The Vice-chancellor of obafemi awolowo university, Ile-Ife, Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede has warned the students and the general public to disregard any report or news circulating in his name on social media.
Ogunbodede disclosed this on Sunday at the institution’s 60th anniversary organised by the alumni members of the university.
The Vice-Chancellor called the attention of people at the occasion to an unknown person who opened a Facebook and WhatsApp accounts with his name and picture, warned members of the public to disregard any information given to them by such social media accounts.
He urged the students to always verify any information about the school first before circulating it on social media.
He said “Whenever you hear any information about the school, verify the information first before you fall victim to fraud.”
The Vice-Chancellor in his submission at the anniversary described OAU as the highest standard and worldwide reputation institution in the Western Region of Nigeria and appreciated the alumni for the kind gesture of their alumni retreat and all their impacts on the institution at large.
He further remarked that the anniversary of the institution and Alumni Retreat which took three days (between Thursday, October 28, 2021, to Sunday, October 31st, 2021) was classical and will ever linger in the memories of those who value qualities.
Some of the dignitaries that graced the event were, Ondo State governor, represented by SSA on special duty Dare Agbaye, the current Pro-chancellor, and chairman of council Owelle Oscar Udoji, top management office-holders in the school as well as members of the alumni association.
The president of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife Alumni association, Engineer Wale Olaleye at the weekend described education as a power that must be possessed by every individual for the development and training of their physical, mental and social capabilities.
Olaleye who made the assertion at the 60th anniversary and alumni treat organised by the alumni members of the institution at the University campus said, part of the alumni gathering for the celebration was to strategize and brainstorm on how to reposition the university for better delivery of its mandates.
Meanwhile, guest lecturer at the event, Director/C.E.O Nigeria French Language Village Ajara-Badagry, Lagos state Professor Babatunde Ayeleru expressed displeasure that, “it’s unpleasant that no Covid-19 vaccine has been researched by any Nigerian university and that, the only choice we have is to look for foreign universities for Nigerian consumption”.
However, the chairman of the association who maintained that the alumni association would do all it could to see that, education of the institution stands pacesetting and outstanding among other sisters universities in the country, appreciated all alumni from different branches for trooping out to grace the occasion and promised to embark on rigorous researches that could project the image of the University the more.
In his words, “Sixty years is a remarkable period for an Institution, more so, when the Institution has fulfilled the mandate of its establishment.
“Obafemi Awolowo University has fulfilled the mission and vision of its founding fathers, towards ensuring the Great Ife maintains its academic standards and excellence as well as its leads in other areas such as sports and culture.
“We have placed a lot of emphasis on the awareness and encouraging of more members to key into the Association agenda towards providing serious and meaningful intervention on our Alma mater.”
While mentioning the intervention of the alumnus In the campus, the chairman stated that “renovation of lecture theaters, drilling of boreholes, renovation of faculty buildings, donations of books to the library, equipping of the Econometric laboratories, renovation of Hostels, donation of drugs consumables to the health centers among others are the alumni intervention.”
The retreat which was characterized by carnival procession, Novelty Match, Alumni Internation projects, Medical Outreach, Lecture, Gala Night Awards among other engrossing activities like acrobatic dancing, cultural displays, was attended by hundreds of the association members from all walks of life.
Those awarded at the event were Yemi Ogunbiyi (the immediate past Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council); Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede (the current Vice-Chancellor of the University); Alh. Rafiu Ebiti (a worthy Alumnus and Philanthropist); and Barr. Olasupo Ojo (the Composer of the well-embraced University Anthem.
The guest lecturer at the event, Director/C.E.O Nigeria French Language Village Ajara-Badagry, Lagos state Professor Babatunde Ayeleru spoke on the lecture entitled: “Repositioning Nigeria University towards Sustainable National Growth And Development.
In his lecture, Ayeleru said it’s unpleasant that no Covid-19 vaccine has been researched by any Nigerian university adding that the only choice we have is to look for foreign universities for Nigerian consumption.
“No Covid vaccine has been researched and concluded by any of the Nigerian universities and approved by World Health Organisation (WHO) for the benefit of the citizenry instead we are looking, cap-in-hand, toward the Oxford AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Johnson and Johnson and Moderna NIAID vaccine from a foreign university and research institutes abroad.”
Ayeleru enjoined the alumni to be committed to mobilization and provision of steady financial support to their alma mater.
He charged them to organize a robust endowment system that will provide a guarantee and continuous source of income to support professorships, student scholarships, innovative programs, and learning opportunities.
