UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS ALUMNI NORTH AMERICA
2017 Alumni
CONVENTION PROGRAM THEME:
DIGITAL ECONOMY
-Knowledge and innovation for sustainable DEVELOPMENT
Message from
The President O
Great Akokites, n behalf of the interim executive members of University of Lagos (UNILAG) Alumni North America, and the 2017 convention committee, I welcome you all to the first UNILAG alumni convention with the theme : Digital Economy- Knowledge and Innovation for Sustainable Development This convention will go down in history as the first of its kind in the history of graduates of University of Lagos in the diaspora. I recognized the presence of the Vice chancellor, University of Lagos, Professor Rahamon Bello for finding time to be our guest ,to all delegates that left their families behind to join us, we appreciate you. We give glory to God because , what started with a simple conversation among friends is what we are witnessing today. I will like to take this time to say a big thank you to the brains behind the vision to have a Unilag Alumni in North America. Dr Oluwapomile Oloyede, Mr. Tunde Majek , Dr Azeez Butali,Tope ogunsulire ,chijoke Eze , Kehinde Oladejo, Dr Segun Oladunjoye,David Asekomhe,Adebola Matti and Mr Dimeji Ayanwale, and of course my humble self, Thank you all for your leadership, I know how challenging it is in this part of the world to create time for one other project. Like every young organization we were faced with bumps and obstacles but our vision, and the unflinching love for UNILAG kept us united and focused.
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n 2013, we started as a small group of University Of Lagos graduates of same generation now residing in America, and Canada with the long term goal to metamorphose into an Alumni association. Then, sometimes in 2014 we asked for the backing and recognition from the parent
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body headed by the amiable President, Unilag Alumni worldwide ,Dr Sonny Olorogun Kuku , Barr.Tunde Fadahunsi,the Hon. Public Relations officer Mr Francis Shonubi and Mrs Yetunde Abatan, their supports, and that of the national body contributed immensely to the growth of this association. Within the same year (2014), we got the association registerered in the State of Michigan as a nonfor profit organization, with registration number 71621G and we nominated our first interim executives. Our goal as an association is to reach out to, and bring all Akokites of diverse generation in North America together for the purpose of bringing development to our almamater, its community and Nigeria as a whole. As you all can testify, there are only two universities in Nigeria; UNILAG, and the rest. So it is safe to say that in all parts of the world, and all aspects of human endeavors there are vast number of Akokites doing phenomena. We believe that by forming this association, we can harness their potential for great development for the university of Lagos. Let me remind us that the tasks before us are enormous, but they must be achieved- We must unite to help build, and strengthen the University of Lagos better than we left it; we must work to place University of Lagos on the worlds map as best in academics, research, science and technology.
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reat Akokites, our world is changing very fast, we are no more transitioning to digital, we are now in a world where for any country to be competitive globally it must be propelled by a digital economy. Today ,we have assembled the best in the field of information technology to help lead our discussion. It is an honor to have our speakers Dr. Vincent Olatunji, Prof. Olowokere, and Mrs. Tope Fajingbesi. I strongly believe that all of you here with us will have a great time. I wish you happy deliberation. Once again, you are welcome to Houston, Texas. Thank you. Taiwo Oladotun Ogunleye. Interim President ( Unilag Alumni North America,Chapter)
UNILAG ALUMNI, NORTH AMERICA - 2017 CONVENTION, Houston TX
Interim Executive Board Members
Dotun Ogunleye
(Interim President)
Adebiyi Jelili A Abudugana(Secretary,Alumni of the month committee)
Temitope Ogunsulire (Interim Treasurer)
Attorney Larry Johnson
(Convention Committee, Member)
