The Lagos State University of Education (LASUED) on Thursday 12th February, 2026 recorded a major milestone as it successfully hosted its maiden Inaugural Lecture at the Senator Oluremi Tinubu Hall, Oto/Ijanikin Main Campus.
The lecture, themed “Nurturing Eco-Conscious and Socially Just Citizens: My Scholarly Journey in Social Studies and Environmental Education,” was delivered by Prof. Moshood Babatunde Lawal, Professor of Social Studies Education in the Department of Sociological Studies Education, College of Social Science Education (COSSED).
In her address, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Bidemi Bilkis Lafiaji-Okuneye, described the event as a defining moment in the life of the University.
“In the life of this University, we have successfully hosted our first Inaugural Lecture, delivered by Professor Moshood Babatunde Lawal. This historic lecture signifies a major step forward in our academic journey and clearly demonstrates that we are making steady progress as an institution committed to scholarly excellence,” she stated.
She explained that the lecture has established a new academic culture within the University, the tradition of Inaugural Lectures which the management intends to firmly entrench in the system.
“We intend to entrench this culture firmly in our system, possibly on a monthly basis, to ensure it becomes a sustained and celebrated intellectual exercise,” the Vice Chancellor said.
Prof. Lafiaji-Okuneye further emphasized that attaining the rank of Professor goes beyond promotion, describing it as a call to higher academic responsibility.
“Becoming a Professor is not merely a matter of promotion; it is a call to higher academic responsibility. The Inaugural Lecture serves as the formal academic rite of passage. It is through this intellectual engagement that a scholar is publicly affirmed and can confidently declare, ‘I am a Professor,’” she added.
She also announced that another Inaugural Lecture is scheduled for March and disclosed that before the end of the year, the University anticipates hosting up to six inaugural lectures as part of its commitment to strengthening research visibility and academic distinction.
Delivering his lecture, Prof. Lawal stressed that education must go beyond the mere transmission of knowledge and respond meaningfully to contemporary challenges facing humanity and the environment. He noted that education provides conceptual, ethical, and practical justification for rethinking how society prepares learners for present and future realities.
According to him, Social Studies remains highly relevant because it enables learners to understand the impact of human activities on society and nature. He explained that education ethical and responsible citizenship nurtures individuals who understand their role in maintaining nature’s balance, challenging injustice and harmful practices, and living with critical thinking, empathy, and responsibility.
Prof. Lawal described eco-social justice pedagogy as more than a teaching strategy, calling it a philosophical commitment built on three pillars: understanding the connections between human and non-human life and the environment; ensuring dignity, equality, and human rights; and fostering engaged and accountable citizenship.
He concluded with a call to action, urging educators to see the formation of responsible citizens as one of the most meaningful human endeavours and expressing optimism that through collaboration, society can shape a sustainable, fair, and ethical future for generations to come.
