The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Alumni

  • Alumni launch N250m hospital project

    Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo State Alumni Association, has proposed N250 million for a hospital project. The project, when completed, would be a 150- bed space.

    Launching the project at the school auditorium, chief launcher and co-chief launcher, former Deputy Governor of Osun State Senator Iyiola Omisore and  Chief Rotimi Ibidapo as well as the Chairman Pacific Drilling, West Africa Chief Rotimi Ibidapo, were represented at the occasion.

    In his speech, National President of the alumni, Elder Tope Omolayo, stated that the facility would cater for both students and staff of the institution.

    He said: “The hospital facility is not only to cater for the medical needs of both staff and students of the institution but one that can generate funds for the school.

    “With God on our side and your robust support, we intend to commission the facility as part of activities to mark the 40th anniversary of the creation of the school slated for next year.”

    Also in attendance was Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, who praised the alumni for their initiative.

    “I pondered and pondered on what gave the vision of having people with sound health with equal access to health facility. It is a different opinion,”Akeredolu said, adding that the institution qualified as ‘father of institutions’ because of its existence many years before the coming of other tertiary institutions in the state.

    Like Rugipo, the governor said other tertiary institutions are being owed arrears, assuring that government is putting plans in place to offset them.

    Akeredolu praised the management for their diligence, commitment and hardwork. He also assured that government would be willing to commission the proposed project when completed.

  • ‘How alumni raped UNILAG student, stole her underwear’

    An Ikeja Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court heard yesterday how an alumni of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), John Otema, allegedly raped a student of the institution and stole her underwear.

    A police officer, Inspector Nkem Ejelonu, made the disclosure while giving evidence at the trial of Otema who is facing a three-count charge of rape and assault occasioning harm before Justice Abiola Soladoye.

    He was alleged to have raped two students of the institution.

    The IPO narrated to the court how the first complainant was allegedly raped by the defendant.

    According to her, the defendant on January 17, 2018 offered to give her a ride in his car on campus and took her to the Distance Learning Institute (DLI), allegedly had sex with her and took away her pant, bra and handkerchief.

    Ejelonu, who was the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) in the case and attached to the Adeniji Adele Police Station, said she signed a search warrant at Igbosere Magistrates’ Court on February 6, 2018 following complaint of theft of underwear by the victim.

    Led in evidence by the prosecutor, Mrs Arinola Momoh-Ayokanbi, Ejelonu told the court that the victim informed her that Otema went away with her pant, bra and handkerchief after he raped her in his car.

    The IPO said when they visited the defendant’s house at 6, Adeleye Street, Bariga, Lagos to execute the search warrant, they did not find the items.

    “I had earlier visited the scene of the incident, which is the area of Distance Learning Institute (DLI) of UNILAG, to check if I could find the pant, bra and handkerchief, but I could not find anything, hence the search of his house,” she said.

    Ejelonu told the court how another complainant, also a student, was allegedly raped by Otema.

    According to her, the second student said sometime in 2018, she saw the defendant on campus; they went to the canteen to buy food but that the defendant later went to the bank and refunded her N2, 000 for the meal.

    According to the IPO, both of them became friends despite that she told him that she already had a boyfriend.

    She said during the relationship, the second victim demanded a laptop and the defendant gave her N20,000  with a promise to give her N30,000 later.

    The IPO told the court that on January 30, 2018, the defendant picked up his victim, took her to his house and wanted to sleep with her.

    She claimed that she resisted, demanded N100,000 so that the defendant would  let her go, but he insisted and had his way, while  the money was not given to her.

    “He had sex with her, during that period her boyfriend was calling her. The defendant took her bag and dropped her off at campus at 11.30pm.”

    She said the case was charged to court on February 7, 2018.

    Ejelonu had told the court that the police were alerted about the rape by UNILAG officials.

    She said on February 5, 2018, two officers from Alausa came to the station, saying they received a distress call from UNILAG and needed their support.

    “The then Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Ayodele Onujose, detailed myself and Sgt. Osasua. We went to UNILAG and saw the school counsellor and we went to the security cell and we saw the two girls who were about 19-year-old,” she said.

    While being cross-examined by Mr Fred Onyeka, Otema’s defence counsel, the IPO said the defendant’s car was still in police custody.

    “One of the complainants said he had sex with her in the vehicle. The vehicle is with the exhibit keeper at Adeniji Police Station,” she said.

    During Ejelonu’s evidence-in-chief, the IPO’s report was rejected as an exhibit by the court following Onyeka’s objection that the prosecution did not include it in their proof of evidence.

