· . Dream Come True, o a ightmare tion Speeches d '11Vl'l 'd I Pruf('ssnr 'Iulu Odughcmi, OON. NNOM, FA I • , Chnn '11or, l Imvcrxit 01 La 'os UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS, NIGERIA CONVOCATION ADDRESS BY THE VICE-CHANCELLOR, PROFESSOR TOLU ODUGBEMI DON, NNOM, FAS ON THE OCCASION OF THE 2009 CONVOCATION ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20,2010 PROTOCOL On behalf of Senate, management, staff and students of the University of Lagos, the University of First Choice and the nation's pride, I heartily welcome you all especially lucky parents of our graduating students to the first day of the 2009 Convocation ceremonies for the award of diplomas, degrees and prizes of the university. Let me use this unique opportunity to specially congratulate the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of our Governing Council, Deacon Gamaliel Onosode, OFR and other members of the Council for witnessing this ceremony. This is the first official appearance of Deacon Onosode as our Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council. I would also like to congratulate the new members of our Council who are attending our convocation ceremonies for the first time. God bless everyone of you - the new and the returning Council members. I thank God Almighty for giving us the grace to crossover to year 2010. I equally thank Him for giving us everything we need to complete our academic calendar in spite of the recent three- month strike action embarked upon by staff unions of universities nationwide. I also want to thank our Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council for the fatherly role he played during and after the national strike of the staff unions. Let me use this opportunity to thank the Federal Government for its continued support of the education sector as demonstrated by President Umaru Yar'Adua's intervention in the crisis through Governor Adams Oshiomole of Edo State. The efforts of the Federal Government and other stakeholders in the education sector led to the early resolution of the crisis. 1 The theme of this year's convocation ceremony is A Dream Come True - Not A Nightmare. Today's ceremony marks the first of the two days earmarked for the award of diplomas and degrees. By the end of today's ceremony, a total of 3,525 students who have successfully completed their studies would be admitted into their various diplomas and degrees in the faculties of Arts, Education, Environmental Sciences, Science, Social Science and Distance Learning Institute (DU). At a similar ceremony tomorrow, we shall graduate students from the College of Medicine, Faculties of Basic Medical Sciences, Dental Sciences, Clinical Sciences, Business Administration, Engineering, Law, Pharmacy and School of Postgraduate Studies. At the end of today's ceremonies, we would have graduated students along the following spread on the basis of the following disciplines: Faculty Arts Education Environmental Sciences Science Social Science Distance Learning Institute Graduating Students 316 470 226 329 444 1,740 Total = 3,525 I am particularly delighted to note that a total number of 87 graduating students passed out in First Class Division out of the total 6,134 first degree graduating students. 2 I make ~old to say that graduates of our university are sharp and smart mln~s who can compete favourably with their counterparts anywhere In the world. Through teamwork and divine intervention the administration of the University of Lagos is determined to conti~ue on the path of progress towards actualizing our vision of being a top-class institution for the pursuit of excellence in kno~ledge through learning, research, teaching and community services. Thi.s ye.ar'.s convocation ceremony is unique because the Un~verslty ISconferring honorary doctorate degrees on eminent Africans, Scholars, Researchers and seasoned Diplomats within and outside the country. After a meticulous evaluation, the University deemed it fit to confer a honorary doctorate degrees on the former Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Kofi Annan, former Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Nations, Chief Emeka Anyao~u, former Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of our great University, Professor Umaru Shehu and Emeritus Professor C.O. Taiwo who retired from our University some years ago and celebrated his 99 years on the Planet just last year. He walks without a walking stick and can beat any of the under 50s in a walk to the Sports Centre. The honorary doctorate degrees to be conferred on these eminent personalities are as follows: • Mr. Kofi Annan • Professor C.O. Taiwo • Professor Umaru Shehu • Chief Emeka Anyaoku - Doctor of Laws (LLD) - Doctor of Science (DSc.) - Doctor of Science (DSc.) - Doctor of Literature (Dlitt) You will all agree with me that these personalities have distinguished themselves in their fields of endeavour and therefore deserved to be honoured by the University. 