EDUCATION- The Lagos State University (LASU) has come under fire on social media after announcing its foray into the bread production business.
On Wednesday, the Lagos State University (LASU) announced that the school authorities would ban the sale of bread on the school premises to give way for the bread brand owned by the school.
This was disclosed in a post published on LASU’s social media account on Twitter. The school revealed that it had established a bakery business.
The city said the initiative was part of efforts by Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, the vice-chancellor, to increase the institution’s internally generated revenue (IGR).
“Accolades for the VC, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, mni, as LASU Bakery opens for business. The bakery is part of her administration’s drive to increase IGR. The LASU Bread will henceforth be the only bread on the university’s main campus, Ojo,” the tweet reads.
The post has, however, provoked a wave of mixed reactions on the micro-blogging platform.
While some users lauded the initiative, a section of the users argued that the institution should focus on research and getting grants to support its operations.
Some users also called out the varsity over alleged monopoly, adding that other brands of bread should be allowed within the institution.
The Executive Vice Chairman, Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), Babatunde Irukera, said LASU’s decision is a violation of competition law in Nigeria.
Irukera said on Twitter that it was an offense to limit competition under the laws that formed FCCPA, “I am afraid this presents a potential violation of competiton law.
“Under the FCCPA, it’s an offense to limit competition in this manner, LASU is not exempted because govts are also subject when they engage in commerce.
“I assume this statement doesn’t convey what it says.”