    Following the rejection of the report by the court, the prosecutor, Momoh-Ayokanbi, asked the court to declare the police officer a hostile witness on the grounds that she was in communication with the defence.

    “I want to seek the leave of the court to declare the witness a hostile witness. When she came to court, she was asking if I was for the defence.

    “I also noticed that she was having conversations with the defence counsel and the defendants and during her evidence, she did not disclose some specific details that was in her report. That was why I wanted it to be admitted into evidence,” she said.

    Justice Abiola Soladoye declined Momoh-Ayokanbi’s request, noting that the court would declare a witness hostile by watching the witness’ body language and not due to whom the witness is presumed to be communicating with.

    Justice Soladoye adjourned the case till May 9 for continuation of hearing.

     

  • CUAB: A Galaxy of Stars

    Alumni and Alma Mater are two primordial words that refuse to go into extinction with a primordial language called Latin. The refusal of those two words to go down the drains of history as sustained by the imperishable values they represent in the cotemporary world is a further confirmation that the universe is truly dynamic. We are living witnesses to that factual assertion.

    Ordinarily, if anything is deemed different between the world of the past and that of the present, it is the utilization of the values in both as relevant to their times of existence.

    Perhaps the above assertion is what a private University called Crescent in Abeokuta, Ogun State of Nigeria is accentuating today with its uniqueness in turning a historic legacy into an incredible heritage.

     

    Connotation  

    Galaxy is a celestial world in which stars of all sizes, shapes and measures dwell dramatically sometimes to the consternation of all other existing creatures. Without galaxy, there can be no place for stars to display their skills. And without stars it may be difficult to fully appreciate the values of galaxy. Thus, the co-existence of both is what keeps the universe going through the days and nights that graduate into weeks, months and years in the life of man.

    The co-existence of galaxy and stars as cited above is a parable through which the symbiotic relationship of the Alma Mater called CUAB and its graduates called alumni is exhibited despite the relatively young age of both.

     

    CUAB As a Galaxy

    In its own terrestrial right, CUAB is a Nigerian galaxy that provides a befitting intellectual habitat for its alumni even as the latter keep the glory of the former aloft with moral equipment in all parts of the world. That habitat is not of intellectualism alone. It is rather more of good character which CUAB considers as the main propeller of dignity in all spheres of human life. In CUAB, education without good character is like smoke without fire which can neither cook nor produce coal for other purposes. To this exemplary University, Character is a major factor in the assessment of education and civility in man which should not be compromised in any circumstance. Any man who claims to be educated must be a model of good character. A supposed educated person who lacks good character is like a crown prince who dances naked to an inaudible music in an open market. That is exactly how the Crescent University perceives any University graduate without good manners. And that explains the reason for CUAB’s placement of premium on good manners for any student that passes through it. Take a second look at any graduate of Crescent University anywhere and you will immediately feel the aura of discipline and morality.

    The name Crescent is symbolic of both dream and realization. And just as the tiny celestial Crescent  gives birth to the gorgeous moon so does the moon turn round to rekindle the glow of the crescent. It is a dynamically reciprocal function carried out naturally. Thus, in what seems to be a natural continuum, the cycle of life rolls on progressively to infinitude.

     

    The impact of CUAB

    Today, Crescent University, Abeokuta (CUAB), is quietly reshaping the structure of Nigerian society by moulding a new generation of men and women that can be called worthy Nigerian citizens. Within 13 years of its existence, this glorious citadel of knowledge and excellent morality has signaled to the entire world that University is not merely for obtaining meal tickets in the name of certificates but an indispensable hub of positive signposts for human civility. That signal is evident in virtually all the graduates of CUAB who have distinguished themselves vertically in various fields of human endeavours where others of their peers are only struggling to seek survival horizontally. With such an exemplary impact, therefore, it cannot be strange that full concentration on good character-based education and its adequate usage for the benefit of mankind is the priority of the Crescent University.

     

    A Country’s Attitude   

    In a country like Nigeria where good deeds are hardly noticed or acknowledged, it cannot be a surprise that Crescent University has not attracted the attention of any government (State or Federal) for an encouraging accolade that can pave way for impeccable emulation. But the consolation here is that while Nigeria for which the graduates of CUAB are intentionally produced for development remains indifferent, some foreign countries that appreciate the quality embedded in morality and are benefiting tremendously from the prowess of CUAB graduates continue to ask for more. This confirms that the likes of CUAB alumni in Nigerian universities are very, very rare.

