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The Vice Chancellor and Chairman of the Lagos State University Senate, Professor Ibiyemi Ibilola #Olatunji-Bello mni, has granted executive approval on behalf of Senate for the extension of resumption date for academic activities at the University.

This was contained in a communique issued by the Varsity of choice Centre for Information and Public Relations #CIPPR.

The rescheduling is in view of the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly General Elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from Saturday, 11th March to Saturday, 18th March 2023.

Students are now expected to resume on Tuesday, 21st March 2023 and examinations would continue on Wednesday, 22nd March 2023.

Recall that Senate at its 295th Statutory Meeting held on Thursday, 23rd February 2023, had reviewed its decision at the Emergency Meeting held on Monday, 13th February 2023, on the Ministerial Directive on closure of all Universities and Inter University Centres during the upcoming 2023 General Elections.

Olatunji-Bello re-affirmed that other activities of the University would continue to run such as the provision of skeletal services by staff members from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm and other essential services by the University; and

Also, students who have registered for their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVC) and have their polling unit 24-17-05-065 at the open space at #LASU gate would be allowed to exercise their franchise.

Residents of the Ojokoro community in the Ifako/Ijaiye area of Lagos State have benefitted from the free cataract surgeries performed by the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) in collaboration with a group known as Friends of LASUTH.

This is part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative aimed at giving back to society and an offshoot of a free medical outreach the hospital held earlier in the year.

Over 500 beneficiaries were screened during the outreach, and 48 people were diagnosed with cataracts and scheduled for free operations at LASUTH.

The Chief Medical Director of LASUTH, Professor Adetokunbo Fabamwo, noted that the tertiary health facility was set up to offer advanced medical care, and over the years, the government of Lagos State has invested a lot of funds in LASUTH to achieve this vision.

The CMD further stated that the objective behind organizing the free cataract surgery programme was the need to give back to society, explaining that the hospital management deliberately chose eye disorders, among other conditions, because cataract is one of the main causes of blindness.

The Head of the Ophthalmology Department at LASUTH, Dr Rosemary Ngwu, said the essence of the surgery was to complete the medical process the hospital started in February.

She said cataract is one of the causes of blindness if left untreated, stressing that regular eye screening is one of the ways to curb the disease.

The medical practitioner also noted that the beneficiaries expressed their excitement at being chosen for the surgery, which is at no cost.

One of the beneficiaries, Mr Akanji Adetunji, thanked the state government and the hospital for the gesture, saying “the focus on healthcare in the state has improved and I am fortunate to be a beneficiary.”

The authorities of Lagos State University (LASU) Ojo have given this Saturday as the final deadline for the owners of the unclaimed National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) exemption certificates and letters to come forward and collect them as it will return those not collected thereafter to the commission.

The university’s deputy registrar, Students’ Affairs Division, Mrs. Mobolaji Ashiru in an interview with Nigerian Tribune on Tuesday said the school had given a long notice to graduates of the university on both regular and part-time studies since inception in 1983 to date who had applied for NYSC exemption certificates based on their age at the time of their graduation and yet to collect them to come to school for collection.

She said the collection exercise commenced since middle of January this year with some coming forward to collect theirs while numerous others did not show up till date.

According to her, NYSC had given directive to all schools with unclaimed exemption certificates and letters by their owners to return them to its headquarters.

“And we were given till the end of March this year to do so after which we are expected to return the remaining ones not collected by their owners,” she added.

Mrs. Ashiru explained that it was not that all the certificates were issued the same year by NYSC but they were accumulated over years from inception.

She, however, disclosed that the university still has about 19, 000 unclaimed NYSC exemption certificates and letters in its custody as of the time of filling this report on Tuesday.

She said the large number of graduates concerned might be because of many reasons including their relocation, old age, death, thinking of no more useful to them and so forth.

She emphasised that only graduates above the mandatory 30 years of age at the time of their graduation are qualified to apply to NYSC through the students’ affairs division of the school for issuance of exemption certificates and letters to them.

The Management of Lagos State University, LASU Ojo, has appointed a new Chief Security Officer (CSO).

