UNILAG reopens physical classes Monday with expanded campus shuttle

• Ikeja, Ikorodu, CMS, others named as new shuttle locations

The University of Lagos (UNILAG) says it will resume physical lectures on Monday May 10 for the 2019/2020 second semester academic session with an expanded and rejuvenated campus shuttle.

This is coming after completing the first semester proramme including examinations virtually.

The Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics and Research), Prof. Oluwole Familoni, said the university had made it compulsory for all students to comply with COVID-19 protocols to aid the smooth running of the second semester academic activities.

Familoni said the university successfully deployed its e-learning platform during the first semester.

Already, the university as part of its drive to cater for the welfare of its staff and students, it had concluded the bus reform initiative services for UNILAG commuters.

The initiative, which is being executed by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, would commence in phases beginning from Monday May 10.

Trail run operations along the Yaba-UNILAG (phase 1) and Bariga-UNILAG (phase 2) routes were said to have been undertaken on Wednesday, May 5, 2021.

It was learnt that full operations would begin on Monday, May 10, 2021 from 6am to 10pm daily at these locations.

The shuttle has been extended to other locations such as Ikeja, Agege, Ikorodu, Iyana-Ipaja, Ojota-Berger and CMS.

A report from UNILAG said, “In line with the central ticketing system (COWRY system) that LASG has deployed for use on all public transport schemes in the state, the campus bus services will also use the Cowry System for fare collection on the selected routes.”

It also reported the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, as urging all members of the UNILAG community to give all necessary support towards achieving a successful commencement of the operations.

Familoni commented on the e-learning, saying, “The online learning system deployed to complete the first semester academic activities for about 50,000 students, both undergraduates and postgraduates was for the period of eight weeks.

“The lecture was delivered successfully through the customized Learning Management System (LMS) the university library deployed its services to support students with print resources, the library also offer help through the Chat-a-librarian service where students have access through virtual chat and special arrangements were made for the visually impaired students.

“The online examination was conducted using a cloud based online Platform, the WebTest and the students were supported with free data by the school management and the students were also well monitored.

“It is in our cognizant opinion that the university of Lagos and all other institutions should be encouraged to further use the virtual learning platform through the use of special ground for the university to be able to carry out this work”.

Regarding the safety and security of students on resumption, the Dean of Students Affairs, Prof. Ademola Adeleke, urged the students to be more security conscious.

He said arrangement had been made with neighbouring police to keep an eye on neighbouring communities.