Dimeji Ayanwale
(Interim Financial Secretary)
Chijioke Eze
(Liaison officer,USA)
Ponmile Oloyede
(Interim General Secretary)
Yemisi Adetomiwa
(Convention Committee, Member)
Segun Oladunjoye
(Secretary, Convention Organising Committee)
David Asekome
Azeez Butali
(Chairman, Alumni of the Month Committee)
Tunde Majek
(Liaison Officer, Canada)
(Chairman,Convention Committee)
Adebola Matti
Adeola Erinle (Convention Committee, Member)
(Convention Committee, Member)
Jide Kotun
(Convention Committee, Member)
Folashade Adebisi
(Convention Committee, Member)
UNILAG ALUMNI, NORTH AMERICA - 2017 CONVENTION, Houston TX
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WELCOME Address by the Chairman
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t is a very great pleasure for me to welcome you on behalf of the interim executives and members of University of Lagos Alumni North America chapter to our inaugural reunion and Alumni Convention holding in the great city of Houston,Texas. I believe we have chosen a host city that guarantees a successful reunion of UNILAG ALUMNI in the diaspora,amid the culture and scenery of Houston. As the Chairman,convention committee,I know that the success of this convention depends ultimately on the many people who worked with me in planning and organizing our first general assembly meeting,the election of the first substantive officers to lead this chapter,the public lecture/seminar and other supporting social arrangements.Special recognitions should go to the National executive members under the leadership of The Olor’ogun Dr.Sonny Kuku for their unflinching support and the entire convention committee members who have worked hard for the details of important aspects of the convention programs and social activities.
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he convention committee expresses its gratitude towards the speakers who have presented well-written meaningful papers on their concept of digital economy in the emerging world economic growth and sustainable development.Their willingness to honor our invitations and partly sponsoring their own travel expenses and accommodation is greatly appreciated. Being a leader is hardwork.And like many leaders,you wonder if you are doing all of things right.At this inaugural convention,we celebrate the fact that we are doing so many things right.We also humbly admit that we could do somethings better or differently with our collective efforts during and following this convention.
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ay this convention now run in the spirit of open communication among old friends and new ones and yield positive impacts for the growth of our alumni association,in order to contribute to promoting further development of University of Lagos.May it in this way also contribute to further the prosperity and welfare of the people of Nigeria. So let’s join the moving train in support of our dear alma mater! Babatunde Majekodunmi Chairman,Convention Organizing Committee
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UNILAG ALUMNI, NORTH AMERICA - 2017 CONVENTION, Houston TX
BIOGRAPHY ENGR. PROF. A. F. OGUNYE (FAEng ; D.Sc ( Hon. Causa; Unilag))
Prof. Ayodele Francis Ogunye was born on July 31, 1942. He attended Molusi College, Ijebu-Igbo between 1956 and 1960 and Government College Ibadan on Ijebu-Igbo Local Government Scholarship to read for the HSC in 1961.He taught briefly at Molusi College, Ijebu-Igbo from December 1962 after the HSC and was admitted to Imperial College of Science, Medicine and Technology, University of London, London, England on the Federal Government Scholarship in September 1963 to read for a degree course in Chemical Engineering, which he completed in June 1966. After the completion of the degree and the Diploma of City and Guilds Institute of London at Imperial College, London, he proceeded to the University of Waterloo, Canada, where he completed the Masters degree in 1967 and the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Chemical Engineering in 1969. On January 6 1970, he was named the Dean of Engineering Post Doctoral Distinction Fellow. He held this position until August 27, 1970 when he returned to Nigeria. He was appointed Lecturer Grade II in Chemical