The new CSO, Oluwole Ojo, CSP (rtd) will be replacing Captain Callistus Emeruwa after students of the school protested against harassment from the military during last presidential and National House of Assembly elections.

Recall that on February 26, the students shut both gates leading to the school in protest against soldiers who had tortured some students during the the 2023 general elections.

The students ‘union president, Adelakun Adeoye confirmed the new CSO was appointed in response to the demands of the students.

His said, “We had a protest over the complexity of the former CSO in handling harassment on the students from the military in the school premises during the last elections.

“The school gates have since been opened, as our demands have been met by the school by appointing a new CSO, one Oluwole Ojo, a retired CSP.” Adeoye noted.

“On the 25th of February 2023, soldiers harassed and unfairly treated some students and members of the students’ union including the president, social director, and the chief whip on campus. This horrific deed was perpetrated due to the negligence of the Chief Security Officer.

“The harassment that happened on school grounds birthed agitation amongst the students and called for the replacement of the Chief Security Officer.

“Today, the university management tended to our agitations by dismissing the previous Chief Security Officer and appointing a new Chief Security Officer, Oluwole Ojo, Rtd CSP.” The statement read.

Meanwhile, the institution is yet to officially disclose this development.

At the time of filing this report, attempts to obtain a statement from the Public Relations Officer, Olaniyi Jeariogbe has been abortive.

The management of Lagos State University, Ojo, has reopened the gates of the institution which were shut by protesting students.

The Iyana-Oba and Ojo gates of the institution were shut, in the early hours of Monday, by protesting students thereby preventing both vehicular and pedestrian movement.

#LASU student union executives led their colleagues to protest against soldiers’ assaults on them during the presidential election of February 25, 2023.

However, as of press time, the gates had been reopened and normalcy had returned.

The institution’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Olaniyi Jeariogbe, who confirmed that calm had returned to the campus, said they have been there for many hours trying to get in and exit.

He said, “We have been here for some hours. The students locked up both gates, and everywhere is filled with vehicles trying to come in and exit. The security men said the students shut the gates because their executives and some students were beaten by soldiers last week. We are all waiting at the gate, no movement.”

Following resistance by the Lagos State University Students Union #LASUSU, the Senate of the Lagos State University (LASU) on Thursday made a U-turn on the directive of the Federal Government for institutions to shut down from Wednesday, February 22nd.

#LASU Senate at its 295the statutory meeting on Thursday, February 23rd suspended academic activities including the ongoing examinations in line with the ministerial directive.

The Senate directed students to vacate the campus on Thursday, February 23rd and resume on Tuesday, March 14th.

The students union had kicked against the earlier decision of the Senate not to fully comply with the ministerial directive.

LASU Senate had varied the ministerial directive by asking students to go on break on Thursday, February 23rd and resume academic activities on Tuesday, February 28th instead of Tuesday, March 14th,2023 directed by the government.

The Vice-Chancellor of LASU, Prof. Ibiyemi #Olatunji-Bello met with LASUSU executives led by the outgoing President, Adeoye Adelakun. The students insisted on full compliance of the government directive and the meeting ended in a deadlock.

A statement by the university dated Thursday, February 23rd said the Senate reviewed its earlier decision on the directives of the Federal Government through the National Universities Commission (NUC) on closure of all universities and Inter University Centres in view of the prevailing circumstances and the non-availability of new naira notes in different parts of the country and decided that students vacate the campus from Thursday, February 23 and resume on Tuesday, 14th March 2023.

The Senate further directed that other activities of the university should continue to run.

The activities include the provision of skeletal services by staff members from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm and other essential services by the university.

It also directed that students, who have registered for their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVC) in the university be allowed to stay on the campus to exercise their franchise.

The Lagos State University #LASU has cleared the air on the news surrounding of one of the staff, Johnson Ademola, who died on his way to the bank.

The Acting Coordinator for the Centre for Information and Public Relations, LASU, Mr Olaniyi Jeariogbe, confirmed the incident of his death.

He, however, clarified that the deceased was not one of the institution’s Deputy Bursars as reported by some media outlets.

In his words, “LASU does not have only one Deputy Bursar. And as I speak, all our Deputy Bursars and the Bursar are alive, hale and hearty. I needed to clarify that.”

