It’s July 2nd, 2024, and we’re seated in the office of the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Folasade Ogunsola.
Our goal of this interview is to get the facts straight about key things related to the university, from its legacy to changes in its structure to upgrades in student hostels.
And, of course, we didn’t leave without addressing a question on the minds of many students: Is there a future for the Student Union Government (SUG) at UNILAG?
Q: Since 1962, which University of Lagos has been established, After that, we got some enterprise in University to IGR. But over time, we discovered that external enterprises who also produce similar products have come to inflate the campus with their own products, while UNILAG products have been overshadowed. An example of that is UNILAG bread, But there have been other breads around for on-campus where they have more sells than UNILAG bread itself. The same also goes for UNILAG waters. And then it brings me to the evaluation, or the epiphany, that if UNILAG could improve the quality or, in a way, bring in strategies that will improve the sales of such internal products, which are directed by the university, the university could be a better place
A: Well, you know, the UNILAG water is a franchise. It’s not our stuff. It’s their duty to make it, to find out why you are not buying it. I think one of the things that we cost, particularly the… I know for a long time, but they’re selling, or they do sell more. Part of it also I think is they’re just coming off. They’ve been there for a long time, but there was a challenge with the machinery. So they’ve been there revamping their machines. As things get better, you will see smaller bottles, which will be cheaper. They sell pure water, and I think that one will be sold for a lot more. The big bottle is more challenging, because a lot of people want to buy all that, it’s more expensive. But for a long time they had the challenge getting the small bottle, I mean, with the machine that did the small bottle. for the small population is similar to the cost for the beautiful. In terms of making the note, I guess they will work on that.
Now the bread is similar. So it’s up to them to find out. If I’m selling something, it’s not for us to… Again, it’s a business. The water is related to us more than the bread. The bread is a fragile. It’s for them to find out what you guys want and make sure that they do the type of bread you like. If they don’t, that’s their problem. But I understand what you mean. It’ll be good. The water we can influence more than the bread.
Q: On the amount of students that were going to drop out because of the school fee. So I would like to ask, what has your administration done? And can we have like a data?
A: The data is there, we actually shared it. What we did, where we said no student will drop out, and we meant it. If any student drops out, because they didn’t take, I mean I can’t force you to command register. But what we did was that every indigent student was allowed to register. We then looked for people, we had some people who take care, I mean who pay for indigent students. So what we said was, we first have to identify as indigent, because you know you know students now. Even those who have money want to be indigent, so they are, and we will cross check with your family and your parents. So once we identify people as indigent, they register. So what we essentially did was they registered, and then if we get money to cover them. We also had them on a particular list. So as we go on to take care of them, we move them what they had registered and they were that’s an administrative thing at the back end. So every indigent student that’s registered with us as indigent that they could not pay, we did not fall out. If somebody did not register, there’s no way we will know that they exist. But we have the figure. I mean, we actually shared the figure with the press last year. It’s just that I’m sure I can find it. The number of indigent students we took care of, it came to about 40 million in terms of money that we spent from indigent students. 39 to 40. But DSA would have more to take care of.
Q: We saw a significant upgrade to Mariere hall So when and how can we expect similar improvement to other hostel?
A: Well, they will be done in phases We already have about four, i cannot remember which… but by the time you come back for the next session if they move at the speed we expect… they’ve actually they bought materials, they’re just waiting for you guys to get out of campus because they can’t do it while you’re there.
So another four will be done this year and then another four. We would have done more but we can’t do it unless you’re out of campus. So we can only do it during long vacs. So we’ll do four now, we’ll do another four or five next year.
And then we’re building new ones. Well, those (new ones) are public-private partnership loans. so they will be more expensive. There should be about seven that are coming up.
On Gbajabiamila hostel, we have to procure those who will take care of it, who will run it. And then we’re sorting out the electricity to the place. We have electricity there, but once students move in. The amount of current you will use, the transformer that we have (there) presently will not handle it. I think we’ve got the transformer now, we’re going to use it for FASU anyway, so by the time you come in next year, it will have come on board. It’s likely to be (public-private owned hostel), and I’ll explain why. If we don’t do it like that, it’s going to break down very quickly because really we need to be able to repair and take care of these hostels. We can’t allow anything to break down.
Q: Can you give us an estimate on when the SUG will be back?
A: No, I can’t because I’m waiting for the committee to complete their work. So it’s when they complete it that I will know. Because one thing Senate is very particular that we have to be very careful with the caliber of people. They are working on the criteria. There are certain criteria. Then they are looking at the modalities for voting. All the things, they will come up with everything. And then it will go back to Senate. Because it’s not for me to just do it. Because if anything goes wrong, everybody suffers it. I will say that they are all watching. people are not very they’re not confident that students will not misbehave again
Q: So when you were being interviewed by OGTV, I heard you say something about you never wanted to be in the administrative part of the world and growing up you are not, you used to be a shy person. And I would say I’m a shy, shy person but I would not push myself until I see somebody or something to push me and currently I feel like I’m trying to make changes for myself. So is there an advice or something you can?
A: Let me say that you’re trying to make the changes is fantastic. You will do well sometimes, you won’t do so well. But what is, is that whenever you, you know, as you do it, just try to do it a little step at a time. You’re not going to see the change immediately. It’s only later you realize that, ah, I now do this, you know, just keep taking one step. And then when you are comfortable, take another one. To make you uncomfortable, then you get comfortable, then you move again, and you know, and be kind to yourself.
Sometimes you go back. Not everybody stay forward all the time. Sometimes you find opportunities. Let me give you a scenario, I used to sing. My music was really good. My voice was lovely. And I used to sing opera when I was in form three in secondary school. And my principal then told my parents, sent her abroad to train her voice. I refused o. Not, because I didn’t want to go. I couldn’t understand. I couldn’t imagine and whenever I want to refuse something I would like to do, I’m refusing because I’m scared, I (still) say yes. And I do it anyway. You may not be as good as the person who is, but once you started doing it. So now I can speak in public.
I should give you my story when I take my PhD. and I had to speak in public and I was the only black girl in a sea of white faces and I messed up big time. I didn’t die. I was very embarrassed for a few days. Afterward, they forget you, what you learn with shyness really is that you’re too focused on yourself. Nobody’s looking at you, you’re your own. You know, they’re too busy facing their problems. When you start finishing, I just say, why should anybody be me? Why do I think anybody’s interested in me? Just let it go. And then, you know, you’re shy, you don’t want to die. because your legs will be gone. Then you see the Yimbo man who is dancing like a… and he’s doing it very happily. He is happy, the good thing, you are the one criticizing him. So… It’s hard. So be kind to yourself. Honestly, be gentle with yourself. But keep trying, now that you have that thought in your mind. Even when you’re afraid and you want to do something, say yes. No is the first thing I want to come (but) say yes. You deal with the challenges as you go along. And even if you fail, at least you’ve tried. next time you know how not to do it.
About The Author
