In a bid to promote qualitative research and management studies across Africa, the Lagos Business School, in partnership with the GAMSU Foundation on Tuesday unveiled the Gamaliel and Susan International Management Research Centre.
The state of the art facility, valued at over N1bn was funded by the GAMSU Foundation, alongside other donors in a collaborative effort geared towards improving the standard of education in the country.
In his remarks, the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Abimbola Salu-Hundeyin, said the centre represents the impact the late Gamaliel Onosode had on management.
Sanwo-Olu said, “Today’s theme, the role of research in shaping Africa’s landscape speaks to the transformative power that thoughtful and rigorous research can have on a people, particularly, on our continent.
“The Lagos Business School, through this state-of-the-art research centre, will expand its commitment to contributing significantly to the intellectual work that will shape the future of Africa and impact our developmental strides.”
Noting that research is the bedrock upon which development is built, Sanwo-Olu expressed optimism that the centre represents another giant leap to advancing knowledge that is uniquely relevant.
According to him, through research, we can chart a brighter course for the development of Lagos State and Nigeria by extension.
He added, “Research illuminates new pathways, challenges existing paradigms and provides the insights needed to address the complex challenges facing our society. In the context of management, research becomes a compass guiding businesses, policymakers and institutions towards sustainable and impactful decisions.”
In his welcome address, the Dean of the Lagos Business School, Prof Chris Ogbechie, thanked the foundation for their munificence in funding the erection of the building which cost well over N1bn to construct.
He said the centre would become a vibrant hub for cutting edge research which will enable the institution to positively impact the society.
Ogbechie said, “This project was conceived to provide the platform for research and management education that will have a significant impact in our society. If you check very well – leadership, ethics, sustainability, these are values that Gamaliel Onosode stood for in his lifetime.
“So, he must be pleased that we are doing this today, because the various centres that are housed in this magnificent building will do a lot in ensuring that we have a better society.”
On his part, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the GAMSU Foundation, Moyo Ajekigbe, described the commissioning of the project as a thing of immense pride.
He said the choice of citing the project at Lagos Business School was premised on the strength of the brand and its passion for excellence.
He said, “Mr Onosode had a passion for quality education. He believed that his contributions to the development of education in Nigeria should be continuous and should outlive him. The International Management Research Centre that we are commissioning today is testament to that.”
The Chief Executive Officer of Financial Derivatives, Bismarck Rewane, delivered a keynote address on the theme ‘The Role of Research in Shaping Africa’s Management Landscape.’
In this article