A group, the Lagos State Prominent Indigenes Platform, has applauded the appointment of Professor Ayodeji Olawunmi Badejo as the new Vice-Chancellor of the Lagos State University (LASU).

She will take over from Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, who is retiring after completing her five- year term.
In a strongly worded statement by the group in Lagos yesterday, and signed by Chief Adesunbo Onitiri, the group described  Sanwo-Olu’s appointment as transparent, credible and merit-driven.

“We understand that the candidate adjudged to be the best and most qualified was ultimately appointed.
“This commendable outcome reflects the sterling qualities of the distinguished individuals appointed to the Governing Council of LASU under the chairmanship of Mr B.K. Ogalla, particularly Dr Aderemi Desalu, whose integrity, sound principles and commitment to excellence are widely acknowledged.”

The group noted that among the three prominent scholars—all distinguished Lagos State indigenes—Professor Ayodeji Olawunmi Badejo (née Faji) emerged as the successful candidate following a selection process that “we consider credible and transparent.”

“We are pleased that Professor Badejo, a woman, will take over the helm of affairs from Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, another distinguished woman, who will be retiring from LASU upon the completion of her five-year tenure.

“We warmly congratulate the incoming Vice-Chancellor and wish her a successful, impactful and highly productive tenure.

“We trust that, under her leadership, LASU will attain even greater academic excellence, strengthen its global reputation and rank among the leading universities in Nigeria, Africa and the world,” the group stated.

It wished that Lagos State University would continue to progress and excel in its academic delivery.

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has said that one life was lost, and two others were rescued, when a building collapsed in the early hours of Thursday in a Lagos community.

According to LASEMA, the tragedy occurred when a two-storey building undergoing manual demolition at No. 42, Governors Road, Aboru, in the Alimosho area of the state, suddenly collapsed.

Responding, the agency’s Alpha Eagle Response Team was immediately dispatched from the Cappa, Oshodi LASEMA Response Unit at 12:56 a.m. and arrived at the incident scene within the projected response time.

In a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, the preliminary findings revealed that the building was being manually demolished when the collapse occurred.

“Through a coordinated search and rescue operation, two adult males were extricated alive from the rubble and were promptly administered life-saving first aid by personnel of the Lagos State Ambulance Service, LASAMBUS, before being moved to a nearby health facility for further medical attention. Sadly, one adult male was recovered dead from beneath the collapsed structure,” the statement said.

LASEMA PS said the ongoing operation was being jointly conducted by LASEMA, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, and LASAMBUS, adding that the incident area had been cordoned off to ensure the safety of residents and to allow rescue personnel unhindered access.

It was also gathered that stakeholders, including community leaders and security agencies, are working in concert with the Agency to ensure a thorough and safe conclusion to the operation.

While reiterating the Lagos State Government’s commitment to protecting lives and property, the LASEMA PS also urged members of the public and developers to adhere strictly to building regulations and engage only certified professionals for demolition and construction activities.

“Any suspicious or unsafe building activity should be reported immediately to the Agency through the 767 and 112 toll-free emergency numbers.

“The Lagos State Government remains resolute in its mandate to ensure prompt emergency response, and will continue to invest in capacity building, equipment, and decentralisation of response units to guarantee a 10-minute response time across the state,” Oke-Osanyintolu said.

The Ibadan Red Roof Initiative (IRRI) has partnered with Atiba University Oyo (AUO) to expand access to education, promote youth development and drive sustainable community development initiatives in Oyo State and beyond.

Under the partnership, Atiba University has been selected as a destination for qualified beneficiaries of the IRRI Scholarship Award, subject to the university’s admission requirements and applicable academic and regulatory provisions.

The collaboration is expected to provide deserving young Nigerians with greater opportunities to pursue higher education while equipping them with the knowledge, skills, values and leadership capacity required to contribute meaningfully to their communities and society.
As part of the agreement, Atiba University will also serve as the principal base for IRRI’s activities in Oyo State, providing a platform for the implementation and coordination of the initiative’s educational, leadership, youth development, sporting and community engagement programmes.

The partnership reflects the shared commitment of both organisations to creating opportunities for young people, strengthening communities and deploying education and purposeful social intervention as tools for sustainable development.

Commending the partnership, IRRI expressed appreciation to the Founder/President of Atiba University Oyo, James Adesokan Ojebode, as well as the university’s management, staff and students, for embracing the collaboration and supporting its development.

The initiative said it considers education one of the most powerful instruments for transforming individuals, families and communities.
“Through the scholarship programme and other initiatives envisaged under the partnership, the organisation seeks to support deserving young people in pursuing their educational aspirations and developing the capacity to contribute positively to Nigeria’s growth and development,” IRRI said.

In another development, IRRI announced that it had received a gift of 20 acres of land to support the future development of programmes and facilities.

The proposed facilities may include a golf practice range and related sporting activities, camping and outdoor recreational activities, youth and community sporting events, educational, leadership and skills-development programmes, as well as community development and empowerment initiatives.

According to the initiative, the proposed development is envisioned as a dynamic platform where education, recreation, youth engagement, leadership development and community empowerment can converge to create lasting social impact.

The partnership, IRRI said, goes beyond providing educational opportunities, as it represents a shared vision of building people, strengthening communities and creating platforms through which young Nigerians can discover, develop and fulfil their potential both in Nigeria and through opportunities abroad.

Both organisations stressed the importance of collaboration among educational institutions, community organisations, private-sector stakeholders, philanthropists, development partners and other well-meaning individuals and organisations in achieving sustainable development.