Contribute to nation building, LASU VC tells students

The Vice Chancellor of the Lagos State University (LASU), Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, has challenged Nigerian students to always brainstorm on how to move the country forward.

Fagbohun spoke at the close of an inter-varsity debate hosted by the LASU Students Union (LASUSU) on Friday in Lagos.

He urged the students to see themselves as people who could make significant contributions to governance and nation building.

The Vice Chancellor asked them to take a cue from the newly-elected President of France, Emmanuel Macron, who rose to presidency from a humble beginning.

“Instead of involving in Aluta all the times, always consider how you can make significant impact in nation building, to propel the country to economic prosperity.

“Be a global student who is relevant by assisting to achieve sustainable development in the country,’’ he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that six universities participated in the debate on `Charting Sustainable Development in Nigeria: The Youth Agenda’.

University of Ibadan (UI) emerged the overall winner with 73.6 per cent and went home with a cash prize of N100,000.

The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) came second with 65 per cent, taking home a N60,000 cash prize, while Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife, came third with 61.5 per cent and got a cash prize of N40,000.

The host, LASU, came fourth with 61 per cent, winning a cash prize of N20,000, while Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Ogbomosho (LAUTECH) won the team spirit award, with a cash prize of N10,000.

Speaking to NAN after the debate, Mr Dara Olaniyan, a 300 level Law student of UI, said the competition was educative.

Olaniyan urged other students to participate in subsequent editions, so to acquire more knowledge and be meaningfully engaged.

“The competition was well planned and organised.

“Students should engage more in this kind of academic exercise;  several schools were invited but only six eventually showed up,’’ he said.