The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Professor Folasade T. Ogunsola, OON, FAS, has taken a major step towards enhancing campus safety with the provision of emergency hotlines and registered SIM cards to key operational units of the University.
The presentation, which took place on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at the Vice-Chancellor’s Office on the 11th Floor, forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen emergency response mechanisms, improve communication, and enhance service delivery across the University.
The initiative, tagged UNILAG Rapid Response Lines (UNILAG Hotlines), targets critical units whose functions are central to the safety, health, and welfare of the University community. These include the Medical Centre, Safeguarding Centre, Security Unit, Student Affairs Division, Counselling Unit, and the Fire Service Unit.
Speaking at the event, the Director of Quality Assurance and SERVICOM (QAS), Professor Olufemi Saibu, described the initiative as a strategic intervention aimed at improving emergency preparedness and response. He noted that effective communication remains fundamental to institutional efficiency, stressing that the emergency hotlines would enable faster coordination, real-time response, and improved service delivery during emergencies.
Professor Saibu expressed appreciation to the Vice-Chancellor for her proactive leadership and commitment to innovation, safety, and stakeholder welfare. He also acknowledged the earlier provision of tricycles to selected units, noting that the intervention had significantly improved mobility and operational efficiency across the campuses.
In her remarks, Professor Ogunsola commended the Heads of Units for their dedication to service and explained that the initiative was driven by the need to institutionalize prompt emergency response systems and strengthen internal communication channels. She emphasized that a modern university must prioritize safety, health, and welfare, adding that emergencies require swift action and reliable communication infrastructure.
According to the Vice-Chancellor, the deployment of emergency hotlines and registered SIM cards is a deliberate step to ensure that distress calls are promptly attended to and that response times across units are significantly reduced. She reaffirmed her administration’s commitment to service excellence, safety, and continuous institutional improvement, stressing that the welfare of students, staff, and visitors remains a top priority.
Heads of beneficiary units welcomed the initiative, describing it as timely and impactful. The Acting Director of the Safeguarding Centre, Dr. Abiola Akinyode-Afolabi, noted that enhanced communication would improve surveillance, coordination, and emergency intervention, while calling for clear referral pathways to strengthen inter-unit collaboration.
Similarly, the Coordinator of the Security Unit, Mr. David Omotosho, and the Chief Fire Officer, Mr. Jimoh Wasiu Oriyomi, commended the Vice-Chancellor for her responsiveness to operational challenges. Units that earlier benefited from the provision of tricycles, including security units at the Akoka and Idi-Araba campuses, also acknowledged the positive impact of improved mobility on patrols and emergency response.
The initiative underscores UNILAG’s commitment to creating a safer, more responsive, and student-friendly campus environment.
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