Engineering from September 2, 1970 at the University of Ife, Ile-Ife and promoted Lecturer Grade I in October 1971. He left Ife to start the Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Lagos in August 1973 as a Senior Lecturer. At Unilag, he was appointed Associate Professor in June 1976 and Professor in March 1979 at the age of Thirty Six. He was at different times, Acting Head and Head of the Department, until he voluntarily resigned as the Head, eighteen months before the expiry of his term, on October 1, 1980. During the period, he organized and built the Department at the University of Lagos in a short time. He recruited an excellent group of academic staff comparable in training and scholarly attainment with first class institutions in Chemical Engineering in other parts of the world. Prof Ogunye had a traumatic break in his brilliant academic
career that affected his research activities when in December 1980 his appointment was terminated along with five other Professors and the Registrar of the University. He returned to the University in July 1987. Prof. Ogunye’s research papers have been cited by numerous authors in British, American, Canadian, Japanese, Russian, German, Polish Journals and top undergraduate and postgraduate text books in Great Britain and North America. Professor Ogunye is pioneering research in the area of Optimal Control of Reactors with Catalyst Decay over four decades ago is still the reference point for present day researchers and process control practitioners in this area. Between 1971 and 1973, Prof. Ogunye was consultant to USA National Academy of Engineering, advising on Computer Aids to Chemical Engineering Education. He was also a Canadian International Development Agency/National Research Council Fellowship Award recipient between 1976 and 1978. Prof Ogunye served University of Lagos meritoriously despite the traumatic break. He was at various times elected to serve on highest and most sensitive University statutory Committees. He retired after 17 years as Professor of Chemical Engineering, University of Lagos, in September 1995. On his retirement he endowed the Department which he started in 1973 with his gratuity and his monthly pension since retirement. The endowment is presently managed by the Board of Trustees of Prof. A. F. Ogunye Trust Fund by eminent Nigerians. At the 2015/2016 Convocation, Prof. Ogunye was honored with the conferment of the degree D.Sc (Honoris Causa) in Engineering for his contribution to the growth of education and the society as a whole. In addition, he was inducted as an Alumnus of Unilag. Prof. Ogunye currently serves on the boards of some companies which include Omatek Ventures PLC and chairs the board of three private companies including Phoenix Oil Company Nigeria Limited. He is currently the Pro-Rector and Chairman of Council, Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic, Ijebu-Igbo.
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ADDRESS GIVEN BY
THE NATIONAL PRESIDENT The Olor’ogun Dr. Sonny Kuku OFR, FAS
Unilag Alumni President Worldwide
Greatest Akokites! I am beyond delighted to welcome you all to this August event. We give thanks to the Almighty that we are witnesses to today’s reunion. We have come from far and near to reconnect with old classmates and friends and make new ones, reminisce about our days at school, synergize and form partnerships, but most importantly – to remember our Alma Mater in the course of our deliberations. Indeed, this is the common cord that binds us together. I give kudos to the organisers of this event- It has been a long time coming. The theme- ‘Digital Economy – Knowledge and Innovation for Sustainable Development’ is germane to our times as the digital economy is no longer just ‘the future’ as we once referred to it, it is now, and an all-encompassing industry worth over three trillion dollars today. I have no doubt that the Speakers - Dr. Vincent Olatunji, the Director, Corporate Strategy and Research, Nigeria Information Technology Development Agency; Prof. David Olowookere -Professor and Chair at Texas Southern University and Ms Tope Ganiyah Fajingbesisocial entrepreneur, independent financial management consultant and inspirational speaker, will do justice to the topic.
