By our Reporter
The University of Lagos (UNILAG) Alumni Lagos branch Chairman, Dr Benjamin Olowojebutu has expressed confidence that the achievements of his administration in 100 days are verifiable.
This is as the new administration continues to run an all-inclusive government through the involvement of all Alumni in its programme.
This was contained in a statement released by the Association titled,”X-raying one hundred (100) days of impact: Piloting the affairs of Unilag Alumni Lagos State”
Olowojebutu, who is the Executive Director of Benjamin Olowojebutu Foundation, emerged as the leader of the alumni’s Lagos branch following the elections on December 13, 2020.
According to him, “at the heart of this Executive’s tenure is the ethos that we are here to serve at the pleasure of the people and not pecuniary or personal interests. We have come to this juncture with a determination to leave indelible footprints in the sands of time for our great association.”
The testimonies of Olowojebutu-led administration in 100 days have been described as “beauty of democracy in progression, elevation, a louder ovation, a beautiful round of applause and dividends of good choice at the helms of affairs.”
The visionary leader who started the tenure with all-inclusive Leadership Retreat featuring well-rounded professionals challenged the executives on dedicated, transparency and accountability and were fired with an agenda as well as tool kit needed to deliver tangible and life-changing projects for all members.
Rendering account of 100 days in service of the alumni, the executives organized a webinar to address corona virus with Professor Folasade Ogunsola, a world-renowned Professor of Clinical Microbiology serving as the guest speaker and delivered an engaging lecture to stem the tide of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The statement also reveals various corporate social responsibility embarked on by the association which include: redesigning and remodeling of Staff School toilets to promote hygiene in the academia; donation of Sport kits and contracting a Sport Coach for the University of Lagos Staff School and donation of security items and facilitation of the repair of moribund vehicles of the Security Unit to ensure quality security of lives and property on campus.
Not resting on this, the Chairman and his Executive have designed the architectural framework for the association’s secretariat given to the association through the generous support of a trail blazer Vice-Chancellor, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe which will be evident as the journey progresses.
The statement further revealed that the current executives conceptualised and printed souvenirs to help reinforce and strengthen the brand visibility and relevance-Unilag Alumni which has helped to increase goodwill for the Association across different stakeholder groups.
Also in appreciation of the 8th Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, late Distinguished Professor Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe and prominent member of the branch, the executives and members were excellently represented and curated a special video to showcase his legacy and impact on our Alma mata.
The Olowojebutu-led administration in the course of 100 days also engaged and visited other branches of the University of Lagos Alumni that include Oyo State, Warri Circle, and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja to further strengthen the umbilical cord for a more stronger and better together.
In the coming days, the Unilag Connect Magazine poised to connect the vision and mission of the Unilag Alumni Association of Lagos State Branch with the whole world will debut, remodeling of the association website while the executives has also inaugurated the Finance/Audit Committee to determine the Association’s financial standing and lay down the Standard Operating Procedure in ensuring proper stewardship of accounts.
On students’ welfare, this tenure has facilitated and laid the groundwork for the development of a 16,000 bed space and 2,000 bed space hostel accommodations for its Unilag Akoka and Idi-Araba campuses, respectively.
Dr. Olowojebutu, Chairman explained that: Closely aligned with the transparency mindset, a committee was inaugurated with a mandate to report on the Alumni Estate of the University of Lagos, Lagos State Branch and determine next steps of action has now been made public.
“Our doors and ears will always remain open to suggestions on how we can scale and create impactful campaigns. The Association belongs to all of us and exists to serve the interest of all its members. We move forward with renewed zeal and expectant hope that our Branch will remain primus inter pares, first among equals, so help us God”,he said.
Confident of the strides already recorded, Olowojebutu boasted that the achievements and accomplishments of his office are verifiable.
The statement revealed that the administration flagged off activities with a Leadership Retreat featuring well-rounded professionals for the newly elected Executive and stakeholders “to pilot the challenging but engaging assignment.”
“The retreat was organized to set the agenda and arm Exco members with the tool kit needed to deliver tangible and life-changing projects for all members,” the statement explained adding the Webinar on COVID-19 pandemic was well attended.
“Dr. Olowojebutu led executive has innovatively redesigned and remodeled Staff School toilets to promote hygiene in the academia. This gesture is symbolic in promoting a healthy environment, with charity of such good thought becoming a reality in Staff School of the University of Lagos. We donated Sport kits with a Sport Coach for the University of Lagos Staff School. For us, this is about leaving a legacy for the coming generation to feel the impact of the Alumni body.
“The Chairman and his Executive have designed the architectural framework for the association’s secretariat via an office bequeathed to the Lagos State Alumni by the very amiable Vice-Chancellor, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe FAS. We understand the efficacy that a functional secretariat with structures brings to bear on the attainment of organizational goals.
“The security of lives and property within any environment is an imperative that we understand so well. As such, having identified some of the essential needs and items, we did the needful by donating said items and also facilitated the repair of moribund vehicles of the Security Unit to ensure that our security operatives are empowered to do better.
“We have during the course of the last hundred (100) days in office conceptualized and printed souvenirs that help to reinforce and strengthen our brand visibility and relevance. These materials also help to increase goodwill for the Association across different stakeholder groups.
“This Executive provided quality representation for the Branch at the funeral activities of the 8th Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, late Distinguished Professor Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe and prominent member of the Branch. We curated a special video to showcase his legacy and impact on our alma mata.
“In a solid demonstration of the ethos that Together Everyone Achieves More, Dr. Olowojebutu led executives has engaged and visited other branches of the University of Lagos Alumni that include Oyo State, Warri Circle, and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. This rapprochement is with a view to ensure that the Alumni family remains one united and indivisible family – stronger and better together.
“Dr. Olowojebutu led Executive took into cognizance the importance of information dissemination and has creatively introduced Unilag Connect Magazine.The Magazine is poised to connect the vision and mission of the Unilag Alumni Association of Lagos State Branch with the whole world in driving networking for impact and positive change and at the same time mirroring the giant strides of the University of Lagos town and gown in theory and practice.
“This Executive understands the potency and relevance of transparency as a core cardinal objective on which the Chairman had campaigned. To this end, we have inaugurated the Finance/Audit Committee to determine the Association’s financial standing and lay down the Standard Operating Procedure in ensuring proper stewardship of accounts and that transactions are transparently conducted.
“Closely aligned with the transparency mindset, a committee was inaugurated with a mandate to report on the Alumni Estate of the University of Lagos, Lagos State Branch and determine next steps of action.
“One of the biggest pain points for current students at the University is in the area of affordable accommodation. To this end, our highly creative and inspirational leader, Dr. Benjamin Olowojebutu has facilitated and laid the groundwork for the development of a 16,000-room and 2,000-room hostel accommodation for the University of Lagos at its Akoka and Idi-Araba campuses, respectively. The chairman is a strong proponent of the fact that accommodation is a strong instrument for promoting scholarship.
“An upgrade of the website of the Lagos State Branch of the Alumni has commenced to ensure that we develop a robust platform that can be used for networking, events as well as up tooling members.
“In closing, our commitment to do the right things that will stand the test of time and remain a beacon of hope for those that will come after us remains unshakeable. The road has not been easy, however, the unalloyed trust and confidence that members have shown has provided relief and comfort. Our doors and ears will always remain open to suggestions on how we can scale and create impactful campaigns. The Association belongs to all of us and exists to serve the interest of all its members. We move forward with renewed zeal and expectant hope that our Branch will remain primus inter pares, first among equals, so help us God.”