3 Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, during an occasion like this, it is auspicious for us to review events of the previous year and highlight our modest achievements. We have every cause to be grateful to God Almighty for a remarkable session in spite of the disruption mentioned earlier. I am delighted to inform you that this administration has recorded a number of achievements, permit me to mention a few of them. The Office of Alumni and Endowment has been upgraded to Office of Advancement to encourage greater alumni activities and endowment. This administration has also established an office known as Office of International Relations, Partnerships and Prospects. The establishment of this office has yielded greater result in terms of international linkages, partnerships as well as providing greater international visibility for the University. The University has continued to enjoy support from government, private sector and religious organizations. The Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries (MFM) recently donated a Central Research Laboratory to the University. Work is in progress on the Laboratory valued at#150 million. The project is in fulfillment of the pledge made by the General Overseer of MFM, Dr. Daniel Kolawole Olukoya during the 2006 Distinguished Alumni Award ceremony of the University of Lagos Alumni Association. Dr. Olukoya is a distinguished alumnus of the University. He graduated in 1979 with a First Class Honours degree in Microbiology. The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) is not left out in the quest by religious organizations to contribute their quota 4 to the development of the University. The Church, in the middle of last year, endowed a #50 million Professorial Chair in Mathematics in the University. CONSTRUCTION OF NEW CAR PARKS Three additional car parks located between the back of the Office of Advancement, Erastus Akingbola Postgraduate Hall and Jaja Hall had been constructed to complement existing ones. The new car parks, in addition to its contribution to aesthetic on campus would also serve as a source of additional revenue generation to the University. DONATION OF A PATROL CAR TO NIGERIA SECURITY AND CIVIL DEFENCE CORPS The University recently donated a refurbished Peugeot 504 Station Wagon car, computer and accessories to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps to complement the effort of the University Security Unit in ensuring peace and safety of lives and property on Campus. INTRODUCTION OF NEW PROGRAMMES BY THE DISTANCE LEARNING INSTITUTE OF THE UNIVERSITY (DU) Arrangements are now at advanced stage by the Distance Learning Institute (DU) of the University to offer eight new programmes. The new Programmes are B.Sc. Economics; Computer Science; Environmental Science; Nursing; Marine Biology; Fisheries; Microbiology and Public Administration. The new programmes would take off once they are approved by the Senate of the University. I am happy to inform this gathering that all the six existing programmes offered by the DU have received full accreditation by the National Universities Commission (NUC). 5 SITING OF PAN-AFRICAN E-NETWORK PROJECT IN UNILAG Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I am happy to inform you that further to the establishment of a National Centre for Energy Efficiency and Conservation in the University of Lagos, the Federal Government has also sited the tele-medicine and tele- education components of the Pan-African e-Network Project in the University of Lagos. The Pan-African e-Network Project is an initiative of the President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, to use Indian expertise in Information Technology to bring benefits of healthcare and higher education to countries of Africa. The Satellite and Fibre Network project will provide effective communication and connectivity among 53 nations of Africa who are signatories to the project. The project has three components. These are tele-education, tele-medicine and WIP link. The Honourable Minister of Information and Communications, Professor Dora Akunyili, OFR was at the University of Lagos to inaugurate the Nigerian arm of the project. With this initiative, Nigeria will be able to extend to Indian hospitals' advances in tropical medicines in Nigeria and India too will be able to share knowledge with Nigerian medical scholars and thereby save cost of travelling among people of the two countries. Our undergraduates and Postgraduate students will also benefit from the project, which will further strengthen relations between Nigeria and India. The project will also make it possible for 53 universities and 53 hospitals, plus five regional University Centres and five special Hospitals in Africa to be connected via satellite, fibre optics and wireless links to 12 Indian super specialist hospitals and seven Indian universities. Each host country like Nigeria will have one university and one hospital connected to the network. That is where the University of Lagos comes in. 6 ZAIN STUDENTS COMPETITION The University of Lagos recently clinched a Bronze Medal in the 2009 Zain Africa Competition held in Kampala, Uganda, East Africa. I received the trophy on behalf of the University at a colourful ceremony held in the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja. The