“The man who died was the CEO, Accounts and was, until his death, the Financial Officer of the Faculty of Law."

“Anything can happen to anybody,” he said, adding that, “he (Ademola) left the office to go for some personal transactions at the bank between 11 am and 12 pm, and he had not even been away for up to 30 minutes when we heard that he had died.”

Ademola, who, until his death, was the Financial Officer of the Faculty of Law and an Executive Officer in the Accounts Department of the institution, was said to have slumped while waiting in the queue for his turn to withdraw cash; efforts to revive him reportedly proved abortive.

It was gathered that the deceased was subsequently rushed to the University's Health Centre where he was certified dead.

Ademola, according to the Jeariogbe joined the institution as a Typist in January 1986 and was born on November 13, 1959.

A Deputy Bursar at the Lagos State University, Mr. Johnson Adesola Ademola AKA Prof, has slumped and died at noon on Monday 20 February 2023 at LASU Wema Bank.

Eyewitness accounts said that Mr. Ademola died while in a queue to collect ₦5000 new naira notes.

He was said to have been on the queue as early as 6 am. without taking his breakfast.

”We did not notice him complaining but we saw was him going down. Sympathizers rushed to apply first aid treatment but gave up the ghost. What an irony of fate for a bursar dying while waiting for ₦5000″

His body has been moved to the mortuary for an autopsy.

With the twist of events over the naira shortfalls across the nation especially in Lagos State, LASUites are calling on the school's management to reconsider the stand on elections.

Recall that the #LASU Senate had on Monday, 13th February stated that exams will go on as planned but declared breaks on certain dates.

The naira crises also prompted the #LASUSU to lift students from the Igando axis to school on Friday when most living within the axis were stranded - a pain shared by the Management who also moved exams slated for 8sm till 10am.

Now that the situation is not getting any better from the weekend, several LASUites are now calling on the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello and other Management team to follow the NUC declaration and close the school for at least 3 weeks when then elections will be done with.

On Twitter, a student known as Ella Baby wrote:

This school has misplaced priorities.The leadership of the Lagos State University needs to get something done as soon as possible:

1.Avoiding student's to vote by imposing school exam
2. The VC ignored the 3 weeks school closure putting our life's at risk.
3. No bus, no money but you must be in school to write exam.

Na who get dey breathe fit write exam, Y'all should do something about it.

Another concerned LASUite, Temilade wrote:

Despite the fight and protest going on in the country, the Lagos state university management has refused the students of going home, exams is still going on as we speak, there's a protest going on right now around Igando and the school provided transport to convey the students to school instead of the putting exams on hold
Should we say the safety of students of the Lagos state university is not the managements priority

Johannnes Edoreh tweeted: Lagos State University @LASUOfficial this is to make you aware that students are encountering many dangers in the process of coming to school to write exams or returning from school. There is a riot that has been going on for days making it difficult and unsafe for students.

Abisoye said: With this present unrest in Lagos state, students should be safe at home with their parents but guess which school chose otherwise??
Lagos state private university 🥹💔

Kanyinsola: We legit need to repot our vc. The government should come and close Lagos state University themselves because this woman is putting the students lives at risk.

Futurism: Please who know the handle of NUC should please tag and call their attention to this. lagos state university is not adhering to the directive of NUC to allow students go home so that they can vote.

Justice Taslim Elias is the father of the current Chancellor, Prof. Gbolahan Elias.

He was the pioneer Chancellor of Lagos State University from 1984 - 1991 and now the son is currently occupying same position. His son was appointed in November, 2020 by the Visitor to LASU, Babajide Olushola Sanwo-Olu.

Gbolahan, who was born on October 26, 1960, is the 5th Chancellor of the Lagos State University while his father was born on 11 November 1914.

Interestingly, both are Professors of Law and hails from Isale Eko.

Gbolahan read law at Oxford University, England, and obtained all of his four degrees – BA (First Class Honours), MA BCL (also first Class Honours), D. Phil. – from Oxford University.

He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1981 and the New York Bar in 1990 and has been a Senior Advocate of Nigeria since 2005.

