The Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University (LASU), Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, says the university spends over N150 million every month to augment staff salaries.
Olatunji-Bello made the disclosure at a news conference ahead of the institution’s 29th and 30th Combined Convocation ceremonies.
She described funding as the university’s major challenge, noting that the Lagos State Government provided monthly subventions for salaries, among others.
“The government is really trying, they pay subvention, but we still augment salaries with over N150 million every month,” she said.
The vice-chancellor said the university had consistently paid staff salaries on or before the 23rd of every month.
According to her, salaries have consistently been paid on the 21st, 22nd or latest 23rd of every month.
She said maintaining the timely payment of salaries would remain a priority for whomever succeeded her as vice-chancellor.
Olatunji-Bello said her administration had improved the university gradually, expecting that her successor would also take the achievements further.
She expressed optimism that LASU would witness more infrastructural development, research outputs and collaboration partnerships in the next five years.
The vice-chancellor also projected greater global visibility for the university, with more students securing positions in higher institutions and organisations internationally.
“LASU will be greater, definitely, from what it is now,” she said.
Olatunji-Bello said the university had committed and diligent academic staff, as well as a conducive environment for learning.
She added that students had residential facilities, study spaces and improved digital services, which had enhanced their academic experience.
On security, she said LASU’s security unit worked with the Department of State Services, Police and neighbourhood security personnel.
‘’The university also has its own security staff and health personnel stationed on campus to ensure safety.
‘’LASU has two ambulances on campus to respond to medical emergencies during the convocation and other activities, ‘’Olatunji-Bello said.
She said adequate security arrangements had also been made for the various convocation venues across the university.
The vice-chancellor said all convocation programmes would be livestreamed, with activities taking place at the university’s Buba Marwa Auditorium and other halls.
On certificates, she said graduates had continued to receive their certificates immediately during convocation, or within one to two weeks after convocation.
However, she said certificates for graduates of the university’s defunct external system required verification before issuance.
She explained that verification exercises revealed that some former students still had outstanding courses in spite of claims of being graduates.
According to her, such students are given opportunities to participate in mop-up examinations to complete their requirements.
She said successful candidates’ results would be presented to the senate for consideration before their certificates were issued.
“Those who fail the mop-up examination or do not take it will not receive certificates because they have not fulfilled the graduation requirements,” she said.
The vice-chancellor said funding remained the major challenge confronting the university.
She explained that maintaining the required student-teacher ratio by the National Universities Commission also required substantial resources.
Olatunji-Bello, however, acknowledged Lagos State Government’s continued financial support toward the payment of staff salaries.
On the convocation ceremonies, she said the university was graduating 20,604 students at its 29th and 30th Combined Convocation Ceremonies for the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 academic sessions.
