Lagos State University of Science and Technology, Ikorodu, has admitted about 800 students into its open, distance and flexible e-learning programmes.
The Acting Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Dr Oluremi Olaleye, made this known at a media briefing organised by the institution in Lagos on Friday.
Olaleye said that the students were the first set to be admitted into the programmes. “At the beginning of this administration, we promised to build an information-driven institution by creating internet facilities for online distance learning, interconnectivity of administrative services, e-library and digitisation of lectures.
“This achievement is one of the nine-point agenda created for us to be globally-ranked the best polytechnic then. “We were able to do that through the provision of internet by the management and support of council, which provided 512 megabytes internet.
” Other provision of internet include 50 megabytes bandwidth internet sponsored by Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker of House Representative, and 25 megabytes bandwidth by Nigeria Communication Commissions (NCC), “he said.
He noted that the 45-year-old institution had been converted into a university of science and technology.”
Within the past 18 months, we were able to achieve a nine-point agenda which includes students’ welfare, staff welfare, infrastructure development, increased internally-generated revenue.“Others are ICT development, partnering with developers all over the world, special interest in agriculture, research and innovations,” he said.
The acting vice-chancellor said that the institution had scholarship awards for outstanding students in order to improve students’ academics and welfare.“The scholarships are Tokunbo Abiru Scholarship, Eko Club scholarship, South West Games Scholarship and Badminton Games Scholarship to insurance students.“In the last 18 months, the school has spent over 100 million in the development of its library.“We also illuminated the campus with solar system with over 200 solar lights, and currently are upgrading students’ accommodation facilities through the support of the government.“In view of the staff welfare, we were able to restore peace back by improving working environment and building a strong relationship with the union leaders.“We were able to clear backlogs of promotion of staff,” he said. He said that 414 academic and non-academic staff had been promoted in the past 18 months.