Campus News

It’s time to push, Egbewole charges 50th Anniversary Committee

By Abubakar Imam

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, has urged the University’s 50th Anniversary Planning Committee to increase the tempo of preparations for the programme.

Prof. Egbewole gave this charge in his office last Monday (July 14, 2025) at a meeting between the University’s Principal Officers and members of the Committee.

The Vice Chancellor, who applauded the Chairman and members of the Committee for their efforts so far, said that because the anniversary is fast approaching, the Committee must hit the ground running for the University to record a very successful anniversary celebration.

Prof. Egbewole specifically charged the Committee to up the scale in raising the funds needed to execute a very successful anniversary celebration.

He explained that from the progress report presented by the Chairman of the Committee he was convinced that the Committee is on course.

The Vice Chancellor said that the Committee should make arrangements towards reaching out directly to selected individuals and organisations notwithstanding the fact that they have been informed in writing, saying that it is time to push out.

               He also urged the Committee to galvanise the cooperation of members of the University Alumni Association through selected focal persons.

Prof. Egbewole explained that each Faculty has its own alumni body, a mechanism that could be tapped through their respective Deans as he said that he was aware that the College of Health Sciences, the Faculties of Agriculture and Law, among others, have alumni bodies that have been unrelenting in giving back.

The Vice Chancellor encouraged the Committee to leverage the goodwill of the University to ensure that every alumnus and stakeholder is enlisted in the task of putting up a wonderful anniversary celebration.

In order to synergise more effectively with the Committee, the Vice Chancellor said that he and other Principal Officers would be holding consultative meetings with the Committee on fortnight basis with a view to speedily addressing emerging challenges and robbing minds on available options.

Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the Committee, Prof. Olugbenga Ayodeji Mokoulu, briefed the Vice Chancellor and other Principal Officers on the activities and efforts of the Committee so far.

Prof. Mokoulu ran through the lineup of activities for the celebration, which, he said, would commence on Sunday, November 23 and rounded-off on Friday, November 28, 2025.

He explained that the Committee had not only compartmentalised itself into different sub-committees but had also been working assiduously towards ensuring that it achieves its aspirations of delivering a memorable anniversary.

The Chairman also informed the Vice Chancellor of the achievements the Committee has recorded in advertising the anniversary through call back ringtone and erection of banners at strategic locations on the campus, Babatunde Idiagbon Airport and within the city as he said that arrangements are also being made towards ensuring that commercial vehicles plying the University route are branded with a view to generating maximum publicity within the host community.

He also reported that the UNILORIN Bulletin and the UNILORIN FM have been updating members of the University community and the public on the unfolding development associated with the anniversary celebration.

Prof. Mokoulu, who enumerated some of the challenges of the Committee, informed the Vice Chancellor that his Committee had met with the outgoing Deans as he also said that it would also meet with the new set of Deans whenever they are fully constituted towards enlisting their supports.

In attendance at the meeting were the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Moji Taibat Bakare-Odunola; the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Management Services), Prof. Adegboyega Adisa Fawole; the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research, Technology and Innovation), Prof. Muhtar Etudaiye; the Registrar, Mr Mansur Adeleke Alfanla; the University Librarian, Prof. Kamaldeen Tunde Omopupa and the Bursar, Mr Abiodun Lawal, among others.