UNILAG And University Missions: Past, Future And The Globe (2010 Convocation Lecture)
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Date
2011-01-13
Authors
Alao, N.O.
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Publisher
Medilag Press, UNILAG
Abstract
This paper examines the evolving role of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) within the broader context of university missions—past, present, and future—while highlighting the institution’s responses to global trends in higher education. Drawing on the 2010 Convocation Lecture, the author provides a critical reflection on UNILAG’s foundational objectives, its trajectory over the decades, and its alignment with the traditional triad mission of universities: teaching, research, and community service. The analysis underscores how the university has navigated socio-political challenges, resource constraints, and changing policy frameworks to uphold academic excellence and societal relevance. In anticipating the future, the lecture advocates for a redefinition of university missions to address global imperatives such as technological innovation, climate change, global health, and international collaboration. The author contends that African universities, including UNILAG, must become globally competitive while remaining locally impactful. Emphasis is placed on quality assurance, entrepreneurial education, strategic partnerships, and robust governance structures as critical enablers of transformation. Through a blend of historical narrative and visionary discourse, the lecture calls for institutional introspection and purposeful reform. The global university model is presented not as a wholesale importation of Western standards but as a context-sensitive reimagining of what it means to educate for the 21st century and beyond. Ultimately, the paper challenges stakeholders to reposition UNILAG as a catalyst for national development and a key player in the global knowledge economy.
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UNILAG And University Missions: Past, Future And The Globe (2010 Convocation Lecture)
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Citation
Alao, N.O. (2011). UNILAG And University Missions: Past, Future And The Globe. 2010 Convocation Lecture Delivered At The J.F. Ade. Ajayi Auditorium. 23p.