Campus News

Alumnus hails Egbewole on varsity’s rising profile

By Abubakar Imam

A 2001 graduate of the Faculty of Law, University of Ilorin, Mr Ibrahim Atanda, has commended the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, for stimulating and sustaining the rising profile of the University.

Mr Atanda gave this commendation last Tuesday (June 10, 2025) when he visited the University’s Directorate of Corporate Affairs.

The alumnus, who said that he was at the University for sight-seeing as part of his Eid-el-Kabir holiday in Ilorin, explained that the institution has continued to grow in leaps and bounds, particularly since Prof. Egbewole assumed its leadership.

Mr Atanda expressed profound satisfaction with the increasing physical development of the University, saying that so many buildings had sprung up all over the campus of the University that are adding beauty to the institution.

The Legal luminary, who explained that he was particularly delighted with the provision of more facilities that would enhance service delivery at the Faculty of Law, said that the University campus is “really wearing a new look”.

He added that areas where students of his days were afraid of going to are now beehives of human activities as some of them had either become parts of the academic areas or hostels.

Mr Atanda, who is a former Chairman of the Abeokuta Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), said that he was not surprised with the positive physical transformation of the University campus, considering the fact that the University has always been blessed with efficient managers of human and material resources as Vice Chancellors over the years.

He particularly praised Prof. Egbewole for being a goal-getter and resourceful leader, saying that, even back then, the Vice Chancellor had always shown the stuff he was made of.

Mr Atanda, who described the Vice Chancellor as a fascinating teacher, recalled that his lectures were always particularly attractive to students as they knew that he would go the extra mile in ensuring that his students imbibe all they should know.

Speaking on the upcoming 50th anniversary of the University, Mr Atanda explained that the anniversary is worthy of being celebrated, particularly by its alumni.

He recalled that he was a student when the Silver Jubilee of the University was marked in 2000 and that having been in practice in the last 22 years he is prepared to be part of its Golden Jubilee celebrations.

He promised that he would use his offices as the Chairman of UNILORIN Muslim Graduates Association (UILMGA) to mobilise members of the Association and the public to play active role in the celebration as he said that the University had given him and other alumni so much.

               On the specific contributions the UILMGA would make, Mr Atanda said that many of the members are determined to make individual contributions while the body as a group would also give back.

On his advice for the current students of the University, Mr Atanda, who is the Proprietor of Ar-Raheem Group of Schools, Ilorin, enjoined them to face their studies with all seriousness, saying that the only way they can excel in life is through hard work as he said that there is no short-cut to greatness.

Mr Atanda, who served as the President of the University’s Chapter of the Ilorin Emirate Students Union (IESU) and as National President of the National Association of Kwara State Students (NAKSS) during his days as a student of the University, urged Unilorites to avoid negative tendencies as he said that the future belongs to those who are academically sound and morally upright.

He also commended the Directorate of Corporate Affairs of the University for working tirelessly at boosting the image of the University. He said that he was always delighted reading positive news about the University in the media, which, he said, he believed, is rooted in the efforts of the Directorate.

Describing himself as an avid and regular reader of UNILORIN Bulletin, Mr Atanda commended the Director and staff of the Directorate for always detailing happenings and achievements of the University in the weekly publication for the rest of the world to know.

He expressed hope that the weekly publication would continue to serve as a bridge between the University and the public, particularly the University alumni that are scattered across the world, for them to know all they should about their alma mater.

Responding on behalf of the Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr Kunle Akogun, the Deputy Editor, UNILORIN Bulletin, Mr Abubakar Imam, thanked Mr Atanda for the visit and his nice words for his alma mater and the Directorate.

               Mr Akogun appealed to other alumni of the University to cultivate the habit of visiting the University to access its development as he expressed the conviction that such visits would encourage them to give back to the University.