by Godwin Akanfe

The Lagos State University (LASU) is to get N1.3 billion from the Federal Government to upgrade infrastructure in the institution.

Vice Chancellor of the school, Prof. John Obafunwa, disclosed this in an interview in Lagos, saying that the money would come to the school very soon and would be used to carry out major infrastructure rehabilitation.

According to him, the money would be released to the school by the Federal Ministry of Education through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TET Fund).

“We are expecting some assistance from the federal level. We will inject the funds from the federal level according to what it is meant for. We have already identified the classrooms we need to renovate.

“We have already identified the hostels we need to renovate. We have identified the lecture theatres we need to refurbish. We are just waiting for the funds. We are not depending on the state government strictly. All the funds we are expecting from Abuja have been declared to the state government. It is not that we are hiding anything. In all, we are expecting about N1.3 billion from the Federal Ministry of Education through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund,” he said.

Obafunwa added that the Lagos State Government had already done much for the school as a result of massive ongoing projects being carried out within the institution.

“In fairness to this administration, the projects you see around were commenced two and half years ago, precisely around December 2011 and January 2012. The projects include the new Students’ Arcade, the Twin Lecture Theatre in the Faculty of Law, the Senate Building, the new Central Library, the new Faculty of Science Complex and the Lagos HOMS, which is behind the major road.

“The state government has tentatively approved about ten buildings, but three are under construction right now. Each of them will house ten flats for academic staff. But apart from that, the administration with the assistance of government embarked on the refurbishment of the three-in-one lecture theatre around the Faculty of Education, which has been completed,” he explained.

According to him, “we are doing the furnishing of the language laboratory in the Faculty of Arts. We intend to expedite action with regard to the Faculty of Science Complex. It will be completed in two months. Luckily, a philanthropist came to our aid in respect of LASU Radio. Already, the building has been completed. It is just waiting to be commissioned. All these things are happening in the last two and half years. Do not forget we are not the only child of Lagos State.”

Obafunwa said the school still wanted the state government to help the institution in building the Faculties of Arts and Education as well as expand the current Faculty of Social Sciences, adding that the School of Transport had been completed.

“The truth of the matter is that nobody has said despite the tuition reversal, they will come to our aid in respect of these projects. The state government will always come to our aid. I have no doubt in my mind; although we need to create the right atmosphere on our part for the government to assist us.

“We cannot engage in strikes all the time and expect the state government to come to our aid. We need peaceful atmosphere to allow for development, even though Lagos HOMS started in the middle of the strike. But there is a lot we can achieve if we have a peaceful environment,” he stated.

Isime Esene