The Nigerian Ambassador to the United States, Prof. Adebowale Adefuye, last Friday advised authorities of the University of Lagos to be proactive in proffering solutions to the challenges facing Nigeria through innovative research.

Adefuye gave the advice while delivering the 2012 Distinguished Guest Lecture Series, organised by the institution’s School of Post Graduate Studies.

The lecture, with the theme: “Unilag at 50; From Excellence to Distinction, A Road Map’’, was part of activities marking the university’s golden jubilee.

The ambassador, who was the guest lecturer, said the university had turned out professionals who were aware of their surroundings and knew how best to apply their skills to serve humanity adequately.

He said the university needed to do a lot to transform it into a world class academic institution that would contribute generously to the growth and development of the country.

“At 50, the University of Lagos must be able to lead other universities in the country in finding solutions to our numerous challenges as they affect humanity. Unilag should stop being a local champion, because 50 years is enough time for a university to re-assess its progress and determine how far it has gone in fulfilling the objectives of the founding fathers,’’he said.

He said the university must, through its research efforts, establish strong relevance with the developmental objectives of the country, adding that it must lead in narrowing the gulf between Nigerian universities and the society at large.

Adefuye noted that the country’s universities were not doing well enough in terms of tangible contributions to national development.

He, however, said that from the quality of its graduates, there was justification in crediting the institution with achieving some measure of excellence.

“It is not enough to be the most preferred university in the country currently,’’ he said, urging the institution not to rest on its oars.

“Unilag should stop being a local champion; it should aspire to becoming one of the leading contenders for the championship of the world,” he said.

Adefuye also said that there was no reason why the university could not attract post graduate students from other African countries.

He stressed the need for Unilag to link up with universities and foundations outside the country and to tap into opportunities and leverages of alumni members living abroad.

The ambassador promised to render the necessary assistance through the country’s embassy in Washington DC.

A former Commonwealth Secretary- General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, who was chairman of the occasion, also said universities in the country needed to improve on and expand their research base.