…..promises talk-of-the-town anniversary
The Director of Corporate Affairs, University of Ilorin, Mr Kunle Akogun, has said that the University has every reason to celebrate, in grand style, its 50 years of existence.
He explained that an institution of higher learning like the University of Ilorin that has recorded several milestones deserves to celebrate and be celebrated.
Mr Akogun stated this last Thursday (March 6, 2025) while presenting a paper titled “UNILORIN @ 50: PR Narratives Shaping A Great Brand” at a ‘PR Clinic’ organised by the Kwara State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) at its secretariat in Ilorin.
The consummate public relations professional disclosed that the upcoming 50th anniversary of the University is targeted at celebrating its achievements and preparing it for the future.
The Director commended the succession of progressive, visionary and hardworking Vice Chancellors and the passionate PR efforts of the Corporate Affairs team of the University, which, he said, “have ultimately earned UNILORIN the numero uno spot in the committee of Nigerian universities.”
Mr Akogun explained that the University, which has been the most preferred institution of higher learning by admission seekers for more than a decade, and with the galaxy of its outstanding products that include the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Prof. Is’haq Olanrewaju Oloyede, CON; the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja, who is also the pioneer Vice Chancellor of the Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, Prof. AbdulRasheed Na’Allah; and a former Ag. Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mrs Sarah Alade, among several others, deserves to be celebrated.
The Communication guru added that the University and many of its staff, students and alumni have also won series of awards over the years, saying that all these make the University worthy of being celebrated.
In view of this, Mr Akogun told his audience, which includes seasoned professional image-makers from all over Kwara State and beyond, as well as media personalities, that the University is “prepared to deliver an unprecedented celebration that would be the talk of the town for some time to come”.
He said that the golden jubeilee is intended to celebrate the University’s brilliant attainments in its core mandates of teaching, research, and community service.
The anniversary, according to the veteran journalist, is also projected at hinting the society of what should be expected from the University in the next 50 years, which would make its continuous existence a cardinal necessity.
He described the University as an outstanding brand that has achieved much, adding that his Unit would work with others to ensure the dissemination of compelling narratives that would easily captivate all the stakeholders of the University.
Mr Akogun commended the University Management for directing that “everyone and everything in the University campus goes around with the anniversary logo for all to know that 2025 is the year of the University”.
The Director assured his audience that, in addition to external media platforms, the University would equally deploy its own in-house media outlets such as UNILORIN Bulletin, the UNILORIN 89.3 FM Radio and the recently launched UNILORINTv as well as the institution’s official social media platforms to create massive awareness and project the anniversary activities as they unfold in the build-up to the main event.
He disclosed that the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, and the Chairman of the Anniversary Planning Committee, Prof. Olugbenga Ayodeji Mokuolu, would from time to time be in the media to ensure that issues relating to the anniversary are on the front burner throughout the golden jubilee celebration.
Mr Akogun enjoined the alumni of the University and other members of the public to cooperate with members of the University community towards celebrating its numerous achievements.