Also, he has been the Chairman of the Lagos State Law Reform Commission, visiting Professor at Babcock University and the current Chancellor of the Lagos State University, #LASU.

In 2020, Nigeria nominated Justice Elias second son, Dr. Olufemi Elias, for election into the International Court of Judges (ICJ) but he was not elected.

His father, Justice Taslim Olawale Elias was not just a former Chief Justice of Nigeria, he was also President of the ICJ and was one of the architects of Nigeria's independence constitution.

Taslim Elias, GCON, was at the same time, Attorney General/Minister of Justice, and Dean, Faculty of Law at UNILAG. He later became the first African President of the ICJ.

Dr Olufemi Elias was a Registrar of International Residual Mechanisms for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT); had degrees from Oxford, Cambridge and a doctorate from University College, London.

Students in Nigeria's Best State University, Lagos State University are in a happy mood, as the Central Bank of Nigeria brought cash to the campus to facilitate PoS transactions in a bid to ease the burden experienced as a result of the Naira redesign policy of the apex bank.

They queued at the Buba Marwa Auditorium where they were allowed to withdraw money not exceeding new ₦5,000 notes and with a reduced PoS transaction cost of ₦200.

Some students, who were cited at the location, lauded the bank, saying this would make the transactions easier and better for them, while also adding that the cost of PoS transactions within and outside the school's Ojo campus has taken a toll on them.


One Igho Precious called the action a beautiful initiative while another Abiodun reacted Nice one but I'm number 306, shey na inside Lasu I go sleep nii,Dey Play.

On his part, Davery wondered and asked Shey students wan trek go there?💔

The Lagos State University of Science and Technology #LASUSTECH has appointed a new registrar and bursar for the institution.

The university’s governing council approved the appointments of Hakeem Oki and David Ogungbe as Bursar and Registrar respectively, according to a statement by the institution’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Lanre Kuye.

The duo’s predecessors were said to have completed their five-year tenure which started when the university was formerly Lagos State Polytechnic #LASPOTECH.

Until their appointment, Mr Ogungbe was a Deputy Registrar at the Lagos State University, (LASU) Ojo, while Mr Oki was the Deputy Director of the Internal Audit Unit of the Lagos State University College of Medicine #LASUCOM.

Mr Kuye on Friday said that while the new bursar assumed duty on 1 February, the new registrar resumed on 9 February, adding that Shakirudeen Bello, the former registrar, has gone on a sabbatical, while Jerry Jinadu, the former bursar, has returned to LASU, his place of primary assignment.

Mr Kuye said they have both exhausted their five-year tenure, which started when the university was formerly Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH)

According to a statement from the university, Mr Ogungbe, an indigene of Badagry West Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, bagged a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Industrial Relations and Personnel Management and a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Human Resources and Industrial Relations from the Lagos State University (LASU).

The new registrar is also a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arts and Management Professionals (FCIAP) USA, a Fellow of the Institute of Corporate and Public Sector Professionals (FICPSP), a member of the Association of Nigeria University Professional Administrators (ANUPA), Member, Nigeria Institute of Management (MNIM), and member, Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (MCIPM).

On the other hand, Mr Oki, who hails from the Lagos Island area of the state, obtained a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Accounting and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA).

He is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA). He was said to have commenced his career in 1989 at Chams Nigeria Limited in Lagos.

Some students of the Lagos State University have resorted to signing an online petition as a way of protesting the Management's decision not to approve a three-week break ahead of the 2023 general elections.

It should be recalled that Management had said that the second-semester examinations will hold from Monday, February 13 to Thursday, February 23, 2023, but it only gave a day break (Friday, February 24), to give them room to participate in the elections.

Recall that the University's Senate stated that students are expected to be back on Monday, February 27, 2023, to resume their examinations from Tuesday, February 28 to Thursday, March 9, and then go on an election break from Friday, March 10 to Monday, March 13, 2023, with students resuming back for examinations on Tuesday, March 14, 2023.

However, the National Universities Commission (NUC) had directed that all schools be shut from February 22 to March 14, 2023, to allow students to partake in the election process, not that breaks should be given in between.

Aggrieved students however started an online petition.

According to information gathered from the petition website, one Adebayo started it, and it has since gathered over 1,800 signings.


