The Lagos State University (LASU) has received fresh attention from the state government with the approval of a new governing council charged with overseeing its strategic path and governance.
According to Naija247news, the appointment comes via a formal approval letter signed on Friday by Bode Agoro, the Lagos State Head of Service. The letter confirms that Babajide Olusola Sanwo‑Olu, Governor of Lagos State and Visitor to LASU, has assented to the composition of the 11-member council.
Naija247news gathered that the circular accompanying the appointment emphasises the administration’s continuing commitment to enhancing the quality of education across state-owned higher institutions. The document states: “In continuation of this administration’s commitment to improve the quality of education in the State owned Higher Institutions, it is hereby notified for general information that Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, the Governor of Lagos State, has approved the membership of the Lagos State University Governing Council.”
Naija247news understands that the newly approved council is expected to assume key oversight responsibilities for the university’s policy direction, financial management, and institutional growth. In line with the enabling law governing LASU, the Governing Council is the institution’s principal governing authority, responsible for the general control and superintendence of policy, finances, assets and public relations.
Although specific names of all the 11 appointees were not publicly detailed in the released statement, Naija247news reports that among the prominent figures is Babatunde John Kwame Ogala, who has been nominated to serve as chairman of the council. His appointment is seen by insiders as a strategic move to bring fresh leadership into the institution’s governance structure.
Observers note that your governance of LASU has undergone a number of adjustments in recent years. For instance, Governor Sanwo-Olu in May 2021 dissolved the previous LASU council following findings by a visitation panel about irregularities in the appointment of a substantive vice-chancellor. The current step therefore represents another milestone in the institution’s governance evolution.
According to Naija247news, the state government reaffirmed that the selection and approval of the council were undertaken in pursuit of statutory compliance, good governance, and academic excellence. The move aligns with the broader mandate of the administration to strengthen higher education in Lagos State.
Analysts suggest that the inclusion of a new governing council under Ogala’s leadership will signal the government’s intent to accelerate institutional reforms, foster partnerships, and deliver improved outcomes for students and staff alike. The university community, they say, will be looking for tangible actions such as infrastructure enhancement, improved academic standards and more robust administrative oversight.
Stakeholders within LASU are also hopeful that the council will bring renewed focus to accountability and transparency. With the institution growing rapidly and competing among the best in the country, the new council is seen as a key lever in ensuring that management, budgetary discipline, and compliance with university law are upheld.
Naija247news gathered that alongside policy oversight, the council will play a vital role in the process of selecting future vice-chancellors, setting strategic priorities, approving budgets and ensuring that the university remains responsive to the changing demands of higher education.
In his inauguration of a previous LASU council, Governor Sanwo-Olu emphasised that members should use their experience to impact positively on the policy formulation and smooth running of the university. In this context, Ogala and his team inherit a mandate to not only steer governance but to sustain and improve institutional harmony and academic integrity.
As LASU embarks on this new chapter, all eyes will be on how the new governing council executes its mandate, how quickly it can set the tone for reform, and how effectively it can lift the institution’s performance and reputation.
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Reporting by Agnes Ekebuike Editor, Naija247news in Lagos, Nigeria.