competition was designed to promote University education and offer students a unique networking opportunity. CONSTRUCTION OF HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT CENTRE (HRDC) BUILDING Construction work has commenced on a three-storey building for the Human Resources Development Centre (HRDC). The project which will cost about ~191 million, is being funded through internally generated revenue. . When completed, the building would serve as the Secretariat of the Board which is currently located in an extension of the University Main Library Building, behind the Main Auditorium. The new building will have a Computer Resource Centre, Library, Multi-lingual Room, Committee Room, Seminar Room, and Lecture Hall. It will provide office spaces for the Board's Accounts Section, Administrative and Secretarial staff etc. MASS COMMUNICATION MEDIA RESOURCE CENTREI DIGITAL NEWSROOM The United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) having declared the Department of Mass .Communication, University of Lagos, as one of the twelve (12) Centres of Excellence in Media Training in Africa and the only one in Nigeria for that matter, has continuously supported capacity building in the Department, by training and re-training our staff and upgrading equipment in our studios and laboratory. 7 A new complex next to the rylass Communication building is being equipped by donations from UNESCO, Open Society Initiative of West Africa (OSIWA), and complete Sports Media Organization. The facility also provides a 50-seater lounge, fully air-conditioned with digital media equipment where students can update themselves with breaking news, on-line journalism, daily newspapers and magazines. The facility is being upgraded this year by UNESCO with training equipment, textbooks and reference materials to the tune of $30,000.00. CREATION OF DIRECTORATE SYSTEM For the first time in history, the University introduced and commenced the Directorate System of administration. Under the new arrangement, Directors were appointed to head the Directorate of Personnel Affairs, Vice-Chancellor's Office, Office of Advancement, Directorate of General Administration, Directorate of Property and Investment, Directorate of Academic Affairs, Directorate of Final Accounts, Directorate of Treasury and Directorate of Budget, Planning and Control. RETRAINING OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY TEACHERS The University of Lagos and the Federal College of Education (FeE) Technical, Akoka under the auspices of the Science and Technology Education Post Basic Project (Step-B) partnered with the University of Maryland, the World Bank and other organizations on a project that focuses on the professional development and re-training of Science and Technology teachers at the two institutions. The thrust of the activity is to train teachers at the two Post Basic Educational Institutions in promoting and enhancing teaching and research in Information, Communication and Technology (ICT). Teachers from the two institutions have benefited immensely from the project. 8 I cannot end this address without giving a few words of exhortation to our graduating students. My dear graduating students, Great Akokites! Great Akokites! I would want you to consider yourselves fortunate to have started and completed your studies in peace in this University. As you are leaving the walls of this great citadel of learning, do everything within your disposal to propagate the good image of the University-The University of First Choice and the Nation's Pride. Please you are advised to think of what you can do with what you have learnt in the University. Use what you know to achieve what you want in life. Ruminate deeply on how to be self-employed even if you are lucky to secure a paid employment, look inwards and see how you can become an employer of labour. One way you can contribute your quota to the development of your alma mater is by identifying and playing active roles in the University of Lagos Alumni Association. I therefore enjoin you to visit the Office of Advancement of the University to make enquiry on how to register and play active role in the association. I congratulate you all on your well-deserved degrees. I also congratulate your parents and guardians who have made a lot of sacrifices to enable you enjoy your stay in this University. I thank you all for your attendance. Well done. God bless you all! God bless the University of Lagos! God bless our country-Nigeria.