Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, who recently completed her five-year tenure as the ninth Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University (LASU), has said public universities may need to charge at least N1 million per student annually to achieve financial sustainability.
Olatunji-Bello made the disclosure in an interview with Wale Akinselure following the completion of her tenure on September 19, 2026, where she reflected on her administration’s achievements, challenges and unfinished projects.
She said LASU was confronted with several challenges when she assumed office in 2021, including inadequate infrastructure, poor drainage, insufficient toilet facilities, financial constraints and academic programmes requiring accreditation.
According to her, her administration addressed the drainage problem, provided toilet facilities across faculties at the Ojo and Epe campuses, secured accreditation for programmes and completed several projects inherited from the previous administration.
She also cited the completion of hostel projects as one of the major infrastructure achievements of her administration, noting that the rising cost of construction made the projects more difficult to complete.
2024 Protest
The former VC identified the 2024 students’ protest over the university’s computer-based testing arrangements as the lowest point of her tenure.
She explained that the crisis followed a dispute involving CBT 18, which resulted in a stampede and disrupted students’ examinations.
Olatunji-Bello said the university initially considered charging students N10,000 to resolve the situation but reduced the proposed payment to N5,000 and later N3,000 following resistance from the students.
She eventually withdrew the proposed charge and directed that students write their examinations using the pen-and-paper format.
She said the decision was taken to prevent the situation from escalating and potentially leading to damage to university property.
On the other hand, she described LASU’s emergence as the most subscribed university by UTME candidates in 2025 as one of the highest points of her administration.
According to her, LASU maintained the position in 2026 and received N25 million for maintaining compliance with Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board regulations.
Admission Pressure
Olatunji-Bello said LASU’s popularity among prospective students had also created significant pressure on the university’s admission process.
She explained that the institution follows JAMB regulations, with 70 per cent of admissions allocated to merit, while other categories cover catchment, discretionary admissions and direct entry.
She said the system had contributed to the admission of students with high academic performance, adding that the university had recorded applicants with screening scores of more than 90 per cent.
IGR Increased From N3bn to N13bn
The former VC said LASU’s internally generated revenue rose from about N3 billion when she assumed office to N13 billion during her administration.
She attributed the increase to the introduction of new academic programmes, digitalisation of university processes, ventures, diploma programmes, consultancy services, short-term courses and the expansion of postgraduate programmes.
She said the university introduced more than 75 new postgraduate programmes and explored lawful avenues for increasing its internally generated revenue.
However, she stressed that the increase in IGR had not made LASU financially self-sufficient.
According to her, the university’s monthly payroll exceeds N1 billion, while its monthly electricity bill is about N140 million.
She added that the institution still had to augment salary payments by approximately N240 million monthly.
Olatunji-Bello therefore argued that public universities seeking financial independence would have to significantly increase tuition fees, estimating that fees of at least N1 million per student annually could be required.
She said maintaining academic excellence also requires adequate funding for infrastructure, electricity, security, cleaning and other operational expenses.
Accommodation Remains a Challenge
The former VC put LASU’s total student population, including postgraduate and part-time students, at about 85,000, although she said only about 12,000 students were physically on campus at any given time.
She acknowledged that the university does not currently have enough accommodation for all students.
According to her, about 8,000 students are accommodated in university-owned hostels and facilities developed through public-private partnerships involving Lagos State and private partners.
She said accommodation is allocated based on priority and a first-come, first-served arrangement.
Open Dialogue Helped Prevent Strikes
Olatunji-Bello attributed the relative stability in industrial relations during her tenure to dialogue and an open-door policy.
She disclosed that while studying at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, she had conducted research on industrial actions in Nigerian universities, using LASU as a case study.
She said the findings from that research informed her approach to managing relations with the university’s unions.
According to her, the administration held regular roundtable discussions with union representatives, allowing concerns to be addressed before they escalated into major industrial actions.
Research and Innovation
The former VC also highlighted research and innovation as major areas of focus during her tenure.
