Kayode Olanrewaju 
A partnership aimed at exploring opportunities in staff and students exchange programmes, knowledge sharing, research collaboration, and technology-driven enhancement in Blood Supply Chain in Nigeria, among others, is set to evolve between Lagos State University (LASU) and the University of Missouri, St. Louis, United States of America.
The Director of Global Exchange Programme of the University of Missouri, Prof Temidayo Akenroye visited LASU last week to deliberate with the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello at Ojo main campus of the university on the areas of the collaboration and bolster the partnership.
According to the Director, Directorate of ICT, LASU, Prof Toyin Enikuomehin, who facilitated the engagement, Akenroye visit to LASU was aimed at deepening and concretising the ongoing discussions about the collaboration between the two universities.
Speaking on the proposed partnership, Akenroye, a Professor of Supply Chain Management, said the University of Missouri was happy with the visible progress that LASU has made in the last two years under the current management-led by Prof Olatunji-Bello. He stated: “My job as Director of Global Exchange Programme is to harness new collaborations and strengthen existing ones.
Prof Enikuomehin had reached out to us (University of Missouri) over two years ago to propose a partnership, but the university was initially reluctant. “However, we have been monitoring the progress of LASU since that period, and we are now satisfied that the university has the capabilities that we want in a partner institution.”
Despite being a state university, Akenroye noted that LASU’s ranking had been impressive in the last few years, a development that is also strengthened by the ICT-driven innovations and components taking place in the institution.
Meanwhile, in her response, the Vice-Chancellor expressed delight over the visit and promised to provide the needed support that will consolidate and make a mutually beneficial collaboration with the University of Missouri possible.
The robust engagement between both institutions, according to a statement by the LASU, centered on exploring opportunities in the areas of staff and students exchange programmes, knowledge sharing, research collaboration, and technology driven enhancement in the blood supply chain in Nigeria, among others.
Other principal officers of LASU at the meeting include the Director, Directorate of Linkages, Partnerships and Collaborations, Prof Kabir Akinyemi, and other top management staff of the state university.
