The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Idiat Adebule, on Tuesday said expectations of the State Government from the Lagos State University and other tertiary institutions in the state were high.
Adebule, represented by Michael Daodu, the Permanent Secretary in the Deputy Governor’s office, said this at the opening ceremony of a two-day Quality Assurance retreat at LASU.
The theme of the retreat is: “Fostering Community-wide Quality Assurance in Lagos State University for Effective Service Delivery and Academic Excellence.”
Adebule recollected that the state Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, had said his administration was committed to raising the standard of academic excellence to a level comparable to other citadel of learning in the world.
She said: “His Excellency further noted that his desire is to see LASU develop and churn out young professionals who will lead Nigeria to greater heights in the near future.
“The focus of this retreat is clearly in synchronisation with the goals and aspiration of the Governor for this great institution.”
Adebule commended LASU for finding it necessary to give systematic, structured and continuous attention to quality.
She said quality assurance would enhance the reputation of the university, improve staff in area of professional development and enhance professionalism.
The Deputy Governor said quality assurance would also lead to improvement in the learning and work of the students.
According to Adebule, the outcome of the retreat will add substantial value to LASU in being able to meet its mandate.
She said: “I must applaud the Vice-Chancellor, members of his management and the entire community for putting up an event of this nature.
“It is a clear demonstration of your awareness of what this university must do if it is going to join the league of institutions that are delivering world-class standards.”
The Vice-chancellor of LASU, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, said the process of quality assurance will ensure that academic standard was met.
Fagbohun said where systems were accountable, there would be significant improvement in performance and this would sustain the confidence of the internal and external public.
According to the VC, the retreat is based on a directive of the National University Commission to all universities in 2007 to establish Quality Assurance units.
He said the QA unit was expected to provide periodic updates to the commission on its activities and impacts through the University System Annual Review meetings.
Fagbohun said LASU was one of the few Universities in Nigeria that had yet to have a unit to quality assure its teaching, research, service delivery and community service activities.
He said LASU must urgently and aggressively put in place an effective Quality Assurance Unit in order to become a beacon of excellence in the delivery of good quality university education.
According to him, it will also help the institution to become a respected contributor of global discourse.
Prof. Peter Okebukola, former NUC Executive Secretary, said the tripod of Quality Assurance in a university is teaching, research and community service.
Okebukola said for quality to be attained, LASU authorities must ensure that only qualified students are admitted and qualified lecturers hired to teach.
Also, Dr. Biodun Saliu, the Director of Quality Assurance of the NUC, said the retreat would help stakeholders to reflect and fashion ways to ensure an effective system.
Saliu advised the LASU community to continue to research and imbibe new teaching methods that would enhance learning.
NAN.
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