She said the university established a N5 million competitive internal research grant for academic staff, while seven LASU academics secured more than N29 million in grants from the Lagos State Research and Innovation Council between 2022 and 2025.
She further disclosed that LASU secured a N3 billion TETFund Centre of Excellence in 2026, which she described as the only one of its kind in the South-West.
According to her, the university also strengthened research collaborations, intellectual property protection and research ethics procedures.
She said LASU had digitalised several processes, from admission and screening to certificate collection and verification, allowing graduates to obtain certificates online.
LASU Has AI Policy, Says Ex-VC
Olatunji-Bello said LASU has an artificial intelligence policy approved by its Senate, which guides the ethical use and citation of AI-generated content.
She said the policy was adopted following a Senate decision in July 2022 and applies to staff and students.
According to her, the university encourages the use of AI but requires users to apply the technology ethically and acknowledge its use where appropriate.
She added that the policy would require regular review as AI technology continues to evolve.
Central Research Laboratory Still Uncompleted
Despite the achievements recorded under her administration, Olatunji-Bello said some projects remained unfinished.
She identified the proposed Central Research Laboratory as one of the major projects she could not complete.
She said the university currently has a smaller research laboratory undergoing renovation, while the larger facility she envisioned would have to be pursued by her successor.
She also urged the Lagos State Government to prioritise the completion of the university’s Innovation Hub and other outstanding building projects.
LASU's Green Ranking Achievement
On her administration’s ambition to position LASU among the leading universities in West Africa, Olatunji-Bello said the university achieved notable recognition in the UI GreenMetric World University Rankings.
She said LASU occupied the top position in West Africa in the sustainability-focused ranking in 2022 and 2023 and maintained its position in subsequent years, while also recording recognition in the sub-Saharan African category.
She added that LASU subsequently secured the vice-chairmanship of the UI GreenMetric World University Ranking network.
As she handed over after five years in office, Olatunji-Bello said the university’s future would depend on continued investment in infrastructure, research, innovation, digitalisation and sustainable financing.
Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, who recently completed her five-year tenure as the ninth Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University (LASU), has said public universities may need to charge at least N1 million per student annually to achieve financial sustainability.
Olatunji-Bello made the disclosure in an interview with Wale Akinselure following the completion of her tenure on September 19, 2026, where she reflected on her administration’s achievements, challenges and unfinished projects.
She said LASU was confronted with several challenges when she assumed office in 2021, including inadequate infrastructure, poor drainage, insufficient toilet facilities, financial constraints and academic programmes requiring accreditation.
According to her, her administration addressed the drainage problem, provided toilet facilities across faculties at the Ojo and Epe campuses, secured accreditation for programmes and completed several projects inherited from the previous administration.
She also cited the completion of hostel projects as one of the major infrastructure achievements of her administration, noting that the rising cost of construction made the projects more difficult to complete.
2024 Protest
The former VC identified the 2024 students’ protest over the university’s computer-based testing arrangements as the lowest point of her tenure.
She explained that the crisis followed a dispute involving CBT 18, which resulted in a stampede and disrupted students’ examinations.
Olatunji-Bello said the university initially considered charging students N10,000 to resolve the situation but reduced the proposed payment to N5,000 and later N3,000 following resistance from the students.
She eventually withdrew the proposed charge and directed that students write their examinations using the pen-and-paper format.
She said the decision was taken to prevent the situation from escalating and potentially leading to damage to university property.
On the other hand, she described LASU’s emergence as the most subscribed university by UTME candidates in 2025 as one of the highest points of her administration.
According to her, LASU maintained the position in 2026 and received N25 million for maintaining compliance with Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board regulations.
Admission Pressure
Olatunji-Bello said LASU’s popularity among prospective students had also created significant pressure on the university’s admission process.
She explained that the institution follows JAMB regulations, with 70 per cent of admissions allocated to merit, while other categories cover catchment, discretionary admissions and direct entry.
She said the system had contributed to the admission of students with high academic performance, adding that the university had recorded applicants with screening scores of more than 90 per cent.
