LASU launches advancement scheme, rolls out programmes

The Directorate of Advancement, Lagos State University (LASU), has outlined a series of programmes and strategic schemes to facilitate the university’s renewed drive towards endowment and advancement.

Addressing newsmen, the director of the newly established directorate, Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, enumerated the programmes that her office has in the pipeline.

Part of the directorate’s planned programmes and schemes includes an annual colloquium which aims at celebrating and encouraging past and present benefactors of the university.

“We’ll also have a Hall of Fame, an avenue to showcase benefactors of the university through display on electronic scroll at the Senate Building. Categories of the Hall of Fame range from Bronze to Platinum, depending on the amount of donation,” Olatunji-Bello said.

Meanwhile, “the directorate has held its first Advancement Lecture at the university’s main auditorium. Dr Henry Olujimi Boyo, a renowned economist and a columnist with Punch Newspapers has been carefully selected to deliver a lecture on the topic ‘New Foreign Exchange Policy: Myths and Implications’,” Olatunji-Bello said.

According to her, the directorate has secured the support of the vice chancellor to start the ‘Staff Check-Off Scheme/Monthly Pay-Roll Contribution’, a scheme through which staff members will voluntarily donate certain parts of their monthly pay as they each can afford.

In the same vein, students will be required to contribute through the Endowment Fee, which will be charged on an annual basis.

While allaying worries that adding to the financial obligations of students may not be favourable, Olatunji-Bello said “Students are the ultimate beneficiaries of these schemes, as this will enable the university to facilitate endowment payment to scholars, indigent students and sportsmen.

“Facilities on campus will also be upgraded to state-of-the-art status. The benefits clearly outweigh the financial cost on the students.”