After years of stalled promotions and morale dips, the staff of Lagos State University (LASU) say they are beginning to feel valued again.
The university’s Registrar, Mr Emmanuel Fanu, speaking at the institution’s 2025 In-House Training for administrators, said that a renewed focus on staff welfare and fairness under Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello is helping to rebuild trust and motivation among workers.
“The approval of promotions for officers who had been stuck for years restored hope,” Fanu said at the event organised by the Association of Nigerian University Professional Administrators (ANUPA), LASU Chapter. “It showed that leadership is not just about policies but about people.”
The training, themed “Bridging the Gap of University Needs: An Administrator on Call,” brought together senior administrators, legal experts and academics to discuss professionalism, ethics and service delivery in higher education.
Speakers urged administrators to view themselves as partners in progress rather than bureaucrats, emphasising that efficiency and fairness were essential to maintaining the university’s competitiveness.
One of the resource persons, Dr Kasim Bada, warned that declining ethical standards were eroding institutional conscience. “We must rediscover integrity and loyalty to the university’s vision, even when no one is watching,” he said.
Another contributor, Mrs Olajumoke Boyejo, highlighted the importance of equity and confidentiality in university governance, describing integrity and justice as “the unseen infrastructure of a 21st-century university.”
The Registrar urged participants to embrace professionalism and continuous learning, saying that the Vice-Chancellor’s goal of making LASU one of the best universities in West Africa depends on staff dedication.
By the end of the one-day event, the mood among participants reflected optimism rather than complaint — a rare tone in Nigeria’s public university system.
As LASU administrators renewed their pledge to uphold ethics and excellence, many agreed that rebuilding the university begins not with buildings, but with the people who keep them running.
