UNILORIN agog for 50th anniversary grand finale
By Abubakar Imam
All is now set for the final and most significant leg of activities marking the 50th Anniversary of the University of Ilorin this week. The Golden Jubilee events formally kicked off on January 13, this year with the unveiling of the Anniversary Logo by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN.
Several preliminary events had earlier been held to mark the milestone since the beginning of the year. These include an international conference, themed “Globalising Education: Strategies, Challenges and Sustainability”, organised by the Centre for International Education (CIE) between April 15 and 17, 2025, and the investiture of 65 eminent Nigerians, most of whom are alumni of the University, as UNILORIN Ambassadors, Distinguished Alumni, and Award of Excellence on July 16, 2025.
The grand finale rolled off the ground on Sunday (November 23, 2025) with special church services at St. Thomas Aquinas Chaplaincy and the Chapel of the Light at the Main Campus of the University.
The Church services were graced by several members of staff and students of the University led by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Management Services), Prof. Adegboyega Adisa Fawole, and the Chairman of the Anniversary Planning Committee, Prof. Olugbenga Ayodeji Mokuolu.
A copy of the programme schedule made available to UNILORIN Bulletin revealed that, the special church services will be followed on Monday (November 24, 2025) by the Anniversary Walk to be embarked upon by staff and students of the institution from the University Roundabout into the town.
The walk, according to the Chairman of the Committee, Prof. Mokuolu, is designed as a means of generating additional awareness for the anniversary and it will begin from 7:00am while an interactive session between the Vice Chancellor and all the surviving past Principal Officers will hold on the same day at the University Dam Site by 1:00pm.
The Day Two of the ceremonies will be rounded-off with the premiere of “Son of Iron”, a film put together by alumni of the University’s Department of the Performing Arts and Film Studies . It will hold at 4:00pm at the University Auditorium.
On Tuesday, November 25, 2025, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, will brief the press on the activities lined up and other relevant issues pertaining to the University beginning at 10:00am. He will also perform the commissioning of the Space Research Centre at the University.
The Vice Chancellor will, thereafter, lead a delegation of Principal Officers of the University on courtesy visits to the Governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, CON, at the Government House, Ilorin; and the Emir of Ilorin and Chairman, Kwara State Council of Chiefs, Alhaji(Dr) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, CFR, at his palace. The day will be rounded-off with a corporate social responsibility visit to Ilorin Motherless Babies Home and the School For Special Needs, Ilorin, where gifts worth millions of naira will be donated to the inmates and students of the two institutions, respectively.
The Alumni Colloquium and presentation of awards to selected distinguished alumni and friends of the University will take the centre stage on Wednesday, November 26, 2025 at the University Auditorium beginning at 10:00am. This programme, which will be presided-over by a distinguished alumnus of the University and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, Dr Abdulfatai Buhari, will also involve fundraising and presentation of papers by the immediate past Governor of Kwara State, Dr Abdulfattahi Ahmed, CON; a former Nigeria’s envoy to Netherlands, Dr Nimota Nihilola Akanbi, OON, and the former Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre, Ebute-Metta, Lagos, Dr Ademola Dada.
This will be followed by the commissioning of the National Secretariat of the University of Ilorin Alumni Association by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Egbewole.
On the same day, a luncheon will be held in honour of alumni at the University Multipurpose Hall by 2:00pm while an anniversary play will also be staged at the Performing Arts Theatre of the University by 6:00pm.
The grand finale of the ceremonies comes up on Thursday, November 27, 2025 with a lecture to be delivered by a renowned African public intellectual and lawyer, Dr P. L. O. Lumumba. The event would also be highlighted with the conferment of an award of honour on the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu and the launching of ₦50 billion endowment fund for the construction of Innovation and Transcript Hub for the University. The event will also witness the public presentation of a special anniversary book on UNILORIN @ 50. On the same day, the newly completed JAMB Hostel will also be commissioned as well as the pilot building of the Innovation Hub, which will also be commissioned for use.
Friday, November 28, 2025 will mark the end of the one-week events with a special prayer at the University Central Mosque beginning at 1:00pm. The prayer session, which will be led by the Chief Imam of the University, Prof. Nasir Abdussalam, will also be attended by members of the University Muslim community to be led by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Egbewole.
In addition to those previously mentioned, the anniversary is also expected to be graced by political leaders, royal fathers, prominent professionals, religious leaders, captains of industries, Vice Chancellors of sister universities and other categories of dignitaries from far and near.
