AFUED VC Seeks Stronger Partnership with Alumni Association for University Development

The Vice-Chancellor of Adeyemi Federal University of Education (AFUED), Ondo, Prof. Bayode Isaiah Popoola, has called for a stronger partnership between the university’s management and its alumni association to accelerate the institution’s development.

Prof. Popoola made the call during a strategic meeting with members of staff who are also members of the institution’s Alumni Association on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at the university.

Emphasising the important role of the Alumni Association in the development of the institution, the Vice-Chancellor described alumni as critical stakeholders whose contributions are essential to the progress of the university.

He urged members of the association to see themselves not only as former students but as partners and owners of the institution with a continuing responsibility to contribute to the advancement of their alma mater.

Popoola said alumni engagement should go beyond financial contributions to include advocacy, mentorship, professional support, student development, and the promotion of the university’s reputation and achievements.

He also called on alumni to serve as advancement ambassadors by leveraging their professional networks and spheres of influence to promote the institution and create opportunities for strategic partnerships.

“The advancement of the university is a collective responsibility. Our alumni have a significant role to play, not only through financial support, but also through their expertise, networks, advocacy and commitment to the institution,” he said.

The Vice-Chancellor noted that sustained alumni participation would be particularly important as the university develops new strategies to address emerging institutional needs.

Also speaking, the Acting Director, Advancement and Alumni Relations (AAR), AFUED, Dr. Kolawole Charles Omotayo, described the meeting as an important step towards mobilising alumni staff as strategic partners in the continued growth of the institution.

Omotayo said the meeting was designed to strengthen communication, encourage collaboration and identify opportunities through which alumni could contribute meaningfully to the development of their alma mater.

“The motive behind this meeting is simple but profound: to recognize, mobilize, and empower Alumni Staff Members as strategic partners in the advancement and development of our Alma Mater,” he said.

According to him, many members of staff were once students of the institution before returning as lecturers, administrators, researchers, technologists and other professionals.

He said this development had created a unique link between the university and its alumni community, placing alumni staff in a strategic position to understand both the institution and its former students.

Omotayo added that alumni staff could help build relationships capable of mobilising support and creating opportunities for the university.

The AAR Director likened the university to “our own Jerusalem,” describing it as an institution that provided many alumni with their first academic opportunities, friendships, mentorship and the foundations of their professional careers.

He stressed that giving back to the university should not be viewed solely in financial terms.

“When we speak of giving back to our Alma Mater, we are not speaking merely of financial donations. We are speaking of a responsibility to protect its reputation, strengthen its institutions, support its students, encourage its development, and ensure that future generations can benefit from the opportunities that shaped our own lives,” he stated.

He urged alumni staff to regard the university’s progress as a shared responsibility, noting that its achievements enhance the value of the legacy inherited by successive generations, while its challenges require collective attention and contributions.

Eminent personalities who attended the meeting included the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, AFUED, Prof. Ireti Alao; the Registrar, Mrs. Olufisayo Fakorede; the Bursar, Mrs. Tawio Adedoyin; as well as professors, associate professors, deans, directors and senior academic staff of the university.