
By Fathia Omotosho, Hikmah Adeyemi, Egenti Joy, Akano Islamiyat, and Azeezat Olatunde.
The Dean of Environmental Sciences, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Professor Modupe Omirin has explained the determination of her faculty to empower its students to be problem solvers.
Speaking to UNILAG Sun, Prof. Omirin highlighted practical training, student empowerment, and addressing urban challenges as some of the main priorities of her leadership.
Discussing the practical approaches taken by the faculty to train their students, she said “We try to empower our students to be problem solvers. I once sent my students to Makoko to conduct a survey and do urban regeneration work. While the results of the survey were shocking, the students learned that it is better to listen to members of a community before carrying out reforms and avoid a paternalistic approach where we or the government know what is best for the people.”
Prof. Omirin further stressed the significance of involving students and alumni in reforming the faculty, describing it as essential for fostering a sense of ownership.
“When students and alumni are involved in regeneration and re-planning, they see it as our project, our environment,” she said.
Speaking on her achievement in developing faculty infrastructure, Omirin said that she was able to collaborate with an alumnus of the faculty who is also a member of the Federal House of Representatives to build a borehole for the faculty, which has alleviated the challenges of water supply within the faculty.
“Training urban planners who understand the technical aspects and the human elements of city planning is essential. Our students must be equipped to design solutions that are not only innovative but also inclusive,” Prof. Omirin continued, asserting that her leadership extends beyond academia to developing minds capable of addressing the urban issues facing the country.
Omirin emphasised the importance of empowering women to take an active role in shaping the future of urban development.
“We are seeing an encouraging increase in the number of women pursuing careers in environmental sciences,” she said. “Some of our best students are females; it is a more competitive environment than before. This is essential for creating sustainable cities that benefit all members of society.”
Prof. Omirin expressed her desire for every student in the faculty to graduate with the knowledge to contribute meaningfully to society. She said, “I hope my tenure will be remembered for prioritizing academic excellence and social impact in equal measure.”
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