The grand ballroom of Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, glistened under the soft glow of chandeliers. Warm light danced off crystal glasses and gold-rimmed plates, while the gentle strains of live music mingled with laughter and the rhythmic hum of reunion. From one table to another, alumni exchanged embraces, reliving fond memories of Akoka days — the network and friendships that shaped their journeys.

This was no ordinary night. It was the 55th Anniversary Awards and Dinner Night of the University of Lagos Alumni Association — an evening steeped in pride, nostalgia, and renewal. More than a dinner, it was a homecoming of dreams and an affirmation of faith in an institution whose impact spans continents.

The Association had gathered not just to look back, but to look ahead — to celebrate excellence, inspire the future, and reaffirm the shared heartbeat of Akoka’s global family. The occasion also featured a roll call of distinguished personalities — top government functionaries, members of the National Assembly, industry giants, entrepreneurs, technocrats, eminent academics, and a mix of esteemed personalities, friends and colleagues. It was a sight to behold — a constellation of achievement under one roof, their presence a living testament to UNILAG’s influence across sectors and generations.

TRACING THE THREADS OF TIME

At the heart of the night stood Engr. IfeOluwa Oyedele, President Worldwide of the Association — a man whose calm confidence belied a passion for innovation. When he took the podium, the hall fell silent; anticipation charged the air.

“This is a historic and epoch-making occasion,” he began, his voice steady yet resonant. “We are not merely celebrating our past — we are defining our future.”

His opening remarks set the tone for an evening that would elegantly blend memory with ambition. Giving a historical perspective, Engr. IfeOluwa Oyedele, FNSE, FNIPE, FRMN, D.Eng. (Honoris Causa), guests that the University of Lagos Alumni Association was born in 1969, just four years after the institution’s first convocation. What began as a modest fellowship of early graduates determined to give back has, over five decades, evolved into one of Nigeria’s most vibrant and respected alumni networks.

“The Association, which has evolved through various stages, has remained visible in the joint task of advancing our alma mater,” he said. “Among our many achievements, today the Alumni Association enjoys a permanent seat on the University’s Governing Council. Indeed, we have made remarkable progress under the able leadership of fifteen past national presidents.”

Oyedele paid tribute to the succession of presidents, trustees and volunteers whose stewardship built the Association’s enduring legacy.

“Their footprints are everywhere — on the Akoka skyline, in classrooms, laboratories and boardrooms,” he noted. “They lit the path we now walk upon.”

That legacy, he said, is etched into structures such as the Erastus Akingbola Postgraduate Hall, D.K. Olukoya Research Laboratory, UNILAG Bus Terminal and Alumni Shopping Complex, Alumni Jubilee House (developed with GTBank), and the Iconic Alumni Building — an architectural landmark dedicated to the late Prof. Oye Ibidapo-Obe.

Other notable interventions include the donation of a Book-Eye 5V2 industrial scanner to aid digitisation of students’ records, scholarships for indigent students, endowed prizes for best graduates, and the development of alumni branches in Nigeria and the Diaspora.

“Every generation of alumni has carried the torch forward,” Oyedele reflected. “The strength of this Association lies in its people — those who remember where they came from and who never stop giving back. Each structure tells a story — of leadership, community and collective pride.”

He added: “The University of Lagos Alumni Association today represents what a true alumni body should be. Our ambition is to position this Association so that, if government ever grants full autonomy to public universities, we will have the financial muscle to sustain our alma mater.”

DRIVING NEW HORIZONS WITH TECHNOLOGY

Demonstrating a forward-looking vision, Oyedele unveiled a customised alumni engagement web and mobile application — a digital innovation designed to connect over 200,000 graduates worldwide and redefine how members interact with the Association.

“With this app, members can now register, pay dues, access events, news, job boards, and even vote electronically from anywhere in the world,” he announced to resounding applause. “To the best of my knowledge, this is the first of its kind in any university alumni body anywhere in the world.”

He further revealed the adoption of a bottom-up administrative model, empowering class sets, faculty chapters and branches to play greater roles in decision-making — a model aimed at deepening engagement and accountability.

BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE: THE 1,800-BED HOSTEL PROJECT

In a major infrastructural announcement, Oyedele revealed plans to construct a 1,800-bed student hostel on the university’s Akoka campus — a project set to ease the pressure on student accommodation.

