It could be argued that after the poitical terrain, the next most complicated terrain in Nigeria is the academic environment.
Things hardly work in the right manner as everything is based on sentiments and interests instead of intellect and merit.
There is hardly a time headlines are read without the mention of a University politirick or diametric in Nigeria.
Nigerian Universities are held in high esteem because they are seen as citadels of learning comprising intellectual and academically gifted people with the capacity to solve problems, but unfortunately, they never live up to that expectation.
You hear in the news constantly about petty bickering, corruption and problems in the ivory tower, enough politicking and tribalism even politicians would envy.
The immediate Past Vice Chancellor of the Lagos State University, Prof. Olarenwaju Fagboun’s five year tenure expired January 11,2021 and since then,the Institution has been unable to successfully elect a new vice chancellor.
The first attempt to elect a VC led to crises as one of shortlisted candidates was alleged to not possess a PhD. The candidate actually obtained PhD fellowships of professional bodies which is totally different from obtaining an academic PhD.
The three candidates shortlisted are: Olumuyiwa Odusanya, Senapon Bakre and Kabir Akinyemi.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in LASU raised an objection that qualification from Nigerian Postgraduate medical college is not a PhD and makes any candidate with such fellowship unqualified.
While that was going on,there were pressures from interested parties including traditional rulers and political juggernauts which later led to suspension of the process when petitions to the governors office were becoming overwhelming.
The Governor ordered a fresh process within 45 days and the deputy vice chancellor administration of the school, Prof Oyedamola Oke was elected as acting Vice Chancellor.
With the emergence of a new Acting VC,the fresh selection started with 13 Professors showing interest while only 9 were shortlisted.
Out of the 9,7 was from LASU and 2 other from outside the institution.
Among the seven internal candidates, were the two professors, one of whose PhD was the bone of contention during the first exercise which led to the annulment.
In order to quench the fire of selecting a Vice Chancellor, the Governor appointed a visitation panel which later submitted a recommendation to the Governor.
On the 21st June,2021,Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu adopted the report of the panel by dissolving the Governing council for flagrant violations of the extant laws and regulations of the University guiding the appointment of a Vice Chancellor.
The Governor also asked the Registrar to proceed on leave till the end of the process,and also excused members of the joint council and senate committee who participated in the two failed exercise of 2020 and 2021 to appoint a 9th Vice Chancellor.
The Governor will also be setting up a full visitation panel for LASU immediately while an acting registrar will be appointed upon forwarding of all deputy Registrar documents to the special adviser on education’s office.
With all these developments, it is my hope that this new process will lead to a permanent solution to the election of a Vice Chancellor for LASU as well total stability in the institution.
The University is an ivory tower and should maintain that position by doing things right and without rancour at all times.