- Professor Tofu Odugbemi, ~ON, NNOM, FAS Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos. 20th January, 2010 9 BY PROTOCOLUNIVERSITY OF LAGOS, NIGERIA On behalf of Senate and the entire University Community, I heartily welcome our revered guests, parents, students and well- wishers to the 43rd Convocation Ceremonies of our great University, the University of First Choice and the Nation's Pride. The ceremonies commenced yesterday, Wednesday, 20th January, 2010. CONVOCATION ADDRESS I thank God for His mercies on us all. His divine intervention at all times and of course, our spirit of teamwork has served as catalyst to the success stories recorded by this administration. I want to sincerely thank our various stakeholders who have supported us to remain a top class institution in the country. THE VICE-CHANCELLOR, PROFESSOR TOLU ODUGBEMI, ~ON, NNOM, FAS Our Convocation Lecture entitled, Whither Nigeria?, Or Wither! was delivered on Wednesday, 13th January, 2010 by Professor Oyewale Tomori, NNOM, FAS, one of the finest minds of our time. The lecture was simply a work of genius, there was nothing more to add. Once again, I want to thank Professor Oyewale Tomori for a lecture well delivered. ON THE OCCASION OF THE Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, yesterday, 3,525 students from the Faculties of Arts, Education, Environmental Sciences, Science, Social Sciences and Distance Learning Institute (DU) were awarded their various certificates, diplomas, degrees and prizes. 2009 CONVOCATION Today, is a special day. Besides students from the College of Medicine, Faculties of Business Administration, Engineering, Law, Pharmacy and the School of Postgraduate Studies who will receive degrees, certificates, diplomas and prizes, we shall also confer Honorary Doctorate degrees on four eminent Africans.ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 21,2010 The breakdown of the graduating students is as listed below: 11 Faculties College of Medicine Faculty of Business Administration Faculty of Engineering Faculty of Law Faculty of Pharmacy Graduating Students 209 414 543 204 88 School of Postgraduate Studies Ph.D Master's Degree MPhil Total The grand total of all graduating students is 50 1,145 19 2,672 6,197 As against 103 students that finished in the First Class (Hons.) Division at the Convocation Ceremonies last year, I am happy to inform you that in this Convocation, 87 students obtained First Class (Hons.) Divisions, while the College of Medicine produced One Honours graduate each from the Department of Physiotherapy and the Department of Physiology. The number of First Class is spread as follows: A~ 2 Business Administration 23 Distance Learning Institute 1 Education 2 Engineering 33 Environmental Sciences 7 Science 10 Social Sciences 9 College of Medicine (Depts of Physiotherapy & Physiology) 2 School of Postgraduate Studies: Doctor of Philosophy (Ph. D) We thank God, the School of Postgraduate has produced 50 Ph.D students this year. I heartily congratulate the Dean, School 12 of Postgraduate Studies, Professor Toyin Ogundipe and the PG Board as well as parents of all our graduating students. I extend warm congratulations to the Prize Winners for their attainment of distinction. I also want to heartily congratulate those of our parents and graduating students in the other (honours) Divisions. Hard work will always pay great dividend, therefore we should strive always to place high premium on diligence and honesty. I would also take this opportunity to thank the various individuals, companies and organizations that have donated prizes. We believe we can depend on your continual support and cooperation. Last year, in my convocation address, I stated that as we shall continue to strive to maintain our pride of cultivating outstanding graduates and that a time would come, when this University would not graduate students in the pass category, today's convocation is a testimony that we keep our words. Other things being equal, next year will move us closer to that goal. The four eminent personalities to be conferred with honorary doctorate degrees of this University are: 1. Mr. Kofi Annan, the former Secretary-General of United Nations (Doctor of Laws [LLD]) 2. Chief Emeka Anyaoku, the former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations (Doctor of Literature [Dlitt]) 3. Professor Umaru Shehu, Emeritus Professor and former Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, University of Lagos (Doctor of Science [DSc]) 4. Emeritus Professor of Education, C. O. Taiwo (Doctor of Science [DSc]). The last time honorary degrees were conferred was 2002 and that was on Mr. Ing. Hans Wittman (co-founder of Julius Berger Nig. Limited). That goes a long way to say that only well-meaning 13 individuals based purely Oil merit are awarded honorary degrees of the University of Lagos. I congratulate the awardees. REVIEW OF PAST EVENTS Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, on an occasion like this, it is appropriate for us to review events of the previous year. We sincerely thank God Almighty in ensuring that we had a peaceful session. In fact, classes for the 2009/2010 new academic session have started in earnest. I want to thank the staff and students of this University for always creating a peaceful micro- task environment for teaching, learning, research and service to humanity on our three campuses atAkoka, Idi-Araba and Yaba. I want to remind you again that there is a symbiotic relationship between peace and progress. Real progress is achieved where peace and stability is allowed to thrive. I must also thank members of the special organs of the university particularly the Management, Provost and Deans, Heads of Departments, Heads of Units, members of Senate, members of substantivel standing and ad-hoc committees, particularly the Ceremonies Committee, the Alumni, the staff unions, Office of Advancement, Information Unit, Legal Unit, Centre for Information Technology and Systems (CITS), to mention just a few, our friends from outside the University Community and the generality of staff for their uninhibited cooperation for my profound enthusiasm for development in the face of global competition and expectations. I wish to place on record that supports received from the aforementioned organs facilitated the rapid transformation of the university in physical infrastructure (intangible or non-physical), ICT development and in the maintenance of discipline and peace, particularly among our students. I want to thank you all. