The Pro Chancellor and Chairman of the 13th Governing Council of Lagos State University, Mr. Babatunde Ogala, SAN, OFR, has issued a high level directive to the staff of the Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM), demanding an intensified focus on research and innovation to bolster the institution’s international prestige.
The charge was delivered on March 2, 2026, during the Governing Council’s annual campus oversight tour at the Ikeja Medical Campus. Speaking before a delegation of academic and administrative staff at the Medical Sciences Building Auditorium, Ogala emphasised that cutting edge inquiry and strategic global alliances are the primary catalysts for elevating the University’s standing on the world stage.
Addressing the academic community directly, the Pro Chancellor urged personnel to prioritise "groundbreaking research" designed to attract high value international partnerships. He underscored that the pursuit of innovative thinking is no longer optional but vital to the University's trajectory.
To facilitate this shift, Ogala revealed that the Governing Council has ratified a comprehensive strategic framework. This roadmap is specifically engineered to amplify research output, broaden institutional collaborations, and streamline access to competitive global grants and external funding streams.
Supporting this vision, Vice Chancellor Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji Bello called for "total commitment" regarding upcoming resource assessments. She noted that the College’s long term sustainability and academic credibility remain tethered to the successful outcomes of these critical accreditation processes.
Earlier in the proceedings, the Provost of LASUCOM, Professor Olufemi Idowu, briefed the Council on the College’s extensive operational scale. The institution currently oversees 32 departments, six faculties, and seven professional programs dedicated to the training of doctors, pharmacists, and medical laboratory scientists.
Professor Idowu confirmed that preparations are currently in high gear for a series of resource assessments across all professional disciplines. He characterised the Council’s visit as a timely intervention that has provided a significant morale boost to the faculty.
The Provost also detailed a phased expansion strategy currently underway at the Yaba and Gbagada annexes. This infrastructure drive includes significant facility upgrades and the ongoing renovation of a 90 bed hostel facility intended to enhance the student experience.
Despite acknowledging various systemic challenges, the Provost assured the Council that internal quality control mechanisms are being rigorously strengthened. The Council delegation subsequently conducted an extensive inspection of the Medical Sciences Building, including specialised laboratories, the Biomedical Communications Centre, and the Faculty of Dentistry.
Concluding the visit to the Clinical Skills Laboratories, Mr Ogala commended the LASUCOM management for their "prudent utilisation" of existing resources. While reaffirming the Council’s commitment to resolving outstanding infrastructure needs, he announced that the final phase of the oversight tour will culminate at the Epe Campus on a date to be disclosed shortly.
