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