Education
Between UI And Its Alumni | By Sunday Saanu
The relationship between a school and its former students is analogous to that of a father and his children. A responsible father, within an African context, though, laboured to raise up his children properly with an expectation that the children would make him proud in future and ultimately take care of him in his old age. In the same breath, a good school which has succeeded in producing quality students expects to enjoy the goodwill of its old students for the products are its wealth. Although no law makes it mandamus that every alumnus must come back to assist their alma mater, it is a moral conversation, really, that a river should always remember its source.
It is natural for a tree to grow several branches which spread out to all directions, however, those branches never lose touch with the roots. This analogy is relevant in this context. University of Ibadan (UI), like a tree with many branches, has produced outstanding alumni of immense status and brand equity. The Nigeria’s premier University which came into existence in 1948 with 104 foundation students, has since produced thousands of alumni who are reigning in robust resources across the world. Ibadan is popular because of the quality of its products. No wonder that the latest catchphrase on campus now is “UI: our products are our pride”. Just like a proud father who has successfully raised outstanding children, the UI has been enjoying the goodwill of its prestigious products who are scattered all over the world.
Perhaps because of the quality of training received from UI, not a few former students have been looking back with a view to giving back to the University that shaped their lives. These alumni have been so passionate and generous to their alma mater. From people like Dr. Michael Omolayole who formed the first University of Ibadan Alumni Association (UIAA) in Lagos in 1958 and established UI endowment fund along with others, to Elder Felix Ohiewerei, the late Sir Gamaliel Onosode among others, UI has benefitted immensely from its former students, and is still benefiting. Even those who did not attend the UI, but have one form of relationship or the other with the institution, like a one-time Chairman of Council, Chief Wole Olanipekun have been so generous with their resources towards the betterment of UI.
Chief Olanipekun who was the Council Chairman between 2009 and 2013 built a 400 – capacity Law Lecture Theatre in Ajibode, UI second phase as a major highlight of his legacy. The legal icon spent a lot of his personal resources in lifting the institution even as he refused to take sitting allowances. Those of us who are privileged to be working in the University have equally benefitted from the goodwill of the alumni. For instance, my office can boast of solar energy, courtesy of four members of UI 1990 graduating set, including Hadrat Hameed Azeez, Adebowale Oyedeji, Olu Odugbemi and Adenike Oduela Ajetunmobi. They did not just come together to buy me the facility, they later mobilized their colleagues to provide solar electricity to the Faculty of Agronomy. Their alma mater is the ligature of their bond. What about the former Chairman of Lagos UIAA, Mr. Sola Oyetayo? He has been so helpful anytime he is called upon. How does one thank all those who have been coming back to assist UI in various ways including some state governors, senators, businessmen and women, diplomats and academics? Only God can reward them.
The relationship between UI and its alumni has been so good, but it can still be a lot better. The school’s facilities are becoming old. Government alone cannot do much for obvious reasons. The University requires rebuilding, rehabilitation and reconstruction in various ways. This is indeed a wakeup call on all other alumni across the world to come to the aid of the University that made them. Giving, they say, does not depend on abundance but on the heart.
However, the story of a relatively young alumnus which provoked the inspiration for this write up may be the nudge that many older products of the UI require to do the needful. If there is no lesson that is too little to learn, some will find the exploits of Mr. Jamil Omobolaji Eniola, who is a 2001 Microbiology graduate of Ibadan, not only challenging, but remarkably edifying, regarding philanthropy towards one’s former school.
Mr. Eniola who is a United Kingdom (UK) based amazingly began to contribute to the development of the UI right from his undergraduate days and has not stopped ever since. In 1998, there was a rainfall which damaged his department (Botany/Microbiology). While the counting of losses was ongoing, both staff and students were shocked when Eniola stepped forward and donated Fifty Thousand Naira (#50,000) towards the reconstruction of the damaged department. That kind of a gift as well as the thoughtfulness is uncommon, particularly among the students. But Eniola set the pace.
Upon graduation, he relocated to the UK, working in various places including getting involved in the United Nations’ activities, including consultancy, conferences, seminars and workshops. Eniola, who later established a philanthropic Hawau Eniola (HEN) Foundation in honour of his late mother, came back to UI in 2017 with a donation of various medical equipment during cancer screening exercise to the UI Health Centre. He also donated money. In the same 2017, he signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University to build a multi-purpose theatre which will be named after Dr. Maya Angelou, a world renowned poet and human rights advocate in recognition of her work in Africa. The MoU is still underway.
In 2018, Eniola working in synergy with eight of his colleagues, during the UI 70th anniversary shocked the pundits with the way they brought UI alumni together in the UK, raising about N80 million for the University from a single event. Again, in the same year, he donated cash and trophy towards the Faculty of Arts football competition tagged “Dean’s Cup”.
