A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS(1)

The University of Lagos founded in 1962 is made up of two campuses, the main campus at Akoka, Yaba and the College of Medicine in Idi-Araba, Surulere. Both sites are in the Mainland of Lagos, Nigeria. The main campus is largely surrounded by the scenic view of the Lagos lagoon and is located on 802 acres of land in Akoka, North Eastern part of Yaba, Lagos, the state of excellence and aquatic splendour. Moreover, the University of Lagos has, for over 4 decades, provided quality and objective education to the world. The University has built a legacy of excellence and has been instrumental in the production of top range graduates and academia who have had tremendous impact, directly or indirectly, on growth and development in Nigeria. The honours and awards won testify to the positive impact of the University of Lagos on education and academic matters in Nigeria.

From a modest intake of 131 students in 1962, enrolment in the university has now grown to over 39,000. It has a total staff strength of 3,365 made up of 1,386 Administrative and Technical Staff, 1,164 Junior and 813 Academic Staff.
The idea of the University of Lagos was contained in the Report of the Ashby Commission on Post-School Certificate and Higher Education in Nigeria and the subsequent report of the Advisory Commission of the UNESCO for the establishment of the University presented to the Government in September, 1960.

The University of Lagos was established by an Act of the Federal Parliament in ApriL 1962. Its development was planned to take place in three phases. The first phase began in October 1962 with the establishment of the Faculty of Business and Social Studies, the Faculty of Law and a Medical School which was conceived at the outset as an autonomous unit of the University and linked with a Teaching Hospital (LUTH).
The second phase began in October, 1964 with the establishment of the Faculty of Engineering, the Schools of African and Asian Studies, Humanities, Biological Sciences, Mathematical and Physical Sciences, the College of Education, Continuing Education Centre (CEC). the Institute of Mass Communication and the Comparative Education Study and Adaptation Centre (CESAC).

The third phase of the University's development was interrupted somewhat by the University crisis of 1965 followed by the national crisis of 1967-1970. In April, 1967, however, the Medical School officially became College of Medicine while the Faculty of Business and Social Studies was divided into the School of Administration and the School of Social Studies.

By October 1971, the University comprised two Faculties: Engineering and Law seven Schools including that of Environmental Design; two Colleges: Medicine and Education; three Institutes including those of Computer Sciences and Child Health, and two Centres: CEC and CESAC.

In an attempt to maximize the utilization of available manpower, and further encourage interdisciplinary cooperation, a restructuring of the teaching units was undertaken between 1972 and 1975. By 1976 the under listed Faculties had emerged from the existing Schools in addition to the two Faculties (Engineering and Law) which remained unaffected by the general structural changes since their establishment: Arts, Business Administration, Environmental Design, Science and Social Sciences. The College of Education had become a Faculty while the College of Medicine retained both its name and its autonomy. The following units had also been created: the Centre for Cultural Studies (1973/75) and the Institute of Education (1974).