Press Releases

Fashola Urges Universities To Be Partners In National Development

Sep 12, 2008 - Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Friday challenged Nigerian Universities to contribute meaningfully to national development through research and discussions on development-related issues.

Governor Fashola, who spoke at the new Lagos House during a courtesy call on him by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Tolu Odugbemi and other top management Staff, pointed out that the outcome of such research and discussions would aid national development if put in the public domain.

The Governor urged the universities to constitute themselves into major resource arm for government adding that the success of the nation’s march towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) would greatly depend on the capacity of the tertiary institutions for research.

Describing his government as a government of ideas, the Governor urged the universities, “You must constitute yourselves into major resource arm for us, sending us ideas and suggestions on how you think things could be done better”, adding that his administration was always ready to study such ideas and suggestions and make use of them if they were found useful.

He commended one of the University dons, Professor Olusanya, an architect who, according to him, contributed the idea that gave rise to the creation of a bypass under the bridge in front of the Muson Centre which has tremendously eased traffic going to Victoria Island.

“Give us ideas and recommendations and we will study them” the Governor urged adding that universities all over the world were known to be institutions for impacting knowledge and creating talents.

Governor Fashola again challenged Nigerian scientists to research into and found a means to eliminate the Malaria scourge in Nigeria and Africa reiterating his earlier pledge that his administration was ready to fund such a research.

“I am throwing the gauntlet to all Nigerian scientists to find a cure for Malaria. I am ready to fund it. We must eliminate Malaria from this country”, the Governor declared, adding that such discovery would be a most significant contribution in this millennium from Nigeria to Africa.

According to the Governor, “I believe that if Malaria was a problem in Europe, they would have found a solution, but what we are getting is economic benefits for them in terms of mosquito nets, drugs and pharmaceuticals. We must find a cure and our government is ready to fund it. Let us take our leadership role as a true giant of Africa”.

Governor Fashola called on the private sector to invest massively in the Mortgage sector saying it represented the future for the nation’s economy. According to him, “I have called on the banks to diversify into Mortgage. We have seen what can happen to the economy based on one source. We have seen the tottering in the Capital Market”.

He said the State’s Mortgage Scheme was not made for the State’s civil servants alone but for all who live in Lagos and have steady source of income, adding that the N40 billion Scheme was put in place to assist people to have access to land and houses for accommodation.

Throwing more light on the reason behind the Scheme, the Governor declared, “We do this because we are clear in our minds that the government cannot do it alone, we must encourage the Private Sector to build houses. But if they build and people cannot buy them, there is no market for housing”.

On demolition of illegal structures in the State, Governor Fashola, who said it was always painful to do so, however reiterated that Government was always guided by the interest of the majority, adding, “Democracy is not about unanimity, it is all about the majority”.

He said the issue of illegal structures was inherited when planning laws were not obeyed by developers, adding that the Government of the day insists on submission of building plans for approval in order to assist it in development of infrastructure.

Thanking the Vice-Chancellor and his team for the visit and support rendered to his administration, Governor Fashola promised that the Government would factor the institution into its development of water transportation in the State as well as support the University in any way possible saying Government was ready to listen to any ideas and suggestions from the University on how to do things better.

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor had commended Governor Fashola on his people-oriented programmes especially the Beautification Progamme which, according to him, has given the State’s environment a refreshing new outlook.

He asked for assistance from the State Government to enable the institution to acquire land for accommodation for both its senior and junior staff. He also asked for assistance in the development of the waterfront in the University as well as in water sports activities in the institution.

Also in the entourage of the Vice-Chancellor were the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration and Research, Professor Modupe Ogunlesi, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Management Science, Professor Tokunbo Sofoluwe and Registrar of the Institution, Mr. Shodimu Oluwarotimi, among others.