UNILAG VC charges other alumni to emulate Engineering Faculty

Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, OON, FAS, has urged faculties in the university to emulate the University of Lagos Faculty of Engineering Alumni Association (UNILAGFEAA) in giving back to their alma mater.

She made this known at the handing over ceremony and commissioning of the Vertical Extension project of the Mechanical and Civil Engineering buildings donated by Engr. Wole Ogunsanya, FNSE, Group Managing Director, Geoplex Drillteq Ltd and the Unilag Engineering Alumni respectively.

The occasion which was held at the Faculty of Engineering had in attendance members of the University of Lagos Management; Engr. Ife Oyedele, FNSE, President (Worldwide), UNILAG Alumni Association represented by the National Ex-Officio, Professor Khalid Adekoya; Engr. Wole Ogunsanya, FNSE and his wife, Dr. Mrs. Mary Ogunsanya; Engr. Mrs. Aramide Adeyoye, former Special Assistant to Governor Babajide Sanwoolu on Works and Infrastructure; and Engineering Alumni members from town and gown.

Commending the donor (Engr. Ogunsanya) and the alumni for their efforts, the Vice Chancellor declared that in an effort to improve the curricula of the various faculties, the university has adopted the Engineering Faculty and Faculty alumni’s Industry Advisory Board model as a template for other faculties. She added that it is the duty of the University to provide manpower for the industry, hence the need for the industry to be integrated in the university curriculum, calling for research to be driven by industry problems which makes room for greater engagement and a ‘win-win’ for everybody.

In his welcome address, Engr. Dideolu Falobi, FNSE, National Chairman, UNILAG Faculty of Engineering Alumni Association and MD/CEO, Kresta Laurel Limited, appreciated the university management, the donor and members of the Alumni for their support towards the projects of the association. He also revealed that the commissioning brings to 12, the number of lecturers’ offices handed over to the faculty by the Association, and that four 116-seater classrooms are also under construction.

Engr. Ife Oyedele, President (Worldwide), represented by the National Ex-Officio, Prof. Khalid Adekoya noted that the National Alumni body is in support of the efforts of the Engineering Faculty Alumni. While lauding the creation of the Industrial Advisory Board by the faculty, he added that in a bid to build a #FutureReady UNILAG, town and gown must synergise and that the Engineering Faculty is already on that track.

In his remarks, Engr. Ogunsanya noted that the need to embark on the vertical extensions of the longstanding and sturdy buildings in the faculty is to provide space for the current students of the faculty who are three times the population in his undergraduate years – over 36 years ago. The oil sector mogul who has a penchant of employing UNILAG graduates pledged the continued support of his organisation to the faculty, the Faculty Alumni and the National Alumni body.

Funmi Falobi
National Publicity Secretary