The Acting Director-General/Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Institute of Science Laboratory Technology (NISLT), Dr. Peter Adefisoye Oluwafisoye, FISLT, mnip, has paid a scheduled courtesy visit to the Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University (LASU), Professor Ibiyemi Ibilola Olatunji-Bello, mni, to strengthen collaboration between the Institute and the University on the advancement of Science Laboratory Technology (SLT) education and professional practice.

During the visit, Dr. Oluwafisoye formally introduced the mandate of the Institute to the LASU management, emphasizing NISLT's statutory responsibilities as established by Act 12 of 2003 of the National Assembly, which also made the Institute a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology. He explained that the Institute is mandated to advance the Science Laboratory Technology profession in Nigeria by determining and reviewing professional standards of knowledge, practical skills and equipment exposure required for registration; promoting the highest standards of competence, ethics and professional conduct; serving as the statutory certification body for practitioners; ensuring safety standards in science laboratories and workshops; promoting effective management and administration of laboratories nationwide; and conducting inspections of laboratories in educational institutions, industries and research institutes to improve professional standards.

Speaking further, the Acting Director-General noted that the National Universities Commission (NUC) Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS) recognize Science Laboratory Technology as a five-year professional programme. He disclosed that the Institute had formally communicated with the NUC on the need to maintain the five-year duration of the programme and that the position had also been conveyed to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

Dr. Oluwafisoye stressed that graduates of Science Laboratory Technology are expected to undergo professional induction and obtain the NISLT practising licence before engaging in professional practice. He further observed that although LASU currently offers the SLT programme, the University had not formally communicated this development to the Institute, despite NISLT's statutory responsibility for regulating and advancing the profession. He explained that students are expected to obtain the Associate Membership of the Institute (AISLT) after successfully passing the Mandatory Professional Examinations conducted by NISLT. According to him, the examinations assess candidates in practical competence within their areas of specialization (Paper I), theoretical knowledge of core laboratory techniques (Paper II), General Laboratory Procedures, Instrument Maintenance and Laboratory Services Units (Paper III), as well as Laboratory Organisation and Management, including the application of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in laboratory practice (Paper IV).

The Acting Director-General also reiterated the importance of employing only certified and licensed Science Laboratory Technologists/Scienctists in laboratories and ensuring that their professional licences remain valid and up to date.

Also speaking during the visit, the President of the Association of Science Laboratory Technology of Nigeria (ASLTON), Pastor Ayotunde Omorilewa, appreciated the Vice-Chancellor and the management of LASU for their support towards the successful hosting of the 2024 ASLTON/NISLT Conference. He recalled that the Vice-Chancellor was represented at the conference by the then Dean of the Faculty of Science and emphasized the need for continued collaboration in promoting professional standards within the laboratory technology profession.  He also stressed the need to have the ASLTON LASU branch.

Responding, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ibiyemi Ibilola Olatunji-Bello, expressed appreciation to the leadership of NISLT for the visit and commended the Institute's proactive efforts to ensure compliance with professional and regulatory standards in Science Laboratory Technology education. She assured the delegation that the University management would carefully examine all the issues raised and take appropriate steps to ensure that the SLT programme at LASU fully aligns with the Institute's statutory requirements, thereby enabling students to derive maximum academic and professional benefits.

The Vice-Chancellor was joined at the meeting by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Sanni Taiwo; the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Professor Adenike Boyo; the Registrar, Mr. Emmanuel A. Fanu; and the Bursar, Mr. Ibrahim Olabisi Yusuf.

Other members of the NISLT delegation included Dr. Adebola Odeseye, FISLT, and Mr. Adetoso Adewole, who accompanied the Acting Director-General on the official visit.