University