made a distinction, 39 made upper credit, 147 finished with lower credit while 13 ended with pass division.
“For the first degree, 26 had first class honours, 1,084 students bag second class upper division, 17,323 students finished in the second class lower division, 2,940 third class honours and 108 finished with pass division,’’ the VC said.
For the higher degrees, he noted that the university would award postgraduate diploma on 1,589, academic master’s degree on 299 students and professional masters’ degree on 3,022 while 45 would be awarded the doctoral degree.
Fagbohun explained that the university produced such a large number of graduates this year because those students on its External System Programme, which was closed in 2017, were included.
“We were also able to produce 26 first class students because our assessment process is very thorough, with different processes of quality assurance at faculty and department levels.’’
The VC also told newsmen that the university awarded scholarships to 220 undergraduates who finished the 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 academic sessions with a CGPA of 4.5 and above.
He said that LASU was also ranked as the first among state universities in the 2018 maiden National Universities Commission’s Open Education Resources (OER) ranking.
He also unveiled the new university anthem, which according to him, would further entrench the essence and value of the university in the heart of its staff and students.
Speaking on some key projects going on in the university, Fagbohun said the Faculty of Dentistry Research and service centre had been completed and furnished with the state of art equipment.
He said the centre would complement the dental facility at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).
Fagbohun also said the Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies Building, funded by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) among other projects have been completed.
He commended Gov. Akimwunmi Ambode and other stakeholders for their contributions towards making the university a pride for all.
The VC said former President Olusegun Obasanjo would be the chairman of the convocation lecture scheduled for May 22.
The convocation lecture would be delivered by Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, the Executive Secretary of the National University Commission (NUC).
The lecture is titled: “Role of Education in Promoting Social Cohesion and Peace: Opportunities and Challenges for Nigeria’’.
Prior to the convocation, a sports competition among staff and Jumat service would hold on May 17 and May 18 respectively.
The special church service is scheduled to hold on May 20 while the Coconut Breaking Festival and Command Performance and Play by the Department of Theatre Arts and Music would hold on May 21.
Award for first degrees in all faculties hold May 23 while that of higher degrees and honorary doctorate degrees holds on May 24.
NAN
-
LASU gets presidency’s approval to construct primary health centre – VC
The Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, says it has received the approval of the presidency to construct a Primary Health Centre in the institution.
LASU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, said the institution got the approval through the Office of Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Fagbohun made the disclosure at a media briefing on Thursday in Lagos, adding that the presidency also gave the university a new ambulance.
According to him, the institution has already started the construction of the primary health centre which is behind the already existing health facility in LASU.
He said that the duration for its construction was about 20 weeks.
Fagbohun said that communities around the university would have access to the primary health facility, thereby creating an avenue for better bonding between the university and its host community.
“If you have engagement with your community, the chances of having any problem with them will be very minimal because they must also feel the impact of the university.
“There is no point limiting what is good to ourselves alone; so, we must ensure that we have effective relation with our community,’’ he said.
The vice-chancellor also said that the executive arm of the Lagos State Government had given a final approval for the university to construct a 6000-bed space model hostel.
He said that two of the construction firms that bided for the contracts had been shortlisted by PricewaterhouseCoopers, a multinational professional services network, to construct 13 of the 16 structures to be put in place.
“The maintenance and security of the hostel will be the topmost responsibility of the constructing firm handling the building.
“The hostel will also be affordable because the government took up some aspect of the infrastructure, so that the hostel would be offered at a subsidised rate to the students.
“Government is subsidising the hostel by providing infrastructure, part of the rent, so that overtime, the investors will be able to balance out on their investment and the students will get it at an affordable rate,’’ he said.
Fagbohun said that the inauguration of the 500-seat auditorium recently donated by the Caverton Group to the university, as well as, the privately funded 2,000 capacity Computer Based Test (CBT) Centre would soon take place.
The vice-chancellor said that the partnership was with a private sector company, aimed at making the university a major hub for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) by JAMB, among other examination bodies.
“We believe that within the next six months, the construction would have been concluded.
“This is because discussion is at an advanced stage and we are just at a stage of signing relevant documents with the private sector participants we are relating with,’’ he said.
