ABOUT US

From the Desk of the Director

It is with utmost delight that I render this conspectus on the Centre for General Studies as its current Director. Like all global interfacing institutions, the Centre, has evolved strategies to nsure convenient and effective Online Learning System of General Studies for the students. The institution of General Studies in Nigerian Universities originated with the University law 1961,(E.N.L. No 21, of 1961, status 6) as “the College of General Studies”, included in the thirty-six Colleges listed for establishment. Afterwards, the National Universities Commission (NUC) in 1989 approved minimum academic requirements for General Studies in all Nigerian Universities. As such, General Studies Courses became compulsory for all categories of courses/studies in universities, with each student expected to pass five out of six of these courses before graduation. The establishment, history, aim and functions of the Centre have been fully documented in the GST Handbook.

General Studies specification introduces the concepts of the three domains of knowledge: social; culture, arts and humanities; and science, mathematics and technology. It offers candidates studying these domains an insight into all aspects of society and the way the three domains interact to make a better individual and society. Thus, General Studies offers a broad interdisciplinary program that can be tailored to match the wide variety of educational and professional goals of students. On intent, these studies are designed to equip and empower students with critical knowledge in other fields outside their chosen areas of specialization. It is expected that on exposure to the studies, graduates of this University would be better prepared to function properly in the society, having in mind that they can now view issues through multilateral perspectives. Knowledge in multitude of subjects, gained from exposure to general studies, in addition to their core specialization, ensures that students are often quite more desirable to many employers.

We offer: Philosophy and Logic, Nigerian Peoples and Culture, Use of English and Library Studies, General African Studies, Computer Studies and Entrepreneurial and Business Innovations. The Entrepreneurial and Business Innovations study has been restructured to encourage students to run their own businesses after graduation. In line with best global practices, the students now have access to well documented and easy to understand online course contents and visual tools/links in module formats. This combination of course materials make general study learning more fun and interactive. Depending on the college or university, coursework may include literature, the arts, computer science, social science, maths, science, public speaking, history, philosophy and more.

I specially appreciate the support of our amiable Vice Chancellor - Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, FAS, and the very committed staff members of the University who designed and enriched the online stages of content writing, editing, power point preparation, recording and technical input for the studies. We are also indebted to the pioneer authors, editors and tutors across the Departments of Philosophy, History, Sociology, English, Computer Science, and Faculties of Social Sciences, Science and Management Sciences (then Business Administration), who provided the initial course contents for the materials hitherto in use which formed the bedrock of the current modules.

At the University of Lagos Centre for General Studies, we will continually enrich the contents of the courses on offer to nurture robust graduates amongst our regular students, Distant Learning Institute and Continuous Education students, who are ready to undertake contemporary challenges while building better societies.

From the Director and GST staff, we encourage all students at the University of Lagos to utilise the knowledge gained from our courses to further improve their lives.

ESTABLISHMENT OF GENERAL STUDIES IN UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS

The present General Studies Programme came into being many years ago, consequent upon the statute of the National Universities Commission to all the Federal Universities and other higher institutions of learning for students to embark upon and pass certain courses of general and diverse nature before graduation. In the past, the courses offered were called General African Studies (GAS), and the co-ordinating office was known as GAS Office. It was then headed by Prof. (Mrs.) Sophia Oluwole.

The GAS Office then was on the ground floor of the Faculty of Arts Building. Later, GAS Office was renamed GST Unit by the then Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Jelili Omotola, and presently it is called Centre for General Studies.

Prof. C.S. Momoh was appointed the pioneer head of the GST Unit, followed by Prof. Don Pedro, who was succeeded by Prof. P.G.C. Odeigah. Later, Prof. M.O. Ilori took over as Head of the Centre, succeeded by Prof. O. A. Obashoro-John,then Prof. I.Nwokoro. At present, Prof. (Mrs.) Aderonke Lawal-Are heads the Centre. The General Studies Centre (GST) is an arm of the Vice-Chancellor's office.

GST COURSE COORDINATORS

Prof.A.O Lawal-Are

Director, General Studies

Dr. Racheal O. Odunlade

Deputy Director, General Studies

Dr. Fatai Asodun

Coordinator, GST 102

Dr. Omon Osiki

Coordinator, GST 103

Prof.(Mrs) Y.A. Zaid

Coordinator, GST 105

Dr. K. Kofoworola

Coordinator, GST 105

Prof. F.A. Badru

Coordinator, GST 201

Dr. F. O. Alamu

Coordinator, GST 214

Prof. Sunday Adebisi

Coordinator, GST 307