By Olayinka Ilori
Ekiti State Governor and Chairman Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Dr Kayode Fayemi has solicited the supports of Alumni Associations in developing tertiary institutions across the country, stressing that they have critical roles to play in the smooth running of their alma mater.
The governor made the statement on Wednesday when he received a 17 man delegation from the Lagos branch of the alumni association of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) led by the Chairman, Dr Benjamin Olowojebutu in his office in Ado Ekiti.
The UNILAG alumni association at the meeting presented to the governor his painted portrait picture as a distinguished Alumnus and in acknowledgement of his sterling contributions and achievement as the Governor of Ekiti State and as the chairman of Nigeria Governor’s forum.
The Governor urged alumni associations to support their alma mater in mentoring young graduates and facilitating twin institutional arrangement among universities in the country.
Dr Fayemi, who was an alumnus of UNILAG noted that the university he attended played a critical role in his formation as an activist, social advocate and leader.
He said his level of discipline and commitment to values were virtues he inculcated and developed to occupy not only leadership positions but also to train and mentor other leaders.
The Governor also commended the Vice Chancellor of UNILAG, Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe who was represented by a Deputy Dean of the Student affairs division of the institution at the event, Dr Michael Adeola, for his commitment towards attracting private sectors in the development of the institution and winning research grants and other training funds.
“UNILAG played a central role in my own formation as a young man and as I said in my convocation lecture in 2017 when I delivered the convocation lecture at UNILAG many of the things that I have gone ahead to do in my life I really started them while I was in UNILAG, yes, I edited Watch, I was active member of OSU, I was in the Senate, I was secretary of an Ijoko hall and secretary of YUSSAN; for those who may not know how active we were in the anti-apartheid struggle at the time may not know what YUSSAN, Youth Solidarity with Southern African and the Nigerian Chapter, I was secretary of UNSA, United Nation’s Student Association.
“The discipline, commitment to values that we developed in the university, these are qualities that have to be built with and had to owe in order to become leaders and also to train and mentor other leaders. For me, UNILAG played a very critical role in my formation and I am glad that I passed through the university and other university passed through me.
“You are working for all of us in doing this, it is a university that has grown in leap and bond. The last time I was there, I was very impressed with the level of private sector involved in supporting the university and I know that professor Ogundipe has committed himself to bringing more private sector support.
“I want to thank you and want to encourage you not to relent in your passionate commitment to our university, Government alone cannot run any university this day, we all have to put in whatever we can to support the institutions, to mentor students that are coming out of the institution, to find a way to promote twin institutional arrangement, either between UNILAG or our local university here or bring in people from elsewhere to engage us here, find a way to really keep the flag flying, that is what you are doing and that is what we must encourage you to do.” He said.
Earlier in his speech, Dr Benjamin who was an indigene of Ekiti State, commended the governor for promoting the brand of the university by serving as a worthy ambassador of the association and for playing critical role in stemming the tide of the crisis that evolved between the vice chancellor and the previous governing council of the institution.