NAN
-
ASUU demands panel of inquiry over sacked senior staff in LASU
The Academic Staff Union of Universities(ASUU), Lagos Zone, is demanding the setting up of a panel of inquiry into the crisis rocking the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, Lagos State.
The crisis is over an alleged sack of seven academic staff of the institution, among others.
They also called on the Kogi State Government to reverse the sack of over 150 members of the academic staff of Kogi State University (KSU), Anyingba.
The Lagos Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Prof. Olusiji Sowande made the call when he addressed journalists on Wednesday at the ASUU office in Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta.
Sowande said that the zone was mandated by the national body of the union to look into the crises at LASU and KSU and give recommendations.
He was accompanied by other ASUU executives, Prof. Deji Agboola of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Dr John Fayemi of Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, and Dr Dele Ashiru of University of Lagos.
Others are Dr Akinloye Oyewumi of Lagos State University and Dr Adebayo Oni of FUNAAB.
Sowande lamented the treatment meted to members of the union both in LASU and KSU.
In LASU, he claimed that members of the union were being hounded by the vice-chancellor, Prof. Lanre Fagbohun, for demanding the constitution of a functional budget monitoring committee.
He said that members had also asked for evidence of proper utilisation of the N1.3 billion NEEDs Assessment Revitalisation fund released to the institution in 2013.
He said they equally called for the implementation of Earned Academic Allowances components of the ASUU-FGN 2009 Agreement.
The zonal coordinator said the union had written a letter to the visitor to the institution, the Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, over the issue.
He said the union members also expressed displeasure over the recent increment of acceptance fee from N10, 000 to N20, 000 by the institution.
“ASUU Lagos zone joins the Education Right Campaign in calling for an independent panel of inquiry on the unfolding crisis in LASU with a view to resolving it.
“We call on the governor of Lagos State, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, to call some of his functionaries to order as there are evidences that they are working in tandem with the Vice Chancellor of LASU and some members of the governing council to fuel the crisis in LASU.
“Our union should not be held responsible for any eventual crisis in LASU.
“The real motive of the LASU’s management for hounding our members is to silence them and we are going to resist it.
“We want an independent panel of inquiry to be set up by the visitor, governor Akinwunmi Ambode. If this is not done, the problem will keep recurring,” he said.
On Kogi Varsity crisis, Sowande condemned the sacking of 150 members of the academic staff of the university, describing it as impunity and high-handedness by the state Governor, Yahaya Bello.
He urged the state government to reverse the decision on the sack of the 150 academic staff of the Kogi State University.
-
LASU denies increasing tuition fees
The Lagos State University (LASU) Management says though it has increased acceptance fee for its new intakes, it has no plan to increase tuition.
The University made the clarification in its official bulletin on Friday.
In the bulletin signed by Mr Adekoya Martins, Coordinator, LASU, Centre for Information Press and Public Relations Unit, LASU said it increased its acceptance fee from N10,000 to N20,000.
He said the N20,000 is payable once by candidates recently offered provisional admission by the institution.
The institution offered admission to 3,500 candidates for the 2017/2018 academic session.
“Attention of LASU Management has again been drawn to the erroneous insinuations making the rounds, especially on the social media, regarding a plan to increase or purported increase in the school fee being paid by its students presently.
“What the university has done is to increase the acceptance fee from N10,000 to N20,000 and this remains the cheapest in Nigeria compared to what other universities charge as their acceptance fee.
“The university management, however, wishes to reiterate that there is no increment intuition, neither are there plans to effect any increment,” Adekoya said.
He urged members of the university community and the general public to disregard any contrary information and be wary of mischief makers trying to incite and create unnecessary tension in the university.
(NAN)
-
We did not increase tuition fee – LASU
The Lagos State University says though it has increased acceptance fee for its new intakes, it has no plan to increase tuition.
The University made the clarification in its official bulletin on Friday.
In the bulletin signed by Mr Adekoya Martins, Coordinator, LASU, Centre for Information Press and Public Relations Unit, LASU said it increased its acceptance fee from N10,000 to N20,000.
He said the N20,000 is payable once by candidates recently offered provisional admission by the institution.The institution offered admission to 3,500 candidates for the 2017/2018 academic session.
“Attention of LASU Management has again been drawn to the erroneous insinuations making the rounds, especially on the social media, regarding a plan to increase or purported increase in the school fee being paid by its students presently.
