By Olatunde Dodondawa
The Pro- Chancellor and Chairman Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Oscar Udoji has called on stakeholders, government and citizens alike, to rise up to the task of pulling our universities back from the brinks.
The OAU Pro- Chancellor who was speaking at the foundation day commemorative event of the Diamond jubilee celebrations of the university, in Osun recently stressed that the challenge of revamping the University system in Nigeria to make it responsive to the changing imperatives of the 21st Century is too important to be left to government but certainly also too dangerous to be left in private hands unregulated.
My belief, he said, is that all stakeholders, government and citizens alike, would rise up to the task of pulling our universities back from the brinks. I would like, ladies and gentlemen, to make a special note on the important role that old boys and girls of this University can and should play.
I know that age 60, this University has produced old boys and girls that occupy prominent positions across all fields of endeavour in all continents of the world.
This is the time for the University to reach out to them, not just because we have needs but also to carefully cultivate and keep them abreast of developments in the Citadel.
“More importantly, I call on All Great Ife Alumni at home and abroad, in all walks of life, to stand up and be counted. I believe that our Alumni community should not wait to be called upon but should more proactively approach and give back generously to the University.” he stressed.
In his words” I am proud of the fact that our products represent a shining light all over the world, helping to build a respected and respectable profile/reputation that inspires the courage on our part, to do more.
For generations aspiring to come to Ife, current students, alumni and staff, we owe it to each other to preserve our sense of community and loyalty to a University that stands out among its peers and gives us reasons to celebrate her.
As we look forward to the great events scheduled to mark this anniversary, I like to, once again, congratulate the Vice-Chancellor and his team, members of the 60th Anniversary Committee and the entire University community.