VISION OF THE ASSOCIATION
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t is the desire of your Alumni Association to be the most admired Alumni in all of Africa by 2026. We hope to do this by assisting the University in whatever way possible, in its development and in its drive to establish and maintain a
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tradition of excellence in all its endeavours. We do not aspire to this for self-importance, but for our impact to transcend insular boundaries and improve our Nation. Our strategic plan is to run the activities of the Association in line with best practice, to raise funds in a sustainable and ethical manner for executing our Association’s objectives, to facilitate community development and welfare, starting within our University, to increase membership, create value for members and to foster bonding among Alumni. It has become a cliché to hear that ‘these are challenging times for our Nation’, but because challenges make victory sweeter, we see more now than ever before, opportunities for our illustrious Alumni at home and abroad to help our country conquer its surfeit challenges. During a visit to our nation’s Number 2 Citizen and Distinguished Akokite, His Excellency Prof.Yemi Osinbajo GCON, SAN, we shared with him our thoughts on how to move the Nation forward. These were well received and indeed are being mulled over in the quest for this Administration to better the lot of Nigerians.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE UNIVERSITY
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o our delight, our new Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Dr. Wale Babalakin, is an Alumnus of our great Institution, a Great Akokite, whose strides we are most proud of. We look forward to a new vista in the life of our University. Our Association recently conferred the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Rahamon Ade Bello FNSChE, FNSE, FAEng, with an honorary Distinguished Alumnus of the University of Lagos, for his indefatigable commitment towards advancing the cause of our great institution; for the giant strides the University has taken under his Management, and for his collaboration with Alumni towards providing an enabling atmosphere that nurtures the intellect and aptitudes of the students. You may have learnt that Prof. Rahamon Ade Bello will complete his tenure as Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos this year. In the last five years and under his watch, the University graduated a total of 50,785 students comprising 26,780 undergraduate students and 24,005 postgraduate students! It was also during his tenure, in 2016 that a graduate of our University, Mr. Ayodele Dada, from the Department of Psychology, broke all academic records as he became the first graduate with a perfect score of 5.0. This year, two graduatesMisses Taiwo Bankole and Oyindamola Omotuyi followed suit, graduating with 5.0 Cumulative Grade Point Average 5.0 inCell biology and genetics and System Engineering respectively.
UNILAG ALUMNI, NORTH AMERICA - 2017 CONVENTION, Houston TX
We appreciate him for his unparalleled support and for a mutually-beneficial relationship between our Association and his Management.
500 BEDSPACE HOSTEL AND OTHER BUILDING PROJECTS
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ith respect to your Association’s Hostel development, we proudly present the architectural design of our iconic 5-floor 500-bedspape building (copies are available on our website). We have also called for and received Expressions of Interest by intending developers and shall commence groundwork, before the end of 2017. The same goes for our Old Alumni Office Building which will be reconstructed into a 2-storey building housing a seminar hall, an Experience Centre and space for a bistro available for hire. The University on its part, has begun work on the new Law Faculty and Business School Buildings, designs of which can be seen on the School’s website. In the next few months, the landscape of the University will change remarkably, as these and more edifices spring up on Campus.
WEBSITE AND ALUMNI DATABASE
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t is our urgent desire to increase the involvement of our members and I will, at this point, reiterate that we are sitting on a treasure trove of relationships with which we can synergize to move us, our endeavours and indeed our Nation forward. To this end, we are urging a ‘let-each-one-reach-one’ approach where our members connect with other members and draw them into the fold. Our social media platforms – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and WhatsApp- call for your participation. Please join us on any or all of these with your input. Your Association’s website www.unilagalumniassociation. org has been set up to benefit our alumni in various ways such as with increased accessibility to our Secretariat, announcements, advertisements and other merits.
BRANCH PLANTING AND REACTIVATIONS
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his convention is a landmark in the advancement of our Association. I am excited to see this beautiful outcome of months of planning and preparation and I once again applaud the initiation and thought and efforts that have gone into making this a reality. However, because the reward for hard work is more work, I will enjoin all members of this Branch not to let the good news end with this event tonight, but to pick up the gauntlet and take the call further, attending meetings, bringing contributions and inviting others to join in keeping this branch up and doing. I cannot but at this time, acknowledge Mr. Tunde Gbayisomore (a former Registrar of University of Lagos) for his previous efforts to rally our Alumni in the United States. We are grateful that this has now become a reality and urge members to encourage the labour of the conveners and ensure the continuity of this Branch.