A text attached to the petition reads, "The federal government of Nigeria declared a 3 weeks break to enable students to participate in the forthcoming general elections but the LASU VC refused to allow students proceed on the break instead declaring 3 days break between elections and now there is a breakdown of law and order.

"And violence is the order of the day and students' safety is not guaranteed .... please save our souls and postpone the exams till after the elections ... it’s not until a student dies before you people do that which is needful ..."

As of the time of this report, the Management is yet to respond to this.

Due to the crises resulting from the scarcity of the naira notes, the Students Union by Comr. Adelakun Adeoye Moses deployed the Union bus to convey students from Igando/Obadore to school for their examinations held on Friday, 17th February.

Most students living within the axis had been unable to get to school as there was pandemonium within the stretch of Iyana-Iba from Igando to Iyana-Iba as it occurred in parts of Lagos State as well.

While the roads were deserted when the riot was on, the University was left with no choice than to move the examinations that should have taken place from 8:30 am to 10 am.

To ensure safety, students are implored to stay indoors if they have no business outside. For students who will be conveyed to school, the Student Union has also promised to bring each student to safety.

Similarly, the school via her social media account has affirmed that 100% of the registered students wrote their papers.

The information unit of the school wrote:

100 PERCENT OF REGISTERED STUDENTS WRITE EXAMINATION(S)
...as exercise holds smoothly on Friday, 17th February 2023

Despite initial skirmishes around the different locations in the state that resulted in the scarcity of public transport, students of @LASUOfficial...

"Even those who arrived late were allowed to write the examination(s)", said one of the Departmental Heads who was invigilating.
The exams are set to continue on Monday until Thursday, 23rd February, when students are expected to go on an examination break to exercise their franchise

The Senate of Lagos State University at an emergency meeting on Monday, 13th February 2023 has decided on the Second Semester Examination.

Examinations will now hold from Monday 13th - Thursday 23rd February, 2023.

From Friday 24th - Monday, 27th February, 2023, the school will be on break for students to cast their votes at the 2023 General Elections.

Also, examinations will resume on Tuesday 28th February through Thursday 9th March and there will be a break from 10th - 13th March.

Thereafter, exam Resumes on Tuesday 14th until its concluded.

The adjusted examination timetable will be approved and released soon.

Staff of the University are expected to carry on their duties as well.

The Lagos State University Senate has reacted to news about the about the postponement of examinations.

The Varsity via her official twitter account debunked the news tagging it false and misleading hence it should be disregarded.

See their post below:

[quote]World Class students of @LASUOfficial are hereby informed that information making the rounds about postponement of examination is false and misleading. Please disregard it.
The Senate of the University will hold an emergency meeting on Monday to take a decision of the exams.[/quote]

https://twitter.com/LASUOfficial/status/1624777987093680130?t=UXVnl3P2PeRsoULN8F0iyA&s=19

Even as I struggle amidst deep pains, sorrow and tribulations to scribble an Elergy for departed activist, public intellectual, erudite scholar, accomplished journalist and professor of Political Science, Ayodele Samuel Olukotun, I’m nudged into some hallucination whether this brilliant and highly resourceful scholar, who was a regular face at many high profile conferences is really gone.

Don’t blame me. Some persons evoke a larger than life image that I’ve found it difficult coming to the reality of their death.

So it was with acclaimed activist and former President, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof Festus Ikhuoria Iyayi whose tribute I only summoned the will to do five years after his passing in 2018.

Olukotun was another. Though I circulated the information asking friends and associates to send tributes to a particular e-mail address, it was an uphill task finding the will to discuss him in past tense.

Olukotun’s self effacing mien belies his intimidating profile and invaluable contributions to intellection and media development in Nigeria but his deep concerns and thoughts on rebuilding our tottering nation negated his joining hordes of Nigerian intellectuals who had taken a walk abroad owing to increasing decrepit working environment in our varsities.

From teaching at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, he also taught at his alma mater, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, Onabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) and Leads University, Ibadan.

I’m wondering how LASU managed with its star studded team when Olukotun was in the Department of Political Science with two of the world’s most published scholars, Abubakar Momoh and Said Adejumobi, Dele Seteolu and others.