Last year, Eniola fully sponsored leadership programme of the Student’s Union while also donating various books to the union’s library and the Kenneth Dike Library. In March 2020, he also donated handsomely to the Faculty of Science Students Association (FASSA) week. Again this year, Eniola, through his HEN Foundation gave scholarship to five students under the programme he tagged Student’s Enhanced Engagement Development, (SEED). Each of the student was given Three Hundred Thousand Naira for the programme.
But what is his motive? Eniola explained that he was neither a politician seeking general acceptability nor a contractor planning to get a contract from UI, but rather interested in giving back to the University that made him. Hear him, “I have moved round many Universities across the world, I feel proud of UI and I am interested in contributing my own quota towards its betterment.” Indeed this is the desired direction for every graduate of the University. It is the best way for one to immortalize one’s name. Eniola who has Ivy League education is blessed with the soaring swiftness of an eagle with a wide contact and network which he is deploying to assist UI. He remains an influential figure with a gleeful disposition. His is service before self, comporting himself in a fashion of a gentleman. His humility is both amazing and disarming. He is like a man on a mission who needs no permission.
He is not making all these contributions to UI in order to attract applause, but rather to ensure that UI gets bigger and better. Clearly, the President of HEN Foundation is a good example of a committed alumnus. His sterling strides are remarkable. And his philanthropic humanism is impressive. However, this is not to suggest that his contributions are the biggest and the largest. There have been many UI alumni who had donated and are still donating in far larger scale and scope. There are those who have even donated substantially to UI but don’t want their names mentioned. We have them much in thanks. They deserve the University’s appreciation.
Clearly, alumni association has been very useful in the development process of the University. But the association is inherently conflictual. This is because the members are big men and women who have been so successful in their individual rights. Consequently, there are obstacles of different dimensions in their midst. We have even had a situation where members took themselves to court. However, the interest of their alma mater should be uppermost in everyone’s mind. The crisis in the association should be resolved by a combination of discretion and diplomacy. Both the UI Management and the alumni association must continue to work in synchronicity towards a better UI. The University is a global brand, therefore, all hands must be on deck to preserve the legendary legacy of this national patrimony!
Saanu, is with the Vice Chancellor’s office, University of Ibadan.
E mail: sundaysaanu@gmail.com
The Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ayede (FEDPA), Oyo State, Dr. Taofeek Abdul-Hameed, has been honoured with the Leadership Excellence and Education Icon Award in recognition of his contributions to the education sector and national development.
The award was presented by Bollyjoe Media Communications Ltd, a media and communications firm based in Abuja, the nation’s capital on Wednesday.
Presenting the award, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the firm, Joseph Uzuakpundu Bollyjoe, said Abdul-Hameed was recognised for his selfless service and transformative leadership within Nigeria’s polytechnic education system.
He noted that under the Rector’s stewardship, the Federal Polytechnic, Ayede, had witnessed strategic reforms aimed at strengthening academic standards and promoting institutional stability.
According to him, the Rector’s policies have repositioned the institution for sustainable growth and aligned its technical education programmes with global best practices.
Since assuming office, the Rector has prioritised infrastructural development, administrative discipline and innovation-driven governance, earning commendations from stakeholders.
Reacting to the honour, Abdul-Hameed, described the award as a motivation to further deepen reforms and consolidate on existing achievements.
“This recognition is not just personal; it reflects the dedication of our management, staff and students who share the vision of building a globally competitive institution,” the Rector said.
He added that the polytechnic would remain committed to excellence, integrity and continuous development in line with national educational aspirations.
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday described the Federal Polytechnic Ayede as the best-performing among federal polytechnics established in 2021, commending its infrastructural expansion and academic stability as the institution graduated 325 students at its maiden convocation ceremony.
Tinubu, who is the Visitor to the institution, was represented by the Director, Polytechnics and Allied Institutions, Dr. Usman Ejeh. He said the polytechnic’s achievements within five years were “remarkable and strategic,” adding that its growth aligns with the Federal Government’s reform agenda for technical and vocational education.
“The Federal Polytechnic Ayede has distinguished itself among its peers established in 2021. Its commitment to infrastructure, skills acquisition, and academic stability clearly positions it as a model institution,” he said.
The President noted that his administration had introduced key reforms, including the students’ loan scheme under the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, curriculum modernisation, infrastructural renewal, and digital skills expansion to reposition the education sector.
“We are determined to build institutions that will produce innovators, entrepreneurs, and solution providers for our economy,” he added, urging the management to consolidate on existing gains.
Earlier, the Rector, Dr. Taofeek Abdul-Hameed, described the combined convocation for the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 academic sessions as a defining milestone in the institution’s history.
“We gather here today to officially present to the world the first set of graduates produced by the Federal Polytechnic Ayede. This indeed calls for celebration,” he said.
