By; Peace Udugba.
Governor Sanwo-Olu Opens New 550-Seater Olatunji Bello Auditorium at LASU.
The Lagos State University (LASU) Epe campus was abuzz with excitement on Wednesday as Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu formally opened a new 550-seater auditorium endowed to the school by the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), Mr. Olatunji Bello.
The auditorium, completed with an artistic facade, was donated to the school four years ago to mark Bello’s 60th birthday. The opening of the facility fulfilled the pledge made by the former Secretary to Lagos State Government. The ceremony was attended by academics, veteran journalists, top government officials, and students, including former Ogun State Governor, Aremo Segun Osoba, and top Lagos political leaders.
Sanwo-Olu described the facility as a “beacon of knowledge, creativity, and intellectual engagement”, noting that the edifice was completed to enhance academic discourse and cultural exchange that would enrich students’ learning and inspire them for excellence. He thanked Bello for the donation, stressing that the endowment aligned with the Education and Technology component of his administration’s THEMES+ Agenda.
The Governor said, “This iconic edifice, generously donated by one of our illustrious sons, Hon. Olatunji Bello, stands as a testament to vision, commitment, and the enduring value of giving back to society.” He pledged that his administration would continue to support individual and corporate efforts geared towards bringing more infrastructure to the school.
Bello said his desire to leave an enduring legacy in academia led to the construction of the auditorium. He stressed that the gesture was his own way of supporting the notion that public purpose would be served better by helping public universities fill the infrastructural gap.
The auditorium is designed to meet global standards for functionality and spatial efficiency. It features a compact writing platform, overhead gallery, cloak rooms, and three units of 30-seater classrooms that can be merged for larger gatherings. The facility also has an open space for office that can be partitioned into office units.
LASU Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, said the facility represented more than a new architectural beauty on the campus, but a strategic investment in academic excellence and institutional identity. She noted that the FCCPC boss had, through word and deed, inscribed his name in the permanent record of LASU’s growth story.
