The Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, on Tuesday, matriculated 12,590 students for its 2024/2025 academic session, and warned them to shun indiscipline and cultism.
The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, at the 2024/2025 matriculation ceremony, said over 62,000 applicants applied to the university.
Olatunji-Bello urged the students to be of good behaviour and shun indiscipline.
“Today’s ceremony officially welcomes the newly-admitted students into LASU’s academic programmes, having acquired the requisite qualification and excellence to become bona fide students of our esteemed institution.
“A total number of 12,590 students were admitted out of over 15,000 applicants that subscribed to the university.
“Therefore, you must count yourselves very lucky to be among the very few that have been admitted,” she said.
Olatunji-Bello who said over 62,000 students applied for an admission to the school said people started changing university after the first set of admissions on merit.
“Actually, it was over 62,000 students. After the first set of merit admission, people started changing universities and then it dropped to 15,000.
“It is on this note that I will urge you to face your studies so as not to lose the huge opportunity of getting university education,” she said.
She urged the students to shun violence and face their studies, saying that LASU would not tolerate any form of indiscipline.
“Please be assured that your safety within and around the university campus is of utmost importance to the university management.
“Hence, we have put in place adequate security measures, and I urge you to report any suspicious activities to the university authority immediately, and we will respond promptly.
“It is expected that you abide by the rules and regulations of the university and be committed to your studies.
“Carry out all your must-haves, shun deviant behaviours, avoid indecent dressing.
“Carefully select your friends, bad friends destroy good habits. The university has zero tolerance for cultism. If you see something, you say something,” she said.
She also advised the students to avoid corruption and and other vices that could expose them to danger.
The vice-chancellor also said that the institution frowned at sexual and gender based violence while urging students to report such act to the appropriate authority.
“I must stress that the university under my administration has zero tolerance for sexual and gender-based violence.
“This has informed our decision to establish the Directorate of Response and Prevention, Preventing Sexual and Gender-Based Violence.
“Do not keep silent when you are harassed or you are assaulted in any manner. Report to the centre and if you see something, you say something.
“Don’t be quiet and don’t be intimidated. Be bold enough to report whoever is assaulting you,” she said.
She also advised the students to show respect to their colleagues and staff of the university to make their stay successful and productive.
“As a university, we embrace the principles of academic freedom, and an environment that encourages critical thinking and creativity.
“However, in the classroom, that freedom often comes with equivalent obligations and boundaries. We take pride in training students for life and we are focused on character development of our students.
“This is based on the hope that when you graduate, you will contribute meaningfully to developmental discussions around the globe.
“Our objective at LASU is to produce graduates who will be a catalyst to the process of transformation of the state to a greater purpose,” she said.(NAN)
