By: Manoah Kikekon
 |
| Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello and Yunus Dauda |
As part of her farewell program, Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, the former Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University (LASU), recently presented two newly authored books to the academic community. Written by Professor Yunus Dauda, the publications explore the complexities of higher education administration and global economic challenges.
The book presentation took place on Wednesday during a special send-forth event hosted on the main campus in Ojo by Momentus Men and Women of the Learning Association (MOWLAS and MOMLAS).
The newly unveiled texts are titled "University Governance and Academic Staff Militancy" and "Global Poverty and Human Development." The author, Professor Yunus Dauda, serves as a specialist in Employment Relations and Human Resource Management and currently holds office as the Director of the Lagos State University School of Basic and Advanced Studies (LASUSBAS) in Badagry.
During the event, Professor Olatunji-Bello recommended the publications to academic staff, student representatives, and university union leaders. She noted that the text on governance challenges the conventional narrative surrounding recurring campus strikes in Nigeria, arguing that systemic crises cannot be reduced solely to union aggression.
Reflecting on her departure, the former Vice-Chancellor encouraged university personnel to uphold high standards of integrity, maintain focus, exercise self-discipline, and cultivate self-belief in their career journeys.
Discussing the inspiration behind his work, Professor Dauda explained that the texts examine the prolonged friction between academic staff unions, notably ASUU, and successive federal administrations. He noted that the publication aims to foster a stronger institutional framework capable of nurturing future leaders and driving national development in an increasingly complex world.
Dauda also praised the former Vice-Chancellor for her transformative leadership over the past five years, noting that she successfully transitioned LASU from a volatile institution into a peaceful and globally recognized citadel of learning.
Reviewing the publications, Professor Waidi Akingbade from the Department of Business Administration highlighted that the author successfully contextualizes union activism as a legitimate reaction to infrastructural neglect and administrative strain, drawing heavily from his practical background as a trade unionist and researcher.
The ceremony concluded with the presentation of honorary awards to the outgoing Vice-Chancellor by association members from various tertiary institutions across Lagos State.