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I am happy to inform you that the Office of Alumni and Endowment has been upgraded to Office of Advancement to encourage greater alumni activities and endowment. 14 This administration has also established an office known as Office of International Relations, Partnerships and Prospects to open up more international windows. The establishment of this office has yielded greater results in terms of international linkages, partnerships as well as providing greater international visibility for the University. The past one year, we have been able to enter into partnership arrangements with nine universities and research institutes abroad. They include but not limited to the following: University of South Africa (UNISA), South Africa, Central Michigan University (USA), Hogskolan Dalarma University (Sweden), DUN Group De Recherche International (France), The University Charles- Louise De Montesquieu D'Abidjan (Cote D'lvoire), Virginia State University (USA), University of Bedfordshire (UK), Confucius Institute (China) and Beijing Institute of Technology. In addition, a new office for Ethical Orientation and Mentoring has also been established. PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT a. Central Research Laboratory Donated By the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) I am happy to inform you that construction work on the ::friI150 million Central Research Laboratory donated by the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) has commenced. The project is in fulfillment of the pledge made by the General Overseer of MFM, Dr. Daniel Kolawole Olukoya during the 2006 Distinguished Alumni Award of the University of Lagos Alumni Association. The Laboratory is located between Alvan Ikoku Road and Faculty of Science Complex. 15 Dr. Olukoya, as you all know, is a distinguished alumnus of this great University. He graduated in 1979 with a First Class Honours in Microbiology. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, Dr. Olukoya has also instituted special Academic Excellence Award for First Class Honours graduates of the stock of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM). It is heartwarming to inform you that at the inaugural ceremony of the award held in the Prayer City of the Ministries, eight (8) out of the twenty (20) First Class honours graduates who received the award are from the University of Lagos. b. UNILAG/UBA Ultra-Modern Green Park, Gallery Also, the Ultra-Modern Green Park and Gallery being constructed by the United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) for the University will be ready inFebruary this year. Seventy percent of the project is ready for this Convocation. The project is located at the main entrance of the University, adjacent to the Faculty of Environmental Sciences. It would have facilities such as arts gallery where staff and students of the University will show case their art works, sculptor garden, an Amphitheatre and a car park among others. c. Upgrading of Staff School Hall to International Standard Today, the University of Lagos Staff School Hall, located opposite the Department of Chemical Engineering, stands out as a cynosure of all eyes, playing host to top-notch events in the University main campus. The hall has central air conditioning system, separate generator, acoustic/sound proof walls and facilities to sit over 1,000 people conveniently. 16 First Bank Plc, under the then leadership of Mr. Jacob Moyosore Ajekigbe, committed H20 million to renovate/upgrade the project. The project was completed in a record time of four weeks. Thank you First Bank Plc. d. Construction of Befitting Building for Department of Creative Arts The Department of Creative Arts Building, located adjacent to the Faculty of Social Sciences Complex, was commissioned on Wednesday, June 24, 2009. It was constructed under the auspices of the Education Trust Fund. Before the construction of this building, the Department had to manage in a decrepit structure where staff and students jostled for space to read, rehearse, hold practical sessions etc. e. Construction of Human Resources Development Centre (HRDC) Building Construction work has commenced on a three-storey building for the Human Resources Development Centre (HRDC). The project which will cost about H191 million, is being funded through internally generated revenue. When