IGR Increased From N3bn to N13bn
The former VC said LASU’s internally generated revenue rose from about N3 billion when she assumed office to N13 billion during her administration.
She attributed the increase to the introduction of new academic programmes, digitalisation of university processes, ventures, diploma programmes, consultancy services, short-term courses and the expansion of postgraduate programmes.
She said the university introduced more than 75 new postgraduate programmes and explored lawful avenues for increasing its internally generated revenue.
However, she stressed that the increase in IGR had not made LASU financially self-sufficient.
According to her, the university’s monthly payroll exceeds N1 billion, while its monthly electricity bill is about N140 million.
She added that the institution still had to augment salary payments by approximately N240 million monthly.
Olatunji-Bello therefore argued that public universities seeking financial independence would have to significantly increase tuition fees, estimating that fees of at least N1 million per student annually could be required.
She said maintaining academic excellence also requires adequate funding for infrastructure, electricity, security, cleaning and other operational expenses.
Accommodation Remains a Challenge
The former VC put LASU’s total student population, including postgraduate and part-time students, at about 85,000, although she said only about 12,000 students were physically on campus at any given time.
She acknowledged that the university does not currently have enough accommodation for all students.
According to her, about 8,000 students are accommodated in university-owned hostels and facilities developed through public-private partnerships involving Lagos State and private partners.
She said accommodation is allocated based on priority and a first-come, first-served arrangement.
Open Dialogue Helped Prevent Strikes
Olatunji-Bello attributed the relative stability in industrial relations during her tenure to dialogue and an open-door policy.
She disclosed that while studying at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, she had conducted research on industrial actions in Nigerian universities, using LASU as a case study.
She said the findings from that research informed her approach to managing relations with the university’s unions.
According to her, the administration held regular roundtable discussions with union representatives, allowing concerns to be addressed before they escalated into major industrial actions.
Research and Innovation
The former VC also highlighted research and innovation as major areas of focus during her tenure.
She said the university established a N5 million competitive internal research grant for academic staff, while seven LASU academics secured more than N29 million in grants from the Lagos State Research and Innovation Council between 2022 and 2025.
She further disclosed that LASU secured a N3 billion TETFund Centre of Excellence in 2026, which she described as the only one of its kind in the South-West.
According to her, the university also strengthened research collaborations, intellectual property protection and research ethics procedures.
She said LASU had digitalised several processes, from admission and screening to certificate collection and verification, allowing graduates to obtain certificates online.
LASU Has AI Policy, Says Ex-VC
Olatunji-Bello said LASU has an artificial intelligence policy approved by its Senate, which guides the ethical use and citation of AI-generated content.
She said the policy was adopted following a Senate decision in July 2022 and applies to staff and students.
According to her, the university encourages the use of AI but requires users to apply the technology ethically and acknowledge its use where appropriate.
She added that the policy would require regular review as AI technology continues to evolve.
Central Research Laboratory Still Uncompleted
Despite the achievements recorded under her administration, Olatunji-Bello said some projects remained unfinished.
She identified the proposed Central Research Laboratory as one of the major projects she could not complete.
She said the university currently has a smaller research laboratory undergoing renovation, while the larger facility she envisioned would have to be pursued by her successor.
She also urged the Lagos State Government to prioritise the completion of the university’s Innovation Hub and other outstanding building projects.
LASU's Green Ranking Achievement
On her administration’s ambition to position LASU among the leading universities in West Africa, Olatunji-Bello said the university achieved notable recognition in the UI GreenMetric World University Rankings.
She said LASU occupied the top position in West Africa in the sustainability-focused ranking in 2022 and 2023 and maintained its position in subsequent years, while also recording recognition in the sub-Saharan African category.
She added that LASU subsequently secured the vice-chairmanship of the UI GreenMetric World University Ranking network.
As she handed over after five years in office, Olatunji-Bello said the university’s future would depend on continued investment in infrastructure, research, innovation, digitalisation and sustainable financing.
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