Soyombo promises to lift UNILAG, pleads for unions’ support

Adefioye Iyunade

 The Newly appointed acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof Omololu Soyombo has said that  he will lift the institution to a higher pedestal than he met it, even as he solicited the support of all the unions in the university.

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Soyombo, who addressed journalists Wednesday at the university’s Senate Chamber, said he assumed the post on August 12, 2020 and as such would work to bring the institution to an enviable position.

He said he will certainly ensure that the University of Lagos is lifted to a higher pedestal than the point it was on the 12th of August when he was appointed.

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The VC said the school core responsibilities include research, teaching and community service. He said, “ The school management shall ensure effective delivery of lectures by upgrading our teaching facilities, providing modern multimedia, projectors and upgrading research facilities for better performance because the university is the repository of knowledge.”

Prior to the media parley, Soyombo had a meeting with some of the members of staff of the university at the Senate Foyer where he disclosed his immediate plans for the workers.

While reacting to the rejection of his appointment by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, UNILAG chapter, Soyombo said, “ASUU is our union, I am a member of ASUU.

“We will continue to dialogue with ourselves. It is rare to have 100 per cent agreement in any organisation or group, there will always be different opinions. We need a cordial and peaceful environment for us to progress and discharge our duties.”

Meanwhile, the Academic Staff Union of Universities, UNILAG branch, has insisted that the former VC, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe remains the univeristy’s VC.

Chairman, ASUU, UNILAG chapter, Dr Dele Ashiru, said that the union was unwavering in its position that Prof. Ogundipe remained the vice chancellor of the institution.

He said that the Senate of the university is the highest decision making organ on academic affairs, noting that the Senate had spoken and that remained unchanged.

“ A VC will not assume office by addressing pressmen and some disgruntled members of staff. You take charge when you take off,” he said.

Ashiru maintained that legalities could not be built on illegalities, adding that, “beneath the smokescreen is an agenda to demote public universities with a view to privatising them and people like our Pro-chancellor, Dr Wale Babalakin can buy them as they have done in other sectors of the economy.”