completed, the building would serve as the Secretariat of the Centre which is currently located in an extension of the University Main Library Building, behind the Main Auditorium. The new building will have a Computer Resource Centre, Library, Multi-lingual Room, Committee Room, Seminar Room, and Lecture Hall. It will provide office spaces for the Centre's Accounts section, Administrative and Secretarial staff etc. 17 f. Rehabilitation of Buildings to Accommodate Confucius Institute and Office of Advancement The building housing part of Creative Arts was redesigned and rehabilitated to house the Confucius Institute of the University of Lagos, opposite the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies. The Confucius Institute was formally commissioned on 16th October, 2009. Also, the bookshop building has been redesigned with an extra floor to accommodate some offices including the Office of Advancement. g. Department of Mass Communication Media Resource Centre/Digital Newsroom UNESCO having declared the Department of Mass Communication, University of Lagos as one of the twelve (12) Centres of Excellence in Media Training in Africa and the only one in Nigeria for that matter, has continuously supported capacity building in the Department and Radio Unilag - 103.1 FM by training and re-training our staff and upgrading equipment in our studios and laboratory. A new complex next to the Mass Communication building is being equipped by donations from UNESCO, Open Society Initiative (OSIWA) and Complete Sports Media Organisation. The facility also provides a 50-seater lounge, fully air-conditioned with digital media equipment where students can update themselves with breaking news, online journalism, daily newspapers and magazines. The facility is being upgraded this year by UNESCO with training equipment, textbooks and reference materials to the tune of $30,000.00. 18 STAFF AND STUDENTS MATIERS a. Zain Africa Challenge Competition Our students won a Bronze Medal in the recently concluded Zain Africa Challenge 2009 International Championship Competition held in Kampala, Uganda. Thus, it earn~~ $25,000 as institutional grant while the players and the officials each earned $2,500. b. Sporting Activities Students of the University came first in the just concluded Lagos Inter-Tertiary Institutions Sports Championships held between September 10 and 19, 2009.The athletes won a total of 16 medals made up of seven Gold, six Silver and three Bronze Medals. The Medal Winners were awarded prize money to the value of N2, 650, 000.00. c. The University Medical Centre On June 1, this year, we commissioned=M1.8 million equipment - for testing Prostrate Specific Antigens (PSA), Elisa Microplate Washer and TC 96 Elisa Microplate Reader - for hormonal profile liverlThyroid functioning, infertility and other hormonal tests. I am also happy to report that the facilities in the theatre have been upgraded. d. Provision of Laptop for Staff and Students and ICT Enhancement It is also my pleasure to inform you that the laptop for each staff and student project through a Partnership for Technology Access (PTA) with Microsoft Incorporation Limited has started for all interested staff and students. The programme will empower staff and students of the University with ICT skills and capabilities for global competitiveness. It will also enhance learning process in the University system. 19 Also a few months ago, the University was selected as one of the tertiary institutions in the country to receive 100 desktops including networking facilities and firewalls from the Universal Service Provision Fund's Secretariat under its Schools Access Programme (SAP). The Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) was established by the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003. h. Annual Research Conference and Fair The 5th Annual Research Conference and Fair was held in the Multipurpose Hall on 21 October and 22 October, last year. e. The Wireless Metropolitan Area Network The University of Lagos celebrated another milestone in ICT development. There was an official launch of the Wireless Metropolitan Area Network (WiMAN) on Tuesday, 12th January, 2010. The University of Lagos WiMAN project is a joint initiative with AMB Multiserve Limited primarily to provide the University with CISCO-based wireless communication across the three campuses (Main campus, Akoka, College of Medicine, Idi-Araba and former School of Radiography, Yaba) of the University. The International Conference of the Sciences and Humanities had the theme: Collaborative Research for Sustainable National Development. At the end of the two-day academic event, nine researchers distinguished themselves as the Best Researchers, one each from the College of Medicine, Faculties of Arts, Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Pharmacy, Science and Social Sciences. The Best Participating Institution was the National Agency for Science Engineering and Infrastructure (NASENI). f. LG DesJgn Laboratory at the Faculty of Engineering LG Electronics'has donated a Design Laboratory to the Faculty of Engineering with about one hundred and