For some time in Nigeria, state universities have been generally described as low graded institutions of higher learning, sometimes, because of the poor funding received by the state universities from the state government, when comparing federal universities funding in Nigeria by the federal government to that of the state universities, however, this may not be absolutely true because today in Nigeria, there are many state governments owned universities that are doing absolutely well than some of the acclaimed federal universities of high class, nevertheless, in this article, we will be discussing the best state university in Nigeria according to the latest ranking by the National Universities Commission (NUC). Accordingly, the Lagos state university, (unofficially called, LASU), at present tops the list of the best state universities in Nigeria, and it is ranked the best university in Nigeria. The Lagos state university was founded by the Lagos state government some years back, and that was precisely in 1983 with the sole purpose of advancing learning to bring about excellence.
Its vision was to emerge one of the best state universities in Nigeria and become well recognized state university with advanced research. Lagos state university is one university in Nigeria that is driven by some set of values that has earned it the best state university in Nigeria, and these values include; excellence and quality, honesty, integrity, academic freedom, professional ethics and respect for human rights. The Lagos state university also upholds some principles that distinguished it from its contemporaries, such as being sensible, and responding to the desire of the Lagos state government and the Nigerian nation at large. However, to say that Lagos state university tops the list of Nigerian state university is not an understatement, nevertheless, its role in the advancement of Lagos state cannot be underestimated. It has made name for itself in the education sector in Nigeria, though being a state owing university, it is one of the leading institutions of higher learning in Nigeria. The University of Lagos has indeed produced intellectuals from all fields of human endeavours, who have in turn contributed exceptionally to national unity, as well as impacted outstandingly, to the lives of Nigerian citizenry
The Lagos state university students’ strength is about sixty one thousand students, spreading across different departments in the university, who signed up for different courses and programmes in the university for either full time, or part time programme, and some of the programmes include; diploma, undergraduate and post graduate education programme. It operates what I may love to describe as multi-campus education system’, spanning across other cities in Lagos state, this cities include the main campus of the Lagos state university, which is at Ojo town, followed by other three campuses in Ikeja, Surulere and Epe. The Lagos state university also correlated with six campuses that are outside the main campus of the university in Ojo town, Lagos state. Although Lagos state university was from onset non residential institute of higher learning, but in its Epe campus, it is entirely residential. The Epe campus has a faculty of Engineering, and faculty of Agriculture is expected to follow soon with other programmes, like pre-degree programme. Computer Engineering, Chemical and Polymer Engineering, and mechanical Engineering are all the departments housed by the faculty of Engineering
Its faculty of study includes; law, education, basic medical sciences, clinical sciences, engineering, sciences, social sciences and arts. Like I said earlier, lots of things are going for Lagos state university; its graduates can compete in equal footing with their counterparts elsewhere in the world, reasons being that, the institution has put relevant machineries in place that will ensure excellence, in terms of quality learning environment and research facilities that will engender conducive learning environment to prepare students academic wise, in order to enable them compete favourably with graduates from other institutions of higher learning. The goal of the Lagos state university is to encourage novelty, inculcate critical thinking among the students in order to make them responsible citizens, and the university is working vigorously to achieve this set goal, even as they resolve never to lack behind in this competitive world of academic excellence. It is this commitment to academic excellence that has earned the institution the best state university in Nigeria.
The Lagos state university has make a distinction in virtually all areas of its academic activities compared to other state universities in the country, in terms of research findings, training and production of quality and best intellectuals. However, evidences of the laudable academic feat recorded by the Lagos state university are abound. A typical example is the academic success of one Mr. Aderomola Adeola, a graduate of the institution, who of late, bagged a Doctorate degree from one of the leading universities in the world, the University of Pretoria, in South Africa. You can then judge why the Lagos state university emerged the best state university in Nigeria, and my believe is that, with its devotion and commitment to excellence and quality education, the university is likely to become one of the best university in Africa, at least, the first top hundred universities in the continent. Little wonder, the Lagos state government has given huge support to this university.
Some few months back, Lagos state university was celebrating Lagos state government for providing one billion, sixty eight million naira (N1.068 billion) faculty of science building, as well as the additional forty million naira (N40 million), which was used for building and equipping the Lagos state university Radio station. The university is running its radio air-wave, 95.7FM. Another area that the university was lauding the Lagos state government was in the area of construction of the faculty of law twin Lecture Theater, including the construction of internal roads in the university with drainages, and the lighting up of the university by the Lagos state government. Moreso, the Lagos state university has embraced tactical imperative in its administration, which has brought about commitment to studies on the part of students, and has promoted sophisticated scholarship, as well as engendered innovations to strengthen academic activities in the university.
Source: https://myschoolnews.ng
