The President of the OOU Alumni, UK Chapter, Mr. Olu Sokoya recently paid a courtesy visit to the Vice-Chancellor and his management team at the Main Campus of the University.
During the visit, they deliberated on a number of issues bordering on the development of the University, the Alumni Association and the quest of the Alumni in the diaspora for update of information on the University and their desire to contribute their quota towards the University development. It was noted that the UK Alumni Chapter was very strong, viable and prepared to contribute its quota towards the development of the University.
Mr. Sokoya informed the management team about the difficulties being encountered by alumni in the diaspora when it comes to the issuance of transcripts to them. He pleaded that the University should put in place strategy for addressing the problem with utmost dispatch.
He requested that the University should identify a project that the Alumni Association could buy into and forward such through a contact person who would serve as Liaison Officer between the University and the Association.
The President also revealed that the UK Chapter of the Association was ready to award scholarships to indigent but brilliant students of the University, starting with six faculties.
He disclosed that a member of the alumni in the UK was interested in assisting the University in providing facilities for the Computer Laboratory.
Mr. Sokoya, therefore advised the Vice- Chancellor to set up a team that would relate cordially with the alumni in the diaspora. According to him, the team would be responsible for updating the various alumni groups in the diaspora on the current development in the University through prompt posting of the University bulletin, news, and publications on the University website to members e-mail addresses.
While responding, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ganiyu Olatunji Olatunde commended the efforts of the President and the entire members of the OOU Alumni, UK Chapter for their interest in their Alma Mata. He reiterated the efforts put in place to reposition the University since he assumed office and the various challenges confronting the University.
Furthermore, the Vice-Chancellor said that the National Alumni crisis has been settled. He stated that in the next couple of weeks, the National Alumni would hold its non-elective congress and thereafter, their elective congress. He also assured Mr. Sokoya that the University Management was monitoring the development to ensure that all Chapters finally returned to the national body of the Association. Briefing the UK Chapter President about the University, the Vice-Chancellor said that the University had academic programmes with 94% success in the last Accreditation 66 courses had full accreditation status, 3 interim status and 1 was denied.
He disclosed that more Strategic Development partners have shown interest in partnering with the Management to develop the University. According to the Vice-Chancellor, one of the partners sponsored the installation of CCTV cameras to cover the entire Main Campus while others have partnered to build private hostels and landscaping projects in the University. In the same vein, some alumni had promised endowment of scholarships for brilliant but indigent students while some had already donated computer systems, books and other equipment to the University. The Vice-Chancellor drew attention to the atmosphere of peace pervading the University which had led to the stability of its academic calendar in the last six years. According to him, this had led to more patronage of the University by prospective candidates for admission.
On the issuance of transcripts, the Vice-Chancellor assured the President that the Management had taken a very proactive step to ensure timely processing of transcripts in the University. To realise this, necessary office equipment had been procured while four dedicated staff were posted to handle requests for transcripts. The Vice-Chancellor added that the University was working towards automating the transcript issuance process.
The Vice-Chancellor promised that the University would forward as requested, the list of projects the Alumni UK Chapter could sponsor as soon as possible.