The rector expressed appreciation to Tinubu for policies aimed at strengthening technical education and acknowledged the support of regulatory and funding agencies, including the National Board for Technical Education and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, for accreditation and infrastructural interventions that accelerated the institution’s development.
He disclosed that 138 students graduated in the 2023/2024 session and 187 in the 2024/2025 session, bringing the total number of graduands to 325.
According to him, Miss Taiwo Ibukunoluwa Arinola of Science Laboratory Technology and Mr. Olapese Quadri Ayofe of Agricultural Technology emerged as the overall best graduating students for their respective sessions with a cumulative grade point average of 3.96.
Beyond the award of National Diploma certificates, Abdul-Hameed said each graduand obtained at least two additional vocational certifications through the Centre for Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development.
“Our graduates are not just job seekers but employers of labour. We have deliberately equipped them with relevant entrepreneurial and technical competencies,” he said, adding that 68 major projects had been executed across the temporary and permanent sites through TETFund interventions, Federal Government appropriations, and donor support.
The projects, he said, include a main administrative building, ICT centre, health centre, engineering workshops, and improved power infrastructure, while the institution also recorded over 64 research projects and nine TETFund-supported fabrication innovations. He also reaffirmed the polytechnic’s resolve to relocate fully to its permanent site in Ayede, Ogo-Oluwa Local Government Area, and appealed for improved access roads and hostel accommodation.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Governing Council, Hon. Yakubu Dati, described the ceremony as a celebration of vision and collective commitment, urging government, corporate organisations, and well-meaning Nigerians to support the institution with critical infrastructure, particularly road networks and student hostels, through direct intervention or Public-Private Partnership arrangements. He commended the Federal Government, the Oyo State Government, and the host community for sustaining a peaceful environment, and appreciated the Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service, who was also the guest lecturer, Dr. Zacch Adedeji, for supporting the construction of an access road to the institution.
Fellowship awards were conferred on the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; the Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service, Dr Zacch Adedeji; and Dr Abubakar Isa.
The event attracted traditional rulers, including the Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye; the Timi of Ede, Oba Adesola Munirudeen Lawal; and the Aresa of Iresapupa, Oba Moses Olayiwola Ajiboye, as well as Senators Ayo Adeseun, Abdulfatai Buhari, prominent Ogbomoso leaders, rectors of sister polytechnics, scholars, and other dignitaries.
Education
Oyo: Speaker Abbas, NRS Chair, Adedeji to Attend Ayede Polytechnic’s Maiden Convocation as 325 Set to Graduate
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Tajudeen Abbas, and the Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), Dr. Zacch Adelabu Adedeji, will on Thursday grace the maiden combined convocation ceremony of the Federal Polytechnic, Ayede, Oyo State, where no fewer than 325 students will be awarded National Diploma certificates.
The Pioneer Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr. Taofeek Abdul-Hameed, disclosed this on Monday during a pre-convocation press conference at the institution’s Permanent Site in Ayede, describing the event as “a defining milestone” in the history of the young federal institution.
“This is the first convocation of the Federal Polytechnic, Ayede, since its establishment on January 19, 2021, and it marks our transition from take-off to consolidation,” the Rector said.
Abdul-Hameed said the speaker would chair the convocation lecture, while the NRS boss, Adedeji would deliver the lecture titled, ‘The Role of Technology in Implementing Nigeria’s New Tax Laws: Challenges and Prospects’, noting that the calibre of invited dignitaries reflected the institution’s rising national profile.
“The presence of the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service underscores the growing relevance of the Polytechnic in national development discourse,” he said.
According to the Rector, the combined convocation covers the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 academic sessions and will span six days, featuring a novelty football match, convocation lecture, award of National Diploma certificates, and the conferment of fellowship honours.
He disclosed that 138 students completed their programmes in the 2023/2024 academic session, while 187 students graduated in the 2024/2025 session, bringing the total number of graduands to 325.
On academic expansion, Abdul-Hameed said the Polytechnic commenced academic activities in 2023 with four National Diploma programmes but has grown to run 13 fully accredited ND programmes across five schools.
“We currently operate across the Schools of Engineering, Environmental Technology, Management Sciences, Science and Technology, and Agricultural Technology, all with full NBTE accreditation,” he stated.
The Rector attributed the institution’s rapid growth to sustained support from the Federal Government under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, alongside interventions from the Federal Ministry of Education, the National Board for Technical Education, and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund.
“These interventions have strengthened our capacity in programme accreditation, staff development, and infrastructure delivery,” he said.
Abdul-Hameed further revealed that the Polytechnic had executed 68 major infrastructural, ICT, and utility projects across its Permanent and Temporary campuses, adding that work was ongoing on the access road linking the Permanent Site from Idi-Araba.
“While we have made significant progress, we still require support in access roads, student hostels, power supply, water facilities, and digital infrastructure to sustain our growth,” the Rector appealed.
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