*Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has signed bills for the establishment of two more universities in a move to solve issues relating to admissions for the citizens and expand access to and frontiers of knowledge in the ‘Centre of Excellence’

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

As a practical measure to resolve issues relating to admissions for the citizens and expand access to knowledge acquisition at the tertiary level, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has signed the bills for the establishment of two additional universities in the state.

ConsumerConnect learnt Governor Sanwo-Olu inked the bills Wednesday, February 2, 2022, at the Lagos House, Marina, in Lagos State, for the establishment of the Lagos State University of Education (LASUED) and Lagos State University of Science and Technology respectively.

Accordingly, the bills are designed to upgrade the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) in Ikorodu, Isolo and Surulere campuses to the University of Science and Technology.

These will also ensure the changing of Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Ijanikin and Michael Otedola College of Primary Education, in Epe, into the Lagos State University of Education, agency report said.

In his remarks at the signing ceremony Wednesday, Sanwo-Olu said that Lagos residents are blessed with two additional universities to the existing Lagos State University (LASU), established in 1982 by late Alhaji Lateef Jakande, First Executive Governor of  the state.

The governor disclosed that the Lagos State Government would take the law to the National Universities Commission (NUC) for due process leading to approval.

The government, Sanwo-Olu noted, is believing a timely approval from the NUC, as it longs to receive the certificates for the establishment of the two universities.

He further stated: “We believe that the transmission would be smooth. We believe that the process would be without any hindrance.

“We believe that we will do a good job at ensuring that what is best is the only thing that we do for Lagos.”

Sanwo-Olu said: “I feel so delighted and proud of all of us creating history today and I believe that indeed generations coming after us will remember this very bold, audacious decision that we have taken.

“The two institutions that have now been transmitted into universities are institutions that have produced professionals, students, lecturers among others notable men and women in our society.”

The governor also stated that the state government had done what was proper for the existing staff, both academic and non-academic, and more importantly, the students today and in future.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, said the establishment of LASUED and the Lagos State University of Science and Technology, would solve issues relating to admission for Lagos State citizens.

The governor’s aide commended Sanwo-Olu on assenting to the establishment of the two more universities, and the Lagos State House of Assembly (LSHA), led by the Speaker, Mr. Mudashiru Obasa for believing in the process for the good of Lagosians.

ConsumerConnect reports the knowledge economy has been described as a system of consumption and production that is based on intellectual capital.

Specifically, the concept refers to the ability to capitalise on scientific discoveries, basic and applied research, and this development has come to represent a large component of all economic activity in most developed countries, including Nigeria.