two (102) flat screen computers with design software, console multi-physics and finite element among other facilities. The Central Research Committee (CRC) received a total of 149 abstracts from academic staff of various institutions including the University of Lagos, Lagos State University, Covenant University, Niger Delta University, Bells University, Yaba College of Technology among others. With this, students will now use computers for drawing projects as against the old system of using the manual method for such projects. The purpose of the Conference was to provide a platform for promising researchers to interact with one another and leaders in their fields as well as present their results and generate fresh ideas which would lead to future collaborations and discoveries. Let me place on record here that the University of Lagos is the only University in Nigeria that holds annual research conference and fair. g. Career Mobility I wish to state that we have improved the process of appointments and promotion matters. In April, the appointments of fourteen (14) new Professors were approved by the Governing Council. The backlog of appointments, promotions, confirmations were also attended to. The Directorate System of administration for the University was also approved. i. Research Grants and Learned Conferences We have continued to encourage our academic staff to take full advantage of the research grants available to them to conduct research. To encourage and promote scholarly publications, the University rewarded forty-four (44) Departments with at least 100 Research Publications on the institution's website with an HP Laptop each. I am happy to inform you that the number of scholarly publications on the website is rising steadily. 20 21 OTHER MATTERS a. Establishment of a Complete Fishery Unit at the Botanical Garden The Botanical Garden, University of Lagos, now houses a complete Fishery Unit with the recent set up of a hatchery section. 2009, the Redeemed Christian Church of God gave us a cheque of flt50 million to endow a Professional Chair in Mathematics. Chief Femi Okunnu, a former Federal Minister in the country, endowed a Research Chair in Property Law in the Faculty of Law, to the tune of flt6.5 million. Also, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and African Independent Television (AIT) endowed an award for the Best Student in Broadcasting in the Department of Mass Communication in memory of the Late Group Managing Director of AIT, Mr. Ladi Lawal. d. The 2009 Nigerian National Merit Award Winners' Lecture The University was honoured the second time to organise the 2009 Award Winners' Lecture. The Ceremonies Committee, Management and the entire University Community worked hard to ensure smooth and exciting interaction of town and gown. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, we were able to record these achievements as a result of divine intervention and teamwork. To my dear graduating students, one way you can contribute your quota to the development of your alma mater is through identifying with the Alumni Association of the University. I urge you therefore, to visit the Office of Advancement of this University to get registered so that you can play active roles in the association's activities. Prior to this, the Garden had just two sections for the production of fish. One is the Production Section where table-size (marketable) fishes are being hygienically produced on regular basis. Staff and students have benefited greatly from the sales of these fishes at a very subsidized price. The second is the Feed mill section where they compound fish feed, poultry feed and rabbit feed, though, the focus has been on the first two feeds. Recently, the Unit added a hatchery section to the growing unit. The target of the section is to sell finge~Jings and juvenile fish to the general public. The idea behind the establishment of the hatchery section is to empower staff and students of the University to self-reliance. b. UNILAG Lagoon Front - New Look The University of Lagos' Lagoon Front now wears new looks as we vigorously pursue to deliver our promise to transform the Lagoon Front into a major tourist attraction and a world-class conference centre. Present facilities constructed at the Lagoon Front for research and relaxation include recreational centres and dedicated access roads. With the present state of the Lagoon Front, education, information and entertamment will be provided in a serene and beautiful atmosphere. c. Private Sector/Individual Assistance Our appeal to the private sector and individuals to contribute their quota to our efforts is yielding fruitful results. And we are happy with the several donations received. On Sunday, 31st May, Once more, I thank you all for your patience and audience. I wish you all God's blessing and safe journey back to your various homes. God bless you. Professor Tofu Odugbemi, ~ON, NNOM, FAS Vice-Chancel/or, University of Lagos. 21st January, 20 to. 22 23 · . Dreain Come True, -- ot a iahtmare· 00 ocation Speeches d '11\l'1 'd h P,'ol't'SSClI' Toll, Odugbcmi, ~ON, NNOM, FAS Il' ('hllll -Ilor, I hu I I1 01 La 'os