The Pro-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Dr Wale Babalakin, has urged individuals and corporate bodies to join the government in funding education to deliver quality education to Nigerians.
Babalakin, who spoke on Saturday in Lagos at the fundraising dinner organised by the alumni of the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, said “We are here because we have a product to celebrate; UNILAG College of Medicine is a good product to celebrate; but to keep the standard we need substantial funding. Government alone cannot afford to keep funding education in Nigeria.
“To deliver quality education to Nigerians, a lot of money is needed and we cannot continue to give poor quality education because of funding. We must, therefore, look for alternative funding to deliver quality education to our people,” Babalakin said.
Babalakin lauded the alumni for giving back to their alma mater years after graduation.
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“It is very impressive to see the likes of Prof Ashiru so determined and enthusiastic that their alma mater is set on the right pedestal. I look forward to the day Nigerian universities will be financially buoyant that government funding will just be an addition,” Babalakin said.
Also speaking, the Provost, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Prof Foluso Lesi, said the event served as an avenue for former students of the College to reunite and discuss how to move the college forward.
The Chairman, Organising Committee, Prof Oladapo Ashiru, added that the University of Lagos is only emulating universities all over the world, who have a day set aside to celebrate their legacy and that fund raised at the event would be used in advancing the college.