Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State on Tuesday charged the Lagos State University (LASU),Ojo, to proffer solutions through research toward addressing the six pillars of developmental agenda of his administration.
Sanwo-Olu spoke at the first LASU Research Fair with the theme : “Driving National Development Through Research and Innovation.”
The governor said that the pillar of his administration’s developmental agenda was tagged: “THEMES” which represented a drive for the state and future generations.
“I charge the university to proffer solutions to the development of our six pillar agenda.
“As the governor, I assure you of our support for your research drive,” Sanwo-Olu, represented by Mr Tokunbo Wahab, his Special Adviser on Education, said.
He said that the place of research in the present century could not be over emphasised, hence the theme of the event.
The governor also said that research and innovation contributed significantly to the growth of business and enterprises, as such, Lagos was also moving from a resource-based economy to a knowledge-based.
In his remarks, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, LASU Vice-Chancellor, said that the university would continue to transform and make great impact in its immediate environment and the wider society.
Fagbohun said: “We are today making our first research fair and that is why I say history is being made.
“Research remains the catalyst and veritable tool for national development.
“The present world is a knowledge-driven rather than natural resources-driven world, therefore, nations which can generate more knowledge are richer.”
According to him, research is fundamental to developing new knowledge.
The vice-chancellor said, in celebrating research excellence, the institution was committed to working with the government and private sector to develop solutions to the problems of Nigeria and the world at large.
“To this end, we seek to endow the LASU Research Grant Fund. The fund will be the incubator and facilitator for research in our university, ” he said.
Also, Prof. Adebayo Ninalowo, Chairman, LASU Governing Council, said that the university was cementing its position as a leading research hub through the fair.
Ninalowo said theme of the fair was strategic and in synchronisation with the LASU project.
“The university is enjoined to persist in this cause to build solutions to the needs of the state, and the council will not relent in supporting research efforts from the university,” he said.
Over 250 participants across the country attended the fair.