     

    Parent’s Reaction

    Some Nigerian parents who had planned to send their wards abroad for University degrees but decided to change their minds and take such wards to CUAB can testify to the facts above. The decision of those parents paid off in terms of the comfort they now enjoy in monitoring their wards effectively against consumption of illicit drugs and involvement in such iniquities as rape, sodomy and lesbianism which are particularly rampant in Western countries. Besides, the cost of financing those wards in CUAB is much cheaper than keeping them abroad where thorough monitoring is almost impossible.

     

    African Attitude

    Incidentally, It is a well known fact that in Africa where imitation is a norm, great values are not appreciated in the lands of their dwellings. If all students of Nigeria’s tertiary institutions were exposed to the same intellectual and humanitarian orientation as that of CUAB, perhaps Nigeria would not have become a pariah country that she is today.

     

    The Super Stars

    Among the super star graduates that form the Crescent galaxy that fly the flag of CUAB around the world are the following:

    1. Rafiat Alli, a 2013 first class B.Sc graduate of Accounting. She went to the United Kingdom (UK) where she also stood out of the pack by emerging as the best M. Msc. student with distinction in Forensic Accounting at Pretsmouth University, UK.
    2. Adenike Gawat who made a first class B.Sc in Mass Communication at Crescent University and was helping a Nigerian bank to build an ICT department when she won a scholarship to study for M. Sc. at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, Scotland where she topped the ladder of academic work to clinch a distinction at M.Sc level in Corporate Communication and Public Affairs in 2014. It was Adenike’s character and not just academic brilliance that forced her lecturers in Gordon University to become inquisitive about her academic background in Nigeria. That university had to send some staffs to Crescent University to ascertain the authenticity of Gawat’s claim that she graduated from a Nigerian private university. And after confirming that claim, the university became eager to have more students from CUAB for masters and Ph. D in Gordon. That was an excellent matter of Honour for Nigeria at the instance of a well mannered Nigerian student from CUAB. And when Adenike finally graduated with distinction at masters level from Gordon University and returned to Nigeria to pick up  a job, she became a darling job seeker that every employer wanted for boosting of business with honesty influenced by morality. But while she was still ruminating on which of those jobs to settle down with, an international bank in Switzerland traced her to Nigeria and hijacked her for a fantastic job with fantastic package.
    3. The best graduating student at the 7th convocation of Crescent University was Miss Oyinkasola Fagbohun. In her valedictory speech, this 20 year old distinguished student dismissed the surreptitious insinuation that private university certificates in Nigeria are cheap. This is how she expressed her view on the matter: ” I was one of those who always thought that private schools were a piece of cake but to my surprise it wasn’t like that. In fact, it was not a business as usual here (in CUAB)….”. Fagbohun led 434 other students from Colleges of Information and Communication Technology, Natural and Applied Sciences, Social and Management Sciences as well as Environmental Sciences to emerge as the 2015 best graduating student thereby winning the vice chancellor’s prize, the college prize and the departmental ( Economics) prize respectively.
    4. The best 2013/2014 graduating student of crescent University, is Ibrahim Ayoola Olatunde. As the valedictorian of that academic session, he eloquently revealed the secret of his success in a captivating manner.

    Four years before his graduation, Ibrahim Ayoola Olatunde was in the crowd when Fatimot Titilope Ajagbe was celebrated as the best graduating student of Crescent University.  According to him, it was on that day, as a 100-Level student, that he also decided to work hard to score a Cummulative Grade Point Agregate (CGPA) that could make him the CUAB’s valedictorian of his graduation session. That desire, backed up by unflinching determination, was fulfilled when the young man led 247 fellow students to emerge as the best graduating student for the 2013/2014 academic session.

    The then 23-year old man graduated with a Cumulative Grade Point Aggregate (CGPA) of 4.76 from the Computer Science Department, College of Information and Communication Sciences (CICOT) of the university. Below is what he had to say on that occasion:

    “I became determined to take the prize when I witnessed the 2010 Best Graduating Student, Fatimot Titilope Ajagbe speak of her success. I told myself that if a female student could bag the award, then I could also develop myself to achieve the same feat”. He added that getting permission to leave the campus only three times in a month, according to CUAB’s regulation helped him very much to manage his time and academic resources in such a way as to be imbued with the type of discipline not known with most Nigerian Universities.

