The United Kingdom/Ireland branch of the Olabisi Onabanjo University Alumni Association has pledged their unflinching support and commitment to the development of their Alma Mata. This view was expressed at a meeting/dinner organized by the Alumni at Oriental Restaurant O2 Lounge Bar and Club, London, United Kingdom on Friday 12th October, 2018 which had in attendance the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ganiyu Olatunji Olatunde, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Admin), Professor (Mrs.) Ebun Oduwole, and two members of the University Council, Mr. Olaolu Olabimtan and Alhaji Sefiu Rasheed.
While delivering his Welcome address, the President of the United Kingdom Chapter of the Alumni Association, Mr. Segun Sokoya, on behalf of the members, expressed the deep appreciation of his members to the University Management for attending the meeting/dinner. According to him, this gesture has proved to the members, the determination of the new leadership of the University to take the Institution to the next level. He acknowledged the positive image and the enviable academic standard that the University has been enjoying in recent times as evidenced in the ranking of the University as one of the best state Universities in Nigeria.
Presenting his speech, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ganiyu Olatunji Olatunde, thanked the Alumni Association for their good gesture. He listed the various achievements of the University to include uninterrupted academic calendar for the last six sessions, landscaping and beautification of the campus, removal of bottlenecks in the collection of the academic transcripts and efforts at attaining e-transcript, success in the recent National Universities Commission (NUC) accreditation visits with over 95% of academic programmes having full accreditation status, capacity building for staff members, fostering good relationship and rapport with the Nigerian chapter of the Alumni Association and many more.
The Vice-Chancellor added that the University will appreciate the support of the Alumni Association in the areas of provision of modern facilities/equipment, teaching aids and other relevant infrastructural and equipment needs. He specifically submitted that the OOU branch of the Alumni Association had completed plans to donate Projectors and Power Surges to the University.
The Vice-Chancellor further informed the gathering that three (3) programmes, namely B.NSc. Nursing, B.A. Linguistics and B. A. Music, have received approval of the National Universities Commission (NUC) for commencement in the 2018/2019 Academic session. While buttressing the Vice-Chancellor’s update about the University’s development, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Admin), Professor (Mrs.) EbunOduwole, reiterated the efforts of the University Management to rebrand the University and showcase it in positive light to the world and requested for the support of the Alumni Association.
While reacting to the speech of the Vice-Chancellor, the President of the United Kingdom Alumni Association, Mr. Segun Sokoya promised that the needs of the University will be collated and steps will be taken to assist the University in its area of needs. Specifically, he revealed that the Alumni havea greed to support the University in the areas of building hostels, providing teaching and research facilities for the OOU International School and OOU Primary School and participating in other development projects listed by the University. He, however pleaded with the University Management to consider dedicating a page in the University Bulletin to Alumni issues as this will promote relationship among the various branches (locally/Internationally) of the Alumni Association.
The programme was spiced up with a colourful and educative presentation by Mr. Michael Atkins Faleye, a member of the Alumni Association.
