The National Universities Commission (NUC) has granted licenses for two new universities to the Lagos State Government.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced the public presentation of the book ‘Oluwatoyin Ogundipe @60 Audacity of Resilience’ written in honour of Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, to celebrate his 60th birthday.
Sanwo-Olu told the gathering that NUC has approved two new universities to bridge the admission gap Lagosians experience every year.
He revealed that the state government merged Adeniran Ogunsanyo College of Education (AOCOED), Ijanikin, and Michael Otedola College of Primary Education (MOCPED), Epe to form the University of Education.
According to him, the state government converted Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) to the University of Science and Technology.
In his words: “We know the population of Lagos State. The Lagos State University and UNILAG cannot provide admission space for the teeming population, so we had to convert AOCOED, MOCPED, and LASPOTECH.”
Sanwo-Olu said UNILAG made him what he is today, adding, “I am the visitor to LASU but my heart is with UNILAG.”
The governor acknowledged that Prof. Ogundipe went through a lot during the crisis that rocked the university in 2020.
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Chairman of the event and lead counsel to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Mr. Rotimi Jacob, described Ogundipe as a man of principle. He hopes the book will inspire the youths to be resilient.
Prof. Ogundipe lauded the editors for writing a book about him and the crisis of 2020 which through God’s intervention, he overcame.
He disclosed that during the crisis, God spoke to him through a song that he didn’t understand as the crisis lasted, and in another message, God asked him to keep quiet for the battle is his.
Some of the dignitaries present at the book presentation include Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, two former VCs of Obafemi Awolowo University, Prof. Bamitel Omole, Prof. Wale Omole, Vice-Chancellor, Federal University, Oye Ekiti, Prof. Sunday Fasina, Managing Director of Wema Bank, Mr. Ademola, MD of Vital form, Akarigbo of Remoland.
Others are Oba Babatunde Adewale Ajayi, TETFUND Executive Secretary, Prof. Elias Bogoro, Pro-Chancellor of UNILAG, Senator Lanre Tejuosho, and former VC of UNILAG, Prof. Rahman Bello amongst others.