He was the pioneer Oba (Dr) Sikiru Kayode Adetona Professorial Chair of Governance at OOU. He was also Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Leads City University.

Apart from writing a weekly column at The Punch for 12 years, Olukotun was at different times chair of Editorial Board at the Daily Times and Compass Newspapers.

Winner of the Diamond Award for Media Excellence (DAME) on Informed Commentary in 2013, Olukotun was a recipient of several international grants from organizations such as The Ford Foundation, Carnegie Endowment and Friedrich Ebert Foundation.

He published over 60 articles and authored the “Repressive State and Resurgent Media in Nigeria” (Upsalla, Nordic African Institute, 2004), “Political Communication in Africa” (co-edited with Sharon Omotoso, Berlin Springer, 2016) and his recent edited book, “Watchdogs or Captured Media? A Study of the Role of the Media in Nigeria’s Emergent Democracy 1999-2016”.

He has also co-edited, along with Professor Femi Sonaike, a book on the media mogul, Babatunde Jose, titled “Jose: The Ideas Man”. He edited Foreign Policy of the Babangida Government: Muritala Muhammed Times Lecture Series, among others.

Since our path crossed over 40 years ago when he gave a moving talk at a tribute session for victims of the June 12, 1981 killing of four students of the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) by the Police, he had remained a mentor, brother, friend, senior colleague and discourse partner. We later met in the Daily Times in early 1991 where he had joined the Editorial Board with acclaimed Literary Scholar, Dr Chidi Amuta as chairman.

With Olukotun presiding, the Editorial Board was not only a compendium of ideas, but was intellectually stimulating. He was never tired of chewing on engaging discourses which we shared from time to time.

He was virtually on my neck to undertake a PhD programme. “I’ve seen your work and presentations and that of your close friend, Lanre Arogundade and can tell that both of you have trod around many interesting areas of research. You should just work on an area and deliver your PhD,” he always admonished.

He also turned down my plea for him to do a forward for a forthcoming book that I had to change its scope. “I appreciate the depth of your work and cannot afford to vitiate that. I have so much on my hands to deliver now and do not wish to do a wishy washy job,” he quipped.

Olukotun was in the mold of former Zambian President, Levy Manawasa whose mother died in a public bus and he explained that his mother was like any private citizen who was not elected and could not enjoy state privileges.

Riding from Ibadan to Lagos, Olukotun’s son, Tope was once victim of a kidnapping gang that diverted their trip to Delta State. I made some frantic calls after receiving Olukotun’s distressing calls that his som was dropped off somewhere in Igbusa. I wasn’t surprised because he wasn’t that kind of father that would pamper his children with the ride of a limousine. He dined with kings but opted to live his life and kept his integrity.

Ogbogodor who had previously served as Commissionser in five ministries in the old Bendel State was in the habit of sharing thoughts on Olukotun in Yoruba. “Se oti gbo lati ore wa,” he would usually say.

As I shared news of his passing on January 4th which I stumbled on on Daily Times Alumni platform to friends, colleagues and associates and some media platforms, I was moved to tears with the sudden gloom that flowed from the renditions to his death.

I also received immediate calls from former President, Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Gbenga Adefaye and Prof Segun Awonusi who wanted to confirm that Olukotun was really gone. “Haaaaa…..didn’t he just celebrate his birthday? This is shattering. Na wah ooooo! Tears have rolled down my eyes...” exclaimed Arogundade, executive director, International Press Centre (IPC).

Amuta who was Olukotun’s contemporary at Ife also went down memory lane: “This is a grave loss. Ayo was indeed a fine scholar and fertile mind. I recall our Ife days. He was active in Students Union politics in our student days. He used to come from ABU to stay with me and Adebayo Williams in our modest abodes.
May his soul rest in peace.”

As for the last moments of his death, I turned to his close pal and professor of International Relations, Kayode Soremekun.

“Just hearing this too. He had been ill-hospitalized in Babcock. A lot of rallying round by his friends and associates. Then the inevitable happened. Only God lives for ever!” was how Soremekun, also immediate past vice chancellor, Federal University Oye Ekiti solemnly puts it. On knowing the cause of his death, Amuta was in shock: “Oh no! May his soul find peaceful rest.”