    All the above mentioned students and others whose names are not mentioned here have either gone for their post graduate studies in various parts of the world outside Nigeria or secured gainful and qualitative employment in first class companies and establishments. These were possible not because of their academic brilliance alone but because of the non-such character that stands them out of the pack . They are the worthy ambassadors of their country Nigeria.

     

    CUAB’s 2018 Convocation

    On Saturday, October 20, 2018, according to the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Crescent University, the 10th graduation ceremony of the 13-year old citadel of academic and moral excellence will come up in the main auditorium of the University as usual. On that occasion, this year’s nominated valedictorian, Miss Ayokunnumi Tiamiyu has, in preparation for her impending historic valedictory speech,   showered accolades on the Founder and Proprietor of CUAB, His Excellency Judge Bola Ajibola for reviving her university education through scholarship when she was on the verge of dropping out owing to her parent’s inability to continue to pay her tuition fee. The jubilant 21-year old Tiamiyu will be leading the pack at the 10th convocation with a Cumulative Grade Point Aggregate of 4.91 from the  Department of Microbiology, College of Natural and Applied Sciences (CONAS).

    With her CGPA of 4.91,Ayokunnumi Tiamiyu has emerged the very best of all the best products of Crescent University who have graduated with First Class so far.

    According to the scholar, she had already lost hope of continuing her studies at Crescent University and was almost requesting for her transcript to be able to  seek admission into a public university when her attention was drawn to Bola Ajibola Scholarship for Academic and Moral Excellence. That was during her 200-level in 2016, when she was on a grade point of 4.95, the highest any student of Crescent University has ever scored.

    In her narration, she stated as follows: “a few months later,I got a call from the Deputy Registrar,Alhaji M. A. Lawal to come and apply for a scholarship which he had discussed about with the Vice- chancellor of the University, Prof. Ibraheem Gbajabiamila who was so highly impressed by her first class grade performance that he assured her that she would get the scholarship albeit with a caveat that she must maintain her CGPA sthroughout her studies. And just a few weeks later, Tiamiyu got another call from the university that her scholarship had been granted and that she should come for an acknowledgement of same.

    Thus, the elated scholar who confessed that she had never met Judge Ajibola personally described the former judge of the International Court of Justice as a generous man whose generosity continues to amaze her. She saluted Judge Ajibola’s industry and selfless investment, a part of which she benefitted from.

     

    Honouris Causa

    The University’s PRO also disclosed that the university will also be honouring the Deputy President,South-west,Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA),Alhaji Sakariyau Babalola, with Doctor of Science honouris causa Business Administration for his philanthropic contributions to his country’s higher institutions from time to time. As the day of CUAB’s 2018 convocation is fast drawing near, the world is waiting to usher another glorious scholar of civility into the hobbit of galaxy. God bless the Crescent.

    God bless its proprietor.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Alumni to empower indigent members

    As part of efforts to support its members, the 1998 Set of the Federal Government Girls College (FGGC) Bakori, Katsina State, Alumni has established a fund to empower indigent members.

    The fund was launched at an event to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the alumni association.

    Ms Fatima Adamu, a member of the set, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Jos that the gesture was to show love and concern to members who might be facing challenges.

    “We know that not all of us are doing well; some have lost their lives, some are facing economic hardship, while some are finding it difficult to even cater for their homes.

    “The fund will help to empower this set of people by providing them with finance to start-up businesses and take care of some basic needs.

    “We have started contributing monthly to that effect and will sustain the contribution to enable many to benefit from the scheme,’’ she said.

    NAN reports that the old students have offered assistance to classmates who were hospitalised and helped members whose homes were gutted by fire, among others.

    In its recent reunion celebration, a member, Mrs Hauwa Liman, an entrepreneur, presented a paper on the importance of establishing personal businesses to make extra income.

    Liman, the Creative Director of Afrikabaya, a fashion design company, advised members to start businesses to enable them enjoy multiple streams of income.

    According to her, starting any business requires patience, interest and perseverance as most starters will want to immediately start making profit which may not be possible.

    “I started small as a fashion designer, but I was not discouraged despite having many setbacks.

    “I participated in the Tony Elumelu Foundation entrepreneurial competition, fashion shows in Nigeria all in a bid to showcase my works to bigger platforms.

    “I was the only northern fashion designer in a telecom competition with my fashion line of northern designs which was not even the trendy fashion of the commercial city of Lagos, but I emerged the winner.

    “It is very important for entrepreneurs to believe in their dreams and to not belittle starting small,’’ Liman said.

