Alumni Associations in Nigeria must be intentional about their roles in ensuring the university education is improved upon in the country.
The Chairman, Ekiti State University Ado-Ekiti, EKSU Alumni Association, Ekiti State chapter and the Global Public Relations Officer, Mr Adetunji Aribasoye spoke in Ado-Ekiti at the alumni association’s 2025 Annual Lecture and Awards Program. He said such will enhance the growth of the institution as government alone cannot do it .
He maintained that there is the need for alumni of tertiary institutions in the country to join hands with the government to development their alma mater.
According to him, “Government alone cannot successfully fund tertiary institutions but through the assistance of the alumni associations, well-to-do individuals and corporate organizations more funds could be made available to tertiary institutions to meet their needs and ensure quality education is delivered”.
Speaking on what EKSU alumni have been able to do to impact on the university, he said, “From what we heard from our global president, Amb. Seyi Idowu and our immediate past president, Engineer Dipo Bamisaye, we discovered that EKSU Alumni for example has played a significant role in developing our great alma mater.
“Part of what we did as a body was to sort and look around for individuals with capacity to help , and that was why we were able to get , our own Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele and other proud Alumni that have done well for the institution. Building a medical hostel, the asphalt laying of EKSU village to the medical school and of course to the campus among many other things that were done. We also have the construction of the second phase of the hostel for the medical students too which we hope will be increased to a thousand one day and a whole lot of programmes we have experienced within the university because of the activities of the alumni association.
“Talking about our endowment fund, every year we raise well over 20 million naira to encourage, appreciate and award deserving students who are doing well in their academics. This year too, the committee, ably led by Dr Soji Ehinlanwo also did well by raising enough funds for this particular programme.
“The EKSU alumni facilitated a company currently partnering with the Ekiti state government and the department of Agriculture of the institution to train , set up farm , agro processing plant to create jobs even for students while still on campus. All of these were facilitated by EKSU Alumni Association”.
The annual lecture was delivered by Prof. Olawumi Fapohunda titled: “Navigating Harsh Economic Downtown: Interrogating The Interplay of Food Security and Insecurity On Agricultural Processes And Citizens”.
“We tried to interrogate Ekiti State government huge investment in agriculture and its impact through the lecture topic which borders on agriculture.To see how the Alumni can also play a part in it”. He said.
Awards were presented to 29 deserving individuals including Governor Biodun Oyebanji, ably represented by his Special Adviser on Tertiary Education, Professor Azeez.
“The Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye, received outstanding service leadership award, Commissioner for Trade and Investment Mrs Omotayo Adeola, the EKSU Alumni global president, current and immediate past president were also in attendance to receive award and other eminent individuals within the society.
Delivering his keynote address at the event, the immediate past global president of the association Engr. Dipo Bamisaye said the body
aimed at fostering connections and engagement among members and, between the institution and its alumni.
He added that the association
had over the years played a pivotal role in the academic, economic, infrastructural development and sustainability of its alma mater throughout the world.
