The Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), Prof. Bilkis Lafiaji-Okuneye, announced a new measure aimed at sanitising the campus: 4,500 prospective students will undergo drug testing before they can be admitted.

Speaking on a recent development sparked by a drug-related incident involving a student earlier this year, Lafiaji-Okuneye said the testing protocol is now essential to maintain a healthy, focused university community. LASUED has partnered with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to implement the 2024/25 admissions screening.

According to the LASUED chief, no amount of high scores in UTME (Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination) or SSCE (Senior Secondary Certificate Examination) results will guarantee admission unless the candidate is certified drug-free.

While acknowledging the added cost of drug testing, she insisted the investment is worthwhile for the sake of students’ mental well-being, academic performance, and the overall standard of LASUED as it grows.

“We are a teacher-grooming institution,” Lafiaji-Okuneye stated. “We aim to instill in our would-be teachers the morals and discipline worthy of the profession. This way, they can positively impact pupils and students in their future careers. These will be the nation’s teachers tomorrow, so we’re taking extra measures to bring out the best in them, because you cannot give what you don’t have.”

The Vice-Chancellor also addressed concerns about the influx of socially premature students into universities, urging parents to play a more proactive role in shaping their children’s social values. She emphasised the importance of equipping young people with morals that can resist peer pressure and the lure of drug use on campus.

She cautioned parents against pushing children forward too quickly in their academic journeys or pressuring schools to promote them despite inadequate readiness. She also criticised the practice of using “miracle centres” to obtain SSCE or UTME results, warning that such credentials are unreliable and do not foster genuine academic resilience.

Lafiaji-Okuneye tied rising student withdrawals to the presence of students who entered with unearned or substandard certificates, noting that such gaps often hinder the university’s ability to maintain its standards.

On a positive note, she praised the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for progressively strengthening security features in its examinations, noting a significant decline in malpractices like impersonation.

As LASUED moves forward with these reforms, the university community awaits the potential long-term impact on student welfare, academic integrity, and the overall quality of education. If you’re an LASUED applicant or guardian, stay tuned for further details on the drug-testing process, NDLEA coordination, and admission timelines.