    The fashion designer implored her classmates to look for a need in the society and fine tune their ideas to meet such needs.

  • UNILAG Mass Comm: ’87 set donates interactive boards to dept

    The 1987 set of the department of Mass Communication alumni at the University of Lagos ( UNILAG ) has donated a set of interactive boards to the department.

    The coordinator of the 87 set, Alh. Tajudeen Adeyemi described the event as a privilege to give back to the department.

    He said, “The idea of this initiative came about at our second reunion. We thought of doing a tangible project that will be useful to both the staff and students of the department and contacted one of us, Dr. Olubunmi Ajibade, a senior lecturer in the department and he suggested interactive boards.”

    Adeyemi, who commissioned the facilities was accompanied by the President of Unilag Mass Communication Alumni Association (UMCAA), Mr. Vincent Oyo and members of the 87 set;
    Managing Director of Complete Communications, Alh. Mumuni Alao, Mr. Michael Bamigbola and Mr. Taiwo Osunsanya among others.

    Oyo said the move was a beginning of more support initiatives that would come to the department.

    He expressed enthusiasm that the interest of the department’s alumni body was to train students to do big things in the future.

    Uyo noted that the goal of UMCAA was to ensure that the department is transformed to a viable faculty of communication.

    He added however, that the association has been intensifying its efforts to kick start its “Gown-to-Town” programme which he said, was inspired by the need to intimate students with the best media industry experience.

    Meanwhile, in her address, the head of department, Prof. Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika described the gesture as a direction towards the destination communication is going globally.

    She expressed joy and gratitude just as she said the facilities would serve as one one the ways through which the staff and students of the department will “reskill and retool.”

     

  • Five Babcock varsity alumni get N1m for business plan

    Five unemployed alumni of the Babcock University have won N200, 000 each for coming up with the best business plans during the institution’s career fair held last Tuesday.

    The fair was attended by several foreign institutions and Nigerian companies, such as UBA, IBTC, and Unilever.

    Opeyemi Fasanmi won for media; Biodun Ogunfowokon for agriculture; Faith Avwerosuoghene for event management; Mary Ibrahim, for healthcare and Miriam Oni, fashion.

    Presenting the cash to the recipients, President/Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Ademola Tayo urged them to put the money to good use.

    Addressing the final year students for whom the fair was organised, Tayo, counselled them to interface with employers at the fair and harvest available contacts for future use.

    He urged them to develop soft and entrepreneurial skills to be relevant in the job market because the first degree was just a launching pad.

    “Now is the time to unleash the latent gifts that are embedded in you as white collar jobs are no longer the in-thing the way the world is going,” he said.

    He said those skilled in event management, photography, fashion, cake making would command more respect in life than those in white collar jobs.

    The institution’s Senior Vice President, Management Services, Prof Sunday Owolabi said the administration would have loved to extend award to more beneficiaries but for the limited resources at their disposal.

    He noted that all the 19 participants not only had good business plans, but also possessed tremendous entrepreneurial skills.

    Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Ogunfowokan, a 2010 public administration graduate, said the award was not only commendable, but would also inspire other alumni to think out of the box.

    He thanked the organisers for the initiative and urged the administration to also consider the alumni in awards of contract and business openings within the university as long as they meet the standards.

    He said he went into cassava processing because of the huge opportunities in agricultural production.

  • Alumni mark 45 years

    THE Alumni Association of the Federal Government College, Enugu (FGCE), will hold a Global Grand Reunion on August 9 in Enugu.

    The event is expected to bring together over 1,000 members, family and friends.

    Tagged: #BackToOurRoots, this year’s reunion promises to be iconic, giving members the chance to go back to partner for more progress.

    Acting National President Mrs. Uju Obuekwe said the four-day reunion will feature a business forum, recognition and award ceremonies, medical outreach, a visit to the Centre for Memories, and an anniversary lecture.

    He said completed projects by the alumni would be executed.

  • LBS alumni are finalists at MBA awards

    LBS alumni are finalists at MBA awards

    Lagos Business School (LBS) alumni has emerged finalists at the 2018 Association of MBA (AMBA) Awards in London, the United Kingdom.

    The alumni, Glory Eyinnaya (EMBA 21) and Aidenehi Okosun (MBA 14), are finalists in the  (AMBA) Student of the Year and the Entrepreneurial Venture of the Year.