“What the university has done is to increase the acceptance fee from N10,000 to N20,000 and this remains the cheapest in Nigeria compared to what other universities charge as their acceptance fee.
“The university management, however, wishes to reiterate that there is no increment intuition, neither are there plans to effect any increment,” Adekoya said.
He urged members of the university community and the general public to disregard any contrary information and be wary of mischief makers trying to incite and create unnecessary tension in the university.
-
LASU suspends Provost, College of Medicine over misappropriation of funds
The Lagos State University has suspended the Provost of the LASU College of Medicine (LASUCOM), Ikeja , Prof. Babatunde Solagberu, over alleged financial and administrative improprieties with effect from Nov. 30.
This is contained in the University’s official bulletin made available on Monday in Lagos.
The bulletin said the management approved that Solagberu be placed on `immediate interdiction’ for three months with half salary.
It said Solagberu`s suspension was connected to alleged several infractions against the rules and regulations of the university bordering on financial improprieties and administrative misadventures.
“His interdiction is for three months in the first instance, and will be on half monthly salary during the period pending the determination of the allegation against him by the Joint Council and Senate Disciplinary Committee (Academic).
“Details of the allegations have been served him in a memo dated Thursday 30th November, 2017 with reference number LASU\REG\INT.DIS\45.
” Against this background, Prof. Solagberu, has until the allegations against him are investigated and determined, ceased to be the Provost of the Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM), ” it said .
The bulletin said that Solagberu was forbidden to carry out any official duty, either as Provost or member of staff of the College during the period of his interdiction.
The University, LASU also forbade the Provost from visiting the premises except with the express permission of the Registrar.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Provost, Prof. Anthonia Ogbera of the Department of Medicine, has been appointed the Acting Provost with effect from Nov 30.
NAN
-
Recall sacked members in LASU, KSU immediately – ASSU tells Ambode, Bello
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has called on the members of the public to prevail on the Administration and Visitor to Lagos State University, Governor Akinwummi Ambode and Kogi State University, Governor Yahaya Bello to immediately recall the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of the Union whose appointments were allegedly terminated because of their stand against the ills being perpetrated by the University.
The Zonal Coordinator of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Nsukka Zone, Professor Ukooh David Ikoni made this known yesterday during a press conference at the Kogi State University Anyigba.
He noted that the government of Lagos State should setup a machinery to investigate the conduct of the Administration in relation to the allegation of gross misappropriation of funds.
“Since the Governing Councils of KSU and LASU have demonstrated gross incompetence in the management of University affairs, we demand the immediate dissolution of the Councils and reconstitution of new ones in line with laid down procedures of the Universities.
“If this fails, the Union will have no other option but to compel the Administrations and Visitors of these two Universities to do so using all legitimate means possible at our disposal.
He mentioned that the situation in Kogi and Lagos State Universities demand further elucidation, adding that from most quarters there had been wide condemnation of the proscription of ASUU in Kogi State University and the sack of over 150 academics of high profile, impunity still reigned as the government and the University Administration persist in these acts.
“If the University was near comatose before the present administration came, it has certainly dealt the final blow to kill it. We have severally stated that the heavy tax regime in KSU before the coming of this administration was and still remains one of the causative agents of mass exodus of high profile staff trained by the system.
“The coming in of Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello, has decided to impose a heavier tax burden in defiance of all principles of taxation. With the simple law of Economics, Kogi State University will only serve as a transit camp for lecturers if this persists,” he stated.
He added that the continuous sack, throw out, humiliation, termination of appointments, the use of students to threaten the life and destruction of properties of their members in KSU, persistent use of security agencies to arrest and intimidate their members in LASU, have indicated the deplorable state and total mismanagement of these State Universities by their University Administrations and Visitors namely, Messrs Yahaya Adoza Bello and Ambode Akinwumi.
“It is noteworthy that the Vice-Chancellors and Pro-Chancellors of KSU and LASU have consistently exhibited the power of a one-eyed monster, where they speak from both sides of their mouths.
“If at all our colleagues in KSU and LASU have committed any sin it is the sin of insisting that there must be quality education for the citizens of this country and that quality education can be achieved without increase in school fees,” he stressed.