…Hails Vice-Chancellor’s visionary leadership as she actualises 14-year library dream
Governor Babajide Olusola SANWO-OLU has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening tertiary education in Lagos State, pledging to provide five staff buses and fund the completion of the Faculty of Management Sciences (FMS) Auditorium at the Lagos State University, Main Campus, Ojo, Lagos.
The Governor made this announcement during the commissioning of the Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu Library Complex, held on Tuesday, 21st October 2025, at LASU Main Campus, Ojo, Lagos.
The Governor of Lagos State and Visitor to the University commended the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ibiyemi Ibilola OLATUNJI-BELLO, mni, NPOM, for her visionary leadership and unrelenting drive in seeing the project through from conception to completion.
Responding to the welfare appeals made by the university’s staff unions, the Governor announced that his administration would provide five staff buses to ease staff mobility and release funds for the completion of the FMS Auditorium, describing both as essential to improving the welfare and productivity of Lagos State University staff.
In her welcome address, Professor Ibiyemi OLATUNJI-BELLO, expressed heartfelt appreciation to Governor SANWO-OLU and the Lagos State Government for their continuous support. She proudly recounted the history of the library’s conception in 2011, noting that its gestation period and eventual actualisation represented a defining moment in the university’s growth and her own journey as a university administrator.
Her words, “This project was conceived during my tenure as Acting Vice-Chancellor in 2011, today, as it stands in its full glory, it represents the fruit of persistence, partnership, and prayer. It is a symbol of what long-term vision and institutional commitment can achieve.”
The Vice-Chancellor further noted that the facility would redefine research and learning across the continent, describing it as “a beacon of scholarship and innovation that reflects LASU’s transformation into a globally competitive institution.”
Delivering the project brief, the Managing Director of CCECC, the project’s contractor, detailed the building’s design, sustainability features, and capacity to accommodate thousands of users, describing it as “a structure built to advance education for generations.”
He also made it known that, the landmark structure, arguably the largest university library in West Africa, features five lifts, a modern firefighting system, a 24-hour mini-grid power supply, and two digital e-library units, which position LASU as a hub of innovation and scholarship in Nigeria.
In his address, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji ALAUSA, emphasised that Nigeria’s development depends on its ability to produce citizens who can think and compete globally. He commended both the Governor and the Vice-Chancellor for their shared vision and executional excellence.
Dr. ALAUSA said, “To build a nation that competes globally, we must raise individuals who think globally, this library exemplifies what is possible when foresight meets leadership,”.
The Minister of Education further hailed the Vice-Chancellor for steering Lagos State University to new heights, noting that her management’s innovative reforms and infrastructural strides have significantly enhanced the university’s reputation at home and abroad.
The Honourable Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Lagos State, Hon.Tolani SULE, in his goodwill message, commended the synergy between the State Government, the Ministry of Education, and LASU’s Management. He described the new library as “a symbol of Lagos’ educational rebirth,” and applauded the Vice-Chancellor for her ability to translate vision into tangible achievements. He said, “What we see today reflects the Lagos’ commitment to education. This project embodies the Governor’s passion for innovation and Professor OLATUNJI-BELLO’S dedication to excellence. Together, they are shaping a legacy that future generations will benefit from”.
The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of LASU staff unions, comprising ASUU, SSANU, NASU, and NAAT, led by Professor Ibrahim Bakare, also delivered a goodwill message, thanking the government for its support while reiterating staff welfare appeals.
Some highlights of the event were the conferment of special honours of the “Baba Aluta of LASU” on Governor Babajide Olusola SANWO-OLU and “Senior Abiyamo of Nigeria, S.A.N” on the Vice-chancellor by the Lagos State University Students’ Union (LASUSU), in recognition of their outstanding service and dedication to students’ welfare, as well as the presentation of an award to the Governor by the LASU Branch of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities, (NASU-LASU).
The ceremony also featured an electrifying indigenous performance by the LASU Cultural Troupe, followed by the cutting of the tape, unveiling of the plaque, and a guided inspection tour of the new facility by the Governor and other dignitaries.
With the commissioning of the Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu Library Complex, a project conceived in 2011 and actualised in 2025 under the leadership of Professor Ibiyemi Ibilola OLATUNJI-BELLO mni, NPOM, LASU reaffirms its standing as a beacon of innovation, resilience, and global academic excellence.
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