people’. This statement rings true in the sense that Nigeria owes much of her goodwill and brand equity to our compatriots in diaspora, many of whom are here tonight. At a time when good news about the country is in short supply, the good reports we keep receiving about our hardworking compatriots and fellow alumni are bright spots in the entire discourse. In the same vein, Unilag’s greatest assets are her people- you and I, and our school has never needed us more than it does now. So we urge everyone to ‘look back in order to move forward’. It is against this backdrop that we cheer on the UK Branch, which is currently being reactivated, and call on other Great Akokites in diaspora, particularly in Canada and South Africa to follow suit. We are several steps closer to our desire of having formal Alumni representation in all 36 states of the Federation, the Federal Capital Territory. Our Abuja Branch held its reactivation meeting in the last quarter of last year and even in the erstwhile turbulent North East, right in Maiduguri, some of our Alumni are gearing up to form a Branch. We pray for increased peace in that region and in our Nation as a whole. The good news does not end there- The College of Medicine, University of Lagos (CMUL) Alumni Association has been revived with a new and effervescent Executive ready to take the Branch further. This administration is actively encouraging the formation of Faculty-based Associations and I am pleased to mention the commencement of a few namely: • The new Engineering Faculty Alumni Association which held its inauguration on the 16th of March this year and special commendation goes to the Set of 1969-1972 and the Dean of Faculty for their resolve in seeing this through • The Faculty of Arts Alumni Association which held its inauguration in February this year • We are thrilled with the news of others in the works and cannot wait to be part of their inauguration. Some of which are • The Faculty of Law Alumni • The Faculty of Science Set of 1989, among others.
CLOSING
In closing, it is my sincere duty to thank all of you here today. I thank you all immensely for the love and passion you have displayed for this Association and for our University- Nigeria’s pride- University of Lagos. I once again congratulate Mr. Taiwo Ogunleye and the planning committee for actualizing this. I trust that once you return to your various endeavours, you will use our experience to better the lot of our Nation. I bid you all Godspeed.
Our branches in diaspora hold a special spot in our minds. You may have heard it said, that ‘Nigeria’s greatest export is her
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GOODWILL MESSAGE
On behalf of the National Executive Committee of the University of Lagos Alumni Association, I would like to congratulate the University of Lagos Alumni, North America on the occasion of its 2017 Convention tagged‘Digital Economy – Knowledge and Innovation for Sustainable Development’. I commend the organising committee members for the pivotal role that each of them has played in the success of this convention and I wish everyone a successful event. We look forward to working closely with you to achieve our shared goal of making our Alumni the most admired Alumni in all of Africa by 2026. From: Olor’ogun Dr. Sonny Kuku
UNILAG
Past Vice-Chancellors till date.
• Dr. Eni Njoku (6 November 1917 – 22 December 1974) was a Nigerian botanist and educator. He was University of Lagos first vice-chancellor of the University of Lagos (1962-65). • Next to after his reign is Professor Saburi Biobaku: 1965-1971 • Professor Jacob F. Adeniyi Ajayi: 1972-1978 • Professor Babatunde Kwaku Adadevoh: 1978-1980 • Professor Akinpelu Oludele Adesola: 1981-1988 • Professor Nurudeen Oladapo Alao: 1988-1995 • Professor Jelili Adebisi Omotola: 1995-2000 • Professor Tolu Olukayode Odugbemi: 2007-2010 • Professor Oyewusi Ibidapo Obe: Ag, 2000-2002; 2002-2007 • Professor Babatunde Adetokunbo Sofoluwe: 20102012 • Professor Rahmon Ade Bello: 2012–present (2017)
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GOODWILL MESSAGE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL SECRETARY– UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, BARRISTER TUNDE FADAHUNSI It is my great honour and privilege to write this goodwill message in the capacity of National Secretary of our esteemed Association. To God be the glory, that the efforts of our Alumni in North America is the gathering of today. I recollect the numerous phone calls and messages from Merrs. Dotun Ogunleye and Ponmile Oloyede on the possibility of the registration of a Branch of our Great Association in North America. I am happy today, that though, not physically present, but our efforts have been rewarded by this August gathering of eminent Alumni of our University of Lagos and our indefatigable Vice Chancellor, Professor Rahman Ade Bello. There is no doubt, that it is