Officials of Angolan Embassy, Nigeria Visit LASU

African should first be for Africa, LASU registrar indulges, as Officials of Angolan Embassy, Nigeria visit LASU to explore possible areas of partnership.

The Registrar, Lagos State University (LASU), Mr Emmanuel. A. FANU has strongly advocated that Africa should, first, be for Africa, if the Continent, rich in human and other resources would develop and change its present narrative.

He made this assertion when a 2-man delegation from the Embassy of Angola, Nigeria, visited the University on Tuesday, 26 September 2023.

The duo of Mr Isai'as Paulo and Mrs Sebastiana Terra, both Diplomats, were the guests of the Vice Chancellor, on a working visit, to explore partnership and collaboration with the fast developing University of excellence. 

The meeting took place at the Conference Room, Vice Chancellor's Office, 6th Floor, Babatunde Raji Fashola Senate Building, main campus, Ojo, Lagos.

Just before the comment, Mr Paulo, while briefing the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Funsho Omobitan, who held fort for the Vice Chancellor, Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, mni, NPOM, stated that the mission of the duo at the institution was to explore areas of collaboration as well as partnerships. He disclosed that Angola has about Twenty-Five (25) public universities and also private universities that would be willing to work with LASU, which in the end would be beneficial to his country, LASU and Nigeria.

In his response, Prof. Omobitan enthused that LASU would be a great partner, not only in Education, but, Research, Technology, Agriculture and other areas of interest. 

"LASU is open to collaborations and partnerships. We already have some in existence. This collaboration is a good one. The onus now lies on the Angolan Embassy in Nigeria, to identify the areas of collaboration", he said.

The Registrar, backing what the Vice Chancellor said, noted that Africa has all the trappings of a great continent, but, the countries must work together.

"Africa should, first, be for Africa. The culture, the people and the human capacity are there. The countries are close and must work together for the development of the continent. They can now explore other places", he stated.

He told the guests that the University has a centre, Africa Centre of Excellence for Innovative and Transformative STEM Education (ACEITSE), backed and supported by the World Bank, which students from Angola could be part of, for studentship, research and high quality education. 

The Head, Portuguese Unit, LASU, Prof. Tayo Ajayi, who led the Diplomats to the meeting, talked about how the Portuguese Unit had evolved from time and to what it has become now, since the inception of the University. He echoed that students studying Portuguese Language are doing well and also go for exchange programme outside the shores of the country.

In his contribution, the Director, Linkages, Partnerships and Collaboration, LASU, Prof. Kabir Akinyemi, welcomed the idea of the partnership, adding that it would be a great thing to work together and for the good of both entities.

"Let us see how we can identify universities as well as research institutes we can work with, especially in the areas of staff/students' exchange, research, conferences, workshops etc. We will look at the papers, sign Memorandum of Understanding and Memorandum of Agreement. We will be glad to have the collaboration. We already have some in existence in top Universities in Europe, America, Asia and more", he posited.

The Registrar, Mr FANU, gave the vote of thanks as the meeting came to an end.

Other Principal Officers at the meeting include the Bursar, Mr Said Babatunde Olayinka and Dr (Mrs) Olateju Adeleke, who represented the University Librarian.

Also at the meeting were the Deputy Registrar, VCO, Dr. Lateef Shekoni, Industry Liaison Officer, ACEITSE, Dr. Musa Ajisegiri, Rep., Deputy Registrar, Legal, Abdul Azeez Adetola, Esq., and Protocol Officer, Mr Agboola Bamgboye.

MySchoolNews reporting.