    The AMBA Student of the Year Award, sponsored by  Wall Street Journal, is for high-performing student, who demonstrate outstanding skills and motivation towards becoming tomorrow’s business leaders while the MBA Entrepreneurial Venture Award celebrates the achievements of successful alumni, who are pioneers in world-class business strategy.

    In a statement, the awards also listed the business schools, which nurtured the spirit of enterprise and ambition.

    According to the statement, Glory Enyinnaya, a management consultant and entrepreneur, led the implementation of change on various technology projects across Africa, including the West African team of the world’s largest SAP deployment.

    She studied Accounting at the University of Nigeria and concluded an Executive MBA at the Lagos Business School, Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos last year.

    She is the founder and lead consultant of Kleos Africa, an online consulting platform, which aims to  enable value-adding interactions between African SMEs and experienced MBAs and professionals, with the aim of increasing the rates of successful entrepreneurship in Africa.

    She is also the programme manager for the African Women Entrepreneurship Cooperative (AWEC), an initiative of the New York-based Centre for Global Enterprise, which aims to empower 3,000 African women entrepreneurs by 2021.

    Also, Aidenehi Okosun possesses about seven years of post-graduate experience in various industries, including energy, technology and food & beverage where he played several leadership roles, after his graduation in Management Information System from the Covenant University, Lagos.

  • Emulate TASCE alumni Development Initiatives, Ogun Speaker tasks other alumni

    The Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Suraju Ishola Adekunbi has charged members of various alumni associations in Nigeria to emulate the Alumni members of Tai-Solarin College of Education (TASCE)  for showing concern on the need to address development  issues affecting their alma -mater.

    Adekunbi threw the challenge while playing host to members of Alumni Association of the TASCE led by its National President, Julius Adeyemi on a courtesy visit to the Assembly at Oke- Mosan, Abeokuta.

    The Speaker represented by his Deputy, Olakunle Oluomo applauded the association for its active involvement and commitment to educational advancement of the school, while encouraging them not to rest on their oars.

    Adekunbi added that the development of the nation, particularly the educational sector required the collaborative efforts of Government at all levels, alumni associations and well-meaning citizens to achieve  an effective education system.

    Earlier in his address, the alumni President of the School appreciated Senator Ibikunle Amosun led -administration for prioritizing the development of the sector, soliciting the support of the lawmakers in addressing the challenges confronting the college.

     

  • UI alumni target N100m for alma mater

    The University of Ibadan Alumna Association (UIAA) yesterday said it is targeting N100 million for the university in the next few months.

    The body, which spoke at the inauguration of a special trust fund to generate fund for the institution, said it hoped to raise the money through at least a 100,000 of its members who will pay N1,000 annually for the cause.

    The committee, called the University of Ibadan Alumna Association Trust Fund, was inaugurated at the Senate Chamber of the institution in the presence of the Vice Chancellor Prof. Idowu Olayinka, senior management workers, UIAA National Executive members and other stakeholders.

    UIAA National President Dr. Femi Emina said the national executives came up with the idea of a trust fund to generate more fund and do more for the institution than the association is currently doing.

    He noted that alumni associations all over the world support their universities, while the trust fund would be different.

    Emina said although the UIAA was starting the initiative late, it was not too late because it still remained a sure way of supporting the university to grow.

    The UIAA chief said the alumni association had been donating a minimum of N500,000 to the institution annually, adding that the amount was too small to support the nation’s premier institution in the face of mounting needs.

    According to him, he is always at pains whenever the vice chancellor complained about how paucity of funds affected the level of progress the institution could have made.

    Emina said the UIAA has almost completed a Postgraduate Hall of residence complex to be donated to the institution to mark its 70th anniversary.

    The 11-member committee is chaired by a former Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology in Akure (FUTA), Prof. Adebisi Balogun, while Mr Thomas Dabiri is its Executive Secretary.

    Others are: Prof. Emenike Obi, Dan Ugbenu, Elder Sola Adeyemi, Mrs. Folasade Ogunnaike, Prof. Gbemisola Oke, Ambassador Nkem Nwadibia-Anyawu, Prof. Ayo Oluleye and Prof. Yankari Muhammed.

    Prof. Olayinka lauded the leadership of the UIAA, particularly its National President, for what he called its renewed vigour to support the university.

    He noted that the management under his watch had always been concerned on achieving the vision of the institution’s founding fathers but have over the years been hampered by paucity of funds.

    Prof. Balogun hailed the UIAA executive for setting up the committee and finding the members worthy to serve it.

    He promised not to betray the confidence reposed in the members.