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By Agatha Emeadi
The Quality Assurance and SERVICOM Unit of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) honoured 38 members of the university community for their outstanding contributions to the institution during the 2026 International Customer Service Week.
The Director of the Quality Assurance and SERVICOM Unit, Prof. Olufemi Saibo, disclosed this while speaking on activities lined up for the week, themed ‘The Extra Mile.’
Saibo, who has headed the unit since 2023, said the annual celebration provides the university with an opportunity to appreciate members of staff, students and other stakeholders whose contributions have enhanced the institution’s image and service delivery.
He explained that although Customer Service Week is celebrated globally, UNILAG had domesticated the event to reflect the peculiarities and needs of the university community.
According to him, the celebration enables the institution to review its achievements over the past year, identify areas requiring improvement and recognize individuals and groups who have distinguished themselves in the course of their duties.
“International Customer Service Week is celebrated globally, but the University of Lagos domesticated it to use the opportunity to appreciate staff, students and everybody that contributes to the image of the university.
“Every year, we use this period to look at what we have done in the past one year, identify members of staff and partners who have made us proud, appreciate and honour them. We also use the
opportunity to take stock of ourselves, see where we are not doing well and make amendments,” he said.
Saibo added that the celebration also provides an avenue for the university to set new targets while reflecting on its service delivery in a relaxed environment outside the normal work routine.
He said the three-day programme would include sensitization of activities, the unveiling of the winning entry in the Quality Assurance System (QAS) App competition, as well as recreational activities.
According to him, the QAS App was developed by students to improve the university’s complaint-management system and ensure faster responses to issues raised by members of the university community.
He explained that with the application, students would no longer need to submit complaints manually, as issues could be lodged electronically and made visible to relevant authorities, including Heads of Department, Deans and the Vice-Chancellor.
“This will increase the response rate and reduce delays. We usually go round to monitor the halls, but with the app, it is just click and go. As it is being done, it shows on the Vice-Chancellor’s dashboard,” Saibo informed.
Again he said the university would also recognize the students who developed the application and give them an opportunity to explain how the innovation works.
Beyond the technology initiative, Saibo said the celebration would recognize individuals who had gone beyond the call of duty to protect lives, property and the welfare of members of the university community.
He said 38 individuals would be honoured, including a faculty that produced the first set of graduating students, a department that ensured all scheduled courses were taught, and course advisers who provided exceptional support to students.
Other awardees, included individuals who responded courageously to emergencies and helped protect university property.
Saibo recalled an incident in which an individual reportedly risked his life by entering a fire outbreak area to extinguish the fire, thereby helping to prevent the destruction of property estimated at more than N2 billion.
He also cited the example of a student who took action after water in one of the university halls became contaminated by tracing the source of the contamination and blocked it, thereby helping to restore access to clean water for residents.
“These are the people that need to be celebrated and honoured as the event progressed,” he said.
The Director further noted that some Deputy Directors and other members of staff had continued to provide essential services to the university even during strikes and holidays.
He said the Customer Service Week would therefore provide an opportunity for the university to showcase and appreciate the contributions of such individuals.
Saibo again adds that the initiative was also in line with the administration of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, which he said had continued to place emphasis on quality service delivery and accountability, even as members of the university community participated actively in the activities and use the occasion to reflect on how they could contribute to improving service delivery at UNILAG.
