From Blueprint to Beacon: 14-Year Library Dream Ignites at LASU
A 14-year vision finally became a towering reality at the Lagos State University (LASU) main campus on Tuesday, as Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu inaugurated a state-of-the-art library complex, heralding a new chapter for scholarship in West Africa.
The atmosphere was electric, not just with the performances of the LASU Cultural Troupe, but with a palpable sense of achievement. The newly unveiled Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu Library Complex, a project first imagined in 2011, now stands as a monument to persistence and partnership.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, visibly impressed, used the occasion to reaffirm his administration’s deep investment in tertiary education. He directly responded to appeals from university staff, making two significant announcements to roaring applause.
“To ease the mobility of our dedicated staff and improve their welfare, we will be providing five new staff buses,” the Governor declared. “Furthermore, we are releasing funds for the immediate completion of the Faculty of Management Sciences Auditorium.”
The Governor reserved high praise for the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, whose leadership he hailed as “visionary.” He credited her “unrelenting drive” for shepherding the complex from a mere concept to its full glory.
For the Vice-Chancellor, the day was deeply personal. It was during her tenure as Acting Vice-Chancellor in 2011 that the library’s journey began.
“This project represents the fruit of persistence, partnership, and prayer,” Professor Olatunji-Bello shared, her voice echoing the pride of the moment. “It is a symbol of what long-term vision and institutional commitment can achieve.”
She described the facility not just as a building, but as a “beacon of scholarship and innovation” that will redefine learning and firmly place LASU on the global academic map.
The scale of the achievement was detailed by the contractors, CCECC, who revealed the library is arguably the largest in West Africa. It’s a futuristic hub equipped with five lifts, a 24-hour power supply, digital e-libraries, and a modern firefighting system, built to serve thousands of students for generations.
The sentiment of a transformative leap was echoed by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, who stated, “To build a nation that competes globally, we must raise individuals who think globally. This library exemplifies what is possible when foresight meets leadership.”
The celebration was capped with heartfelt recognitions. The students’ union crowned Governor Sanwo-Olu the “Baba Aluta of LASU” and bestowed the title of “Senior Abiyamo of Nigeria” upon Professor Olatunji-Bello-honorifics acknowledging their profound dedication to student welfare and development.
With the tape cut and the plaque unveiled, the new library now stands not just as a repository of books, but as a vibrant testament to LASU’s resilience and its soaring ambitions for global academic excellence.
