The Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) , Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, has said the Student Union Government (SUG) is meant to train leaders, and not thugs.

He stated this while addressing students at one of the male hostels, Mariere Hall, during a hostel tour on Friday morning.

Prof. Ogundipe said the student body was an avenue to prepare students for future leadership, and that the school management is working hard to restore the union since it was proscribed in 2016.

“We are looking at the submission of the Senate, as well as the security report.

“Once we are sure that everything is in accordance with the law of the University, we’ll make sure that we set up the student union body again.

“That body is meant to train leaders, it is not meant to train thugs”, he said.

Meanwhile, Prof. Ogundipe apologized to students for the poor living condition occasioned by the nationwide strike by the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU).

 He entreated students to bear with the school management as the Federal Government works to resolve the issue.

He said the school management is sufficiently aware of the challenges students are facing as a result of the strike and is doing everything to mitigate their suffering.

“Anything that happens in UNILAG, happens in Nigeria.

“That is why the national body (NASU) wants to be putting pressure on them (FG) so that the news can go round, for the nation to know that they are on strike.

“Because of this, I have come to apologize”, he said.

Addressing students’ fears that examination would come sooner than expected, the VC assured that the school’s academic calendar will be readjusted.

He noted that decision to adjust the calender shouldn’t be left to the school management alone as all stakeholders should have an input on the matter.

“We are aware of the issue of academic calendar.I believe in collective decision.

“We’ll invite the faculty executives. We’ll talk and agree on when the examination will be taking place.

“So don’t let anybody put unnecessary pressure on you that the academic calendar will not be adjusted”, he said.