At the non-elective National Congress of the Olabisi Onabanjo University Alumni Association held at the Spices Hall, besides OPIC House, Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta, Ogun State on Saturday, 22nd September, 2018, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ganiyu Olatunji Olatunde informed the Alumni Association that graduands for the last five years can now print their transcripts online and send to anywhere in the world.
While noting that there were still challenges on the old transcripts, the Vice-Chancellor said that measures were being taking to get the broadsheets of the results from the concerned departments for further necessary action. He said further that, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Professor Mrs. Ebun Oduwole had been saddled with the responsibility of prompt attention to transcript issues.
Responding to the issue of a befitting office for the Alumni Association, the Vice-Chancellor said that the discussion with the Insurance Company on the burnt Alumni building was on-going and that once the Insurance Company pay the University, the money would be used to reconstruct the building.
The Vice-Chancellor further informed the Alumni Association that a website had been created on the portal where Alumni of Olabisi Onabanjo University from all over the world can interact with the University. Further, the Vice-Chancellor emphasized that there was need to have a representative of the Alumni Association on the Governing Council of the University as soon as possible, as this will obviously assist the Alumni to have a strong voice that will impact on the development of the University.
While ensuring that the University would play its part in assisting the Association to achieve its aims and objectives, the Vice-Chancellor said that a lot had been done since he assumed office; one of such was the positive Webometric Ranking received by our university where the University was number 26 among over 150 universities in the country. He promised that before he completes his tenure, the University would rank between the first nine Universities in the country. He averred that the University is one of the best in terms of resources and academic standards, in that, of the 71 programmes being run by the University, 67 had full accreditation (94%), 3 had interim, while one had denied status, due to inadequacy of studios for the denied programme.
He highlighted further that the National University Commission, NUC, had also approved the B.NSc. Nursing programme along with Music and Linguistics programmes from 2018/2019 session. Meanwhile, in order to ensure security of lives and properties on the campus, the Vice-Chancellor said that Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) had been provided on the campus and the Security beef up had led to the reduction to the barest minimum, of security infractions on the University Campus.
Thereafter, goodwill messages and accolades were showered on the Vice-Chancellor by members of the Alumni Association. They expressed their appreciation for the show of love by him for personally attending the Alumni congress and the previous meeting that he was invited to.
In his goodwill message, Hon. Justice Tayo Olaniran said that a journey of a thousand miles naturally begins with a single step and that “what is worth doing at all is worth doing well”. As such, he advocated that the interest of the University should be paramount in the hearts of members and that they should do everything possible to remain united.
While giving his own goodwill message, Hon. Justice Bimbola Bakare said that there was one basic thing in common with members of the Association and that was the Alma-Mata. As such, members should strive to improve the condition of their Alma-Mata.
In his own remark, Mr. Funsho Olusanya, a past National Chairman of the Alumni Association, observed that among the 400 Secondary school Principals in Ogun State, about 300 of them are products of Olabisi Onabanjo University, urging members present to encourage other alumus of the University to be involved in the activities of the Association. He also said that the University needed improvement beyond where it was and enjoined the Vice-Chancellor to use his good offices to make known to the State Governor, the needs of the University.
While appreciating the Vice-Chancellor for gracing the occasion of the National Congress of the Alumni Association, Mr. Soji Odedina, the immediate past National Chairman, identified that the journey of the Alumni towards its current height was such a challenging one and concluded by appreciating the efforts of the current management.
Similarly, the current National Chairman of the Alumni, Mr. Afolabi Sorunke, commented that with the present University Management, things were bound to move forward and already, there was a project proposal in the pipeline.
The Vice-Chancellor, along with some of the Principal Officers that were present at the occasion were appreciated by Alumni members and encouraged to continue with the good works which will help the university to maintain its good image and its enviable academic standards.
