UI Emphasises Alumni Partnerships as Key Driver of University Development

University of Ibadan has reaffirmed the strategic importance of alumni engagement in strengthening public university development, as it commissioned a refurbished Large Lecture Theatre at the Faculty of Nursing.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Peter O. Olapegba, speaking on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Kayode O. Adebowale, said universities that fail to intentionally cultivate alumni networks risk undermining their long-term growth and sustainability.

He noted that declining public funding has made alumni relations increasingly critical, adding that the institution is strengthening its Office of Alumni Relations and undertaking comprehensive data collation of graduates across all generations.

Olapegba described alumni as essential stakeholders whose contributions—ranging from infrastructure support to scholarships—directly enhance academic and research development. He encouraged faculties across the university to actively pursue similar partnerships to support institutional advancement.

The occasion marked the unveiling of a renovated lecture theatre sponsored by Professor and Mrs. Samson Akinloye Omotosho, a development the Deputy Vice-Chancellor described as a legacy intervention that strengthens teaching capacity within the Faculty of Nursing.

He commended the Dean of Nursing, Prisca Adejumo, for facilitating the partnership and described the project as a model of effective alumni engagement.

The benefactor’s representative, Professor David Adejare Agboola, highlighted Professor Omotosho’s academic and professional trajectory, noting his historic achievement as one of the early Black male PhD graduates in Nursing from the University of Maryland and his current role as Medical Director of Optimum Health Services Inc. in Baltimore, United States.

He said the donor attributes his academic foundation and success to the University of Ibadan, adding that the renovated facility reflects a continued commitment to advancing nursing education and institutional excellence.

The Dean of Nursing expressed appreciation for the intervention, describing it as transformative for teaching and learning within the faculty. She also disclosed that additional academic support initiatives, including the shipment of educational materials, are being facilitated by the donor.

The renovated lecture theatre, valued at approximately ₦8 million, was officially commissioned by university officials alongside representatives of the Nursing Alumni Association and other stakeholders, reinforcing the university’s growing reliance on alumni partnerships for infrastructure and academic support.