LASU Hosts 3rd CGNS Education Summit, Emphasises Education as Key to Human Capital Development

Lagos State University (LASU) hosted the 3rd Centre for General Nigerian Studies (CGNS) Education Summit on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at the Aderemi Makanjuola Lecture Theatre, Main Campus, Ojo.

The event brought together policymakers, academics, and thought leaders to deliberate on strategies to tackle poverty and promote human capital development in Nigeria.

Dr. Funke Adepoju-Olayomi, Director-General of the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), Topo Badagry, Lagos State, and Special Guest of Honour, highlighted education as the “strongest antidote” and “great equaliser” capable of equipping citizens with the skills and mindset needed to thrive. She stressed that education strengthens governance, builds supportive ecosystems, and helps shift Nigeria’s trajectory toward shared prosperity, noting that poverty remains a pressing reality.

Delivering the keynote address, Professor Benedict Emunemu, President of HERPNET, University of Ibadan, spoke on the summit’s theme, “From Dotes to Antidotes: Unpacking the Dimensions of Poverty in Nigeria and the Blueprint Beyond.” He noted that 133 million Nigerians face multidimensional poverty, which extends beyond income to include deficits in education, health, housing, and security. Professor Emunemu contrasted temporary relief programs such as PAP, NAPEP, and N-Power with systemic “antidotes” involving economic diversification, institutional reform, and human capital investment.

He also outlined Nigeria’s challenges, including unemployment, inflation, educational and gender inequalities, policy inconsistency, infrastructural deficits, and environmental threats, while advocating for evidence-based policies, strengthened monitoring, and inclusive governance to achieve sustainable poverty reduction.

Professor M.O.B. Mohammed, Director of CGNS, welcomed participants and expressed gratitude to LASU management, led by Vice-Chancellor Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, for supporting the summit. He encouraged attendees to contribute insights and transform discussions into actionable policy recommendations.

Professor Rahman Saka, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, noted that the summit aimed to foster intellectual reflection and national renewal, urging participants to explore poverty’s historical roots, structural drivers, and contemporary manifestations, and to develop innovative, evidence-based solutions.

Goodwill messages were delivered by Professor Ibrahim Olateju, Dean of the Postgraduate School, and Professor Adigun Lawal, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences. The summit concluded with a vote of thanks from Mr. Ademola Adekoya, Deputy Registrar/Secretary of CGNS.

The summit underscored LASU’s commitment to addressing national challenges through research, policy dialogue, and education-driven solutions.