only commitment to serve that can bring an event of this magnitude to pass in a very busy world as in the USA. I salute all the members of the interim Executive Committee that gave time and resources to the actualisation of this great dream. I am particularly happy, of my involvement from the onset and wish this gathering happy deliberation. As Alumni, I know that one of the major tasks before us is to form a united team that is capable of sustaining the leading status of our University, The University of Lagos. Without any iota of doubt, University of Lagos remains the first among equals in the comity of highly reputable universities. The University of Lagos is noted for excellence, and our products are in every high demand in blue-chip companies and other reputable organizations, both locally and the diaspora. In Nigeria, our list is endless. I therefore enjoin you all, to rally round the National Executive Committee of your Association, and come up with meaningful suggestions that will enhance the vision of this present administration to attain greater height. Great Akokites !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
UNILAG ALUMNI, NORTH AMERICA - 2017 CONVENTION, Houston TX
SPEECH BY THE VICE-CHANCELLOR, PROFESSOR RAHAMON A. BELLO, FAEng DURING THE TOWN HALL MEETING OF THE INAUGURAL REUNION/ CONVENTION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION (NORTH AMERICAN CHAPTER) ON SATURDAY, 15thJULY, 2017 IN HOUSTON TEXAS
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Protocols n behalf of the Management, Staff and Students o f your alma mater, the University of Lagos, The University of First Choice and the Nation’s Pride, I congratulate you all for putting together this Inaugural Reunion/ Convention. The thought is unique and the act is spectacular, particularly in a community that is more individualistic than we have back home. Being an alumnus or alumna of the University of Lagos bestows a class that was specially enlisted in 1962 when the University became the first full University to be established by the Federal Government of Nigeria by an act of Parliament. Hence, all alumni of the University must have some aura of excellence and uniqueness. The University of Lagos has produced about Two Hundred Thousand (200,000) graduates over its 55 years of existence. in the same vein, In the last five (5) years under my watch, the university between 2012 and 2017 graduated fifty thousand, seven hundred and eighty-five (50,785) students, a trend which accounts for a quarter of the total number of graduates since the inception of the University. In addition, most of you would have realised when you enrolled for higher degrees, that the quality of education received has not been substandard in any form, despite the challenges the institution has faced in the last couple of decades.
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s we all know, and as it is apparent from the situation in Universities in North America, the University belongs to its alumni and rely on its alumni for direction and growth. University of Lagos believes in its alumni and would interface with its alumni for its future growth and development. The strength of its alumni was recently demonstrated during the attempt in 2012 to rename the University. Today in Nigeria, funding of Universities is a big challenge. Only staff salaries are assured while the overhead and capital
expenditures are almost non-existent. Financial autonomy of the Universities is currently being canvassed to assure the University system of appropriate funding. UNILAG, despite funding challenges has been changing the face of its infrastructural landscape. Lately, all teaching and laboratory infrastructure have been given a facelift; while faculties are being refurbished starting with the Faculty of Arts. A new 9-floor library is currently being put up, among other planned infrastructural expansion. Also, the Graduate Assistantship Scheme has been resuscitated to attract willing alumni stay on in the Faculties. The University of Lagos of today is one of the most environmentally friendly campuses in Nigeria. It was recently adjudged the Recycling Institution of the year in Africa by African Clean-up Initiative, an NGO committed to promoting environmental activities. I would hereby like to acknowledge the increasing collaborations with a large number of the alumni lately through soft and hard core support to individual Units/Departments /Faculties. It is not all about money; showing interest, exchange and collaborations with staff/departments, and/or assisting with materials to improve academic quality, would go a long way to shore up the quality of the University of Lagos. The University has put up two blocks of thirty-two (32) 2-bedroom apartments labelled “Scholars Hostels”, which are to house international scholars having collaborative works with the University from the Diaspora.
