Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday commissioned a library at the Lagos State University named after him and said to be the biggest library in any university in West Africa.

Speaking before commissioning the library, Sanwo-Olu said that the Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu Library Complex stands as a testament to Lagos State’s unwavering commitment to intellectual empowerment.

“This moment is deeply personal, not because this edifice bears my name, but because it represents the very ideals that have shaped my journey — the belief that education is the bridge between potential and purpose, and that knowledge is the most enduring legacy any generation can bequeath to the next.
“Today, we gather not just to commission a building, but to celebrate an idea — the idea that learning transforms destinies, and that libraries, though made of stone and steel, are truly built with dreams and determination.

“As the great Nelson Mandela once said, ‘Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.’ Indeed, this complex — with its digital research facilities, reading lounges, innovation labs, and archives — is a tangible expression of that truth.”

The governor stated that it is a collective declaration that Lagos will never stop investing in minds because it is the trained mind that conceives invention, builds bridges, heals wounds, writes history, and redefines tomorrow.

“Over the years, Lagos State University has grown into a citadel of excellence and a beacon of progress, ranking among the finest institutions in Nigeria and Africa. Its success is not accidental; it is the product of visionary leadership, dedicated faculty, and students whose brilliance continues to make us proud.

“Under our THEMES+ Agenda, we have continued to make Education and Technology the twin engines of development — from the ongoing school infrastructure upgrades to the EkoDigital initiative, the LASU Technology Hub, and now this Library Complex, which serves as a digital gateway to global knowledge and innovation.

“We are deliberately nurturing a generation of thinkers, creators, and problem-solvers — young Lagosians who will lead the Fourth Industrial Revolution from the heart of Africa’s most dynamic city.

“To have this library bear my name is an honour I receive with humility and gratitude. But let me be clear — this is not a monument to self; it is a symbol of service.

“For me, leadership is not about leaving one’s name on walls, but about leaving impact on people’s lives. When I look upon this structure, I see not brick and glass, but hope and potential — the spark of curiosity in a young student’s eyes, the quiet dedication of a lecturer burning the midnight oil, and the dreams of parents who labour to give their children a better tomorrow.”

Sanwo-Olu added that the library must forever stand as a living testament that Lagos believes in knowledge, that Lagos believes in its youth, and that Lagos will continue to build an ecosystem where learning is the passport to prosperity.

He said, “This is not the library of old. This is a library for the future — where printed words meet digital possibilities, where heritage meets innovation, and where silence becomes the loudest sound of progress.

“It is a space for discovery, dialogue, and dreaming. A place where the next Nobel Laureate, the next great author, the next visionary leader may begin their journey.

“Permit me to close with the words of Chinua Achebe, who reminded us that ‘One of the truest tests of integrity is its blunt refusal to be compromised.’ So must it be with our pursuit of education — unwavering, incorruptible, and uncompromising.

“Let this library inspire generations to come to think deeply, act boldly, and serve selflessly. Let it remind us that while buildings may age, knowledge endures.”

The governor implored the faculty, students, and staff of the university to guard the library with pride, use it with purpose, and let it become the soul of their academic pursuit.

He said, “And to every young Lagosian listening today: dream boldly, study passionately, and remember that Lagos State believes in you.”