“I am pleased to disclose that the University of Lagos Alumni Association has secured, from the university, suitable land within the campus to erect the hostel,” he said. “This will go a long way to ease student accommodation challenges. The planning of the project has reached an advanced stage, and we are optimistic that construction will commence before the end of this year.”

The new hostel, he noted, will complement existing facilities and provide a more conducive environment for learning and student welfare.

Additional projects on the Association’s agenda include: Installation of two lifts at the College of Medicine administrative building; Refurbishment and solar power upgrade of the Alumni Secretariat; Restoration of water supply to key faculties; andProvision of new medical equipment at the University Medical Centre.

REWARDING LEARNING AND CHARACTER

To reinforce the university’s motto — Learning and Character — Oyedele announced the institution of annual Character Awards to honour academic and non-academic staff, as well as graduating students who exemplify integrity, discipline and leadership.

“These prizes will be named after some of the distinguished awardees we are honouring today,” he said. “It is our way of building a culture that celebrates both intellectual excellence and moral uprightness.”

He added that the initiative would begin at the next convocation ceremony — a symbolic investment in values that sustain great institutions.

A CALL FOR VISION AND RENEWAL

Concluding his address, Oyedele drew inspiration from thinkers like Machiavelli and Winston Churchill, urging alumni to embrace courage and progress in leadership.

“We must not repeat the mistakes of the past but allow the spirit of progress to triumph,” he declared. “Let us be inspired by the generosity of great patriots like Chief Adebutu and Chief Fanimokun, who embody the spirit of giving and nation-building. Together, we are unstoppable.”

CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE AND SERVICE

As ushers glided between tables serving drinks and refreshments ahead of the dinner with the band’s melodious tunes keeping the mood livid, the evening blossomed into a graceful celebration of excellence, friendship and shared pride.

“This event symbolises what UNILAG represents — excellence, innovation and connection,” remarked one alumnus, smiling as he looked around the hall.

The occasion also included spectacle moments as fourteen remarkable individuals were honoured with Alumni Lifetime Achievement, Platinum, and Distinguished Alumni Awards, each recognised for their exemplary contributions to public good and societal advancement.

The honourees included:
Chief Kessington Adebutu, founder of Premier Lotto Limited;
Chief Tunde Fanimokun, Life Director, Folawiyo Group;
Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun (CJN);
Dr John Momoh, Chairman/CEO, Channels Media Group;
Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN);
Senator (Dr) Opeyemi Bamidele;
Olorogun (Dr) Sonny Folorunsho Kuku;
Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack;
Mr Kayode Egbetokun;
Senator (Dr) Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia;
Chief Christopher Adebayo Ojo (SAN);
Dr Kola Adeshina;
Mrs Folashade Noimat Okoya; and
HRH Prof. Epiphany Azinge (SAN)

“These awards reflect our vision to celebrate excellence and honour men and women who have dedicated their lives to public good,” Oyedele said. “Their stories inspire the next generation to serve with distinction.”

A VICE-CHANCELLOR’S TRIBUTE

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, congratulated the Alumni Association on its 55 years of partnership and impact, describing it as “the best globally.”

“Alumni associations have the duty to connect, to be our ambassadors, to advocate, and to support the school,” she said.

“In my opinion, this Alumni Association scores 100% on each of these. One of the strengths of the University of Lagos is the seamless transfer of leadership and strong connections with our alumni.”

She expressed gratitude to Engr Oyedele and his team for sustaining vibrant chapters across Nigeria and the Diaspora.

“As we mark your 55th anniversary today,” she added warmly, “I want to assure you that we will continue to partner with you because our institution is secure. To move forward, we must work closely with both alumni and staff in a coordinated fashion — and I believe we already have that.”

Her words drew applauses — a celebration of continuity, collaboration, and the shared destiny between the university and its proud alumni.

And as the final notes of music faded into the Lagos night, amid dancing and more merry-cheers, one truth was clear — the University of Lagos Alumni Association was not just celebrating 55 years of legacy, it was reimagining the future — with courage, connection, and collective purpose to light the way forward. Indeed, the bond that the alumni creates is not merely enduring — it is ever-evolving, ever-inspiring, and beautifully unstoppable.

Pictorial highlights below, courtesy: Unilag Alumni Association