Known simply as Ayo Olukotun, not many would ever contemplate he would kiss the dust about now when our environment is politically heated and citizens are ensconced in the process of weaning a new leadership to rescue our dear country from a near rudderless path.

For a man who lived and stewed in discourses, I could imagine his pains as he grappled with life on his sick bed as sunset beckons at Babcock University Teaching Hospital, Ilishan where he was rushed to when stroke took a better part of him on the eve of Christmas on December 21st, 2022.

Olukotun did all his degrees in Ife Varsity where he was an acclaimed student leader and activist. He was Assistant Secretary General climbing up to become Secretary General and President of the Students’ Union in the 73/74 and 74/75 sessions respectively.

He was the stormy petrel of the latter days of the military regime of Gen Yakubu Gowon and was at the head of the students protests dubbed “We Shall Trek” that saw the end of the Gowon era particularly after the regime made mincemeat of its pledge to hand over to civilians in 1976. The Gowon regime was on edge as students of the University of Ife led by Olukotun made bold their resolve to match to Lagos.

Perhaps Olukotun’s close friends and associates led by his Ife classmate, Toyin Falola, professor of History at University of Texas, Austin who had generously pooled huge resources within a short time to save his life, had looked forward to loudly celebrating his Platinum Jubilee on May 12 this year with pomp and peasantry.

As we lower this war horse, let’s remember that he casted lot to live his life for a better Nigeria. Adieu our famed intellectual giant until the resurrection morning when we shall meet to part no more.

Iyare is a Senior International, Journalist and Communication & Development Expert

Culled from The News Guru

Wale Adewale, a political scientist and a lecturer at the Lagos State University (LASU), said Nigerians have become more politically conscious and enthused by fierce competition in the polity.

According to him, the campaigns across parties have been encouraging but lacked desirable agreement between the people, political parties, and candidates.

“Nigerians are patiently discarding those disturbing variables in the system with high hopes of attaining a better society after the election,” he said.

Meanwhile, the electoral body has indicated its readiness to conduct the polls to ensure that Nigerians decide who leads them.

In the same vein, President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated the Presidential Transition Council to oversee a smooth transition after the polls.

A 300 Level Nursing student, Ameerah Adefowope ODUMERU is seeking for assistance in her medical treatment.

She was diagnosed of Hodgkin lymphoma in March 2022 and started treatment at LASUTH but later transferred to Marcelle Ruth Cancer Centre, Lagos.

After about 4 months of ABVD chemotherapy, it was discovered that she wasn't responding to treatment and the cancer was spreading so she underwent a second line of chemotherapy which is B-ESHAP and the response wasn't so good.

A referral was since made to the HCG Cancer Hospital in Bangalore, India for an autologous stem cell transplant. Her family was able to raise 22,800 dollars for the transplant.

On getting to India, she received further treatment and it was discovered her body system is resistant to chemotherapy.

She has since been receiving immunotherapy in HCG hospital for about 2 months when it was realized that she is not responding to the treatment and have to start another course of new treatment.

They are to raise a sum of $50,000 which is about ₦23 million [₦22,975,000] for an urgent allogeneic stem cell transplant.

Ameerah is now seeking help for this huge sum. Her account details are shared below:

Account number: 0091664043
Account name: ODUMERU Ameerah Adefowope Sterling Bank.

Female students who are interested in staying at the University hostel are requested to visit the Students` Affairs Division.

Subsequently, they pay the sum of Fifty Thousand Naira, ₦50,000 hostel fees into the account below:

Account Name: LASU Ventures Ltd
Bank: Wema Bank
Account No.: 0123037507

After payment, students are to proceed to the Bursary Office at Block Two (2) for the issuance of receipt.

Once this is done, complete the Google Form using this link: https://forms.gle/ZiyPAuN6tcah1nas8 and upload the following documents listed below:

I. Receipt of Payment
II. Passport photograph
III. Academic profile
IV. Medical certificate of fitness from LASU Health Centre

For further inquires, interested female students should visit the Students' Affairs Division, beside Zenith ICT, Main Campus, Ojo, Lagos.