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he University recently created a new Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Development Services whose duties amongst other things include the advancement of relations with the Alumni both in Nigeria and the diaspora as well as co-coordinating innovation efforts and entrepreneurial inroads. Therefore, the formation of the North American Chapter of the Alumni Association is well-timed as it will offer another platform for the development of the corporate growth of the University. Contact can be established with this office via email to dvc-ds@unilag.edu.ng or advancement@unilag.edu. ng. I congratulate the initiators of this Convention and specially congratulate the members of the maiden Executive. We wish you successful leadership and success in energizing the combined strength of University of Lagos Alumni for the real growth and development of individual members, University of Lagos and Nigeria in general.
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SMARTEST PEOPLE,
MEDIOCRE NATION
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BRITISH N o b e l laureate D o r o t h y Hodgkin once noted that the University of Lagos was one of the world centres of expertise in her specialist field of chemical crystallography. Ahmadu Bello University Zaria had the first world class computer centre in Africa. The University of Ife had a notable pool of expertise in nuclear physics. Our premier University of Ibadan had an international reputation as a leading centre of excellence in tropical medicine, development economics and the historical sciences. The Saudi Royal family used to frequent UCH for medical treatment in the sixties. The engineering scientist Ayodele Awojobi, a graduate of ABU Zaria, was a rather troubled genius. He tragically died of frustration because our environment could not contain let alone utilise, his talents. Ishaya Shuaibu Audu, pioneer Nigerian ViceChancellor of ABU Zaria, collected all the prizes at St. Mary’s University Medical School London. His successor in Zaria, Iya Abubakar, was a highly talented Cambridge mathematician who became a professor at 28 and was a noted consultant to NASA. Alexander Animalu was a gifted MIT physicist who did work of original importance in superconductivity. His book, Intermediate Quantum Theory of Crystalline Solids, has been translated into several languages, including Russian. Renowned mathematician Chike Obi solved Fermat’s 200-year old conjecture with pencil and paper while the Cambridge mathematician John Wiles achieved same with the help of a computer working over a decade.
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After the harsh environment of the 1980s IMF/ WB structural adjustment programmes, the Babangida military dictatorship undertook massive budgetary cutbacks in higher education. Our brightest and best fled abroad. Today, Nigerian doctors, scientists and engineers are making massive contributions in Europe and North America. Philip Emeagwali won the 1989 Gordon Bell Award for his work in super-computing. Jelani Aliyu designed the first electric car for American automobile giant General Motors. Olufunmilayo Olopede, Professor of Medicine at the University of Chicago, won a McArthur Genius Award for her work on cancer. Winston Soboyejo, who earned a Cambridge doctorate at 23, is a Princeton engineering professor laurelled for his contributions to materials research. He is Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Washington University biomedical engineering professor Samuel Achilefu received the St. Louis Award for his invention of cancer-seeing glasses that is a major advance in radiology. Kunle Olukotun of Stanford did work of original importance on multi-processors. National Merit laureate Omowunmi Sadik of State University of Binghamton owns patents for biosensors technology. Young Nigerians are also recording stellar performances at home and abroad. A Nigerian family, the Imafidons, were voted “the smartest family in Britain” in 2015. Anne-Marie Imafidon earned her Oxford Masters’ in Mathematics and Computer Science when she was only 19. Today, she sits on several corporate boards and was awarded an MBE in 2017 for services to science. Recently, Benue State University mathematician Atovigba Michael Vershima is believed to have solved the two centuries old Riemann Conjecture that has defied giants such as Gauss, Minkowski and Polya. Another young man, Hallowed Olaoluwa, was one
UNILAG ALUMNI, NORTH AMERICA - 2017 CONVENTION, Houston TX
of a dozen “future Einstein” awarded postdoctoral fellowships by Harvard University. He completed a remarkable doctorate in mathematical physics at the University of Lagos age 21. While at Harvard he aims to focus on solving problems relating to “quantum ergodicity and quantum chaos”, with applications to medical imaging and robotics. Another Unilag alumnus, Ayodele Dada, graduated with a perfect 5.0 GPA, an unprecedented feat in a Nigerian university. Victor Olalusi recently graduated with such stellar performance at the Russian Medical Research University, Moscow, and was feted the best graduate throughout the Russian Federation. Habiba Daggash, daughter of my friend Senator Sanusi Daggash, recently graduated with a starred first in Engineering at Oxford University. Emmanuel Ohuabunwa earned a GPA of 3.98 out of a possible 4.0 as the best overall graduate of the Ivy-League Johns Hopkins University. Stewart Hendry, Johns Hopkins Professor of Neuroscience, described the young man as having “an intellect so rare that it touches on the unique…a personality that is once-in-a-life-time”.
record in the world, with more than 20,000 lost to road accidents annually. We wasted over $18 billion on the power sector and our people still live in darkness. The state governments are virtually bankrupt. It is only by investing in science and in our young people can we forge a better future. Without science and innovation the African people will never overcome their millennial servitude. And the African Renaissance of our dream will become a mere phantasmagoria. We must create an ecosystem that enables science and innovation to flourish. And we must incentivise talent while building a merit-based society. In Brazil, a Nobel laureate is entitled by statute to the same pension rights as a former President. Society must adequately recognise and reward all men and women of excellence. Our government should keep a roster of all super-achievers of Nigerian origin and we should tap their brains for the building of our country. -Culled from VANGUARD NEWSPAPER
There is also young Yemi Adesokan, postdoctoral fellow of Harvard Medical School who patented procedures for tracking the spread of viral epidemics in developing countries. Ufot Ekong recently solved a 50-year mathematical riddle at Tokai University in Japan and was voted the most outstanding graduate of the institution. He currently works as an engineer for Nissan, having pocketed two patents in his discipline. This is only the tip of the iceberg. If our system were not so inclement to talent we would be celebrating a bountiful harvest of geniuses in all the fields of human endeavour. This is why the correlates between our genepool and national development are so diametrically opposed. We are becoming a failed state. We punch miserably below our weight in the hierarchy of world economics and politics. None of our institutions come near the top 500 in the World Universities League Table. An estimated 50% of our people live in extreme poverty. Youth unemployment hovers around 45 percent (70% for the far-North). The poverty is heartbreaking. Our per capita GDP is less than $3,000 as compared to Singapore’s $55,252. We have the worst road carnage
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O N F E S S I O N
gh Priest on. Let’s ges from Hebrews brethren, calling, gh Priest s.” Jesus God to provided od to be e of God. nfession. nfession, our lips vocate in the more nistry on
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ext, we’ll read Hebrews 4:14: “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.” To hold fast means to say something, then keep on saying it. Don’t back off. Don’t get discouraged.
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inally, “Having a High Priest over the house of God,…let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:21, 23). Notice the change there. It is not “the confession of our faith” but “the confession of our hope.” If we confess faith long enough, it becomes hope. “Faith is the substance of things hoped for” (Hebrews 11:1). When we have built a substance of faith, then hope comes. My definition of biblical hope
is “a confident expectation of good.” But we must hold fast the profession or confession without wavering. Why does it say “without wavering”? Let me illustrate with the following image. When you are traveling in an airplane and the Fasten Seat Belt sign goes on, it tells you to expect turbulence. In the same way, “without wavering” tells you to expect opposition. The battle is fought and won when we maintain our confession.
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hank You, Jesus, that You are the High Priest of our confession. I proclaim that Jesus is my Advocate in heaven, in the presence of God, and I hold fast that confession without wavering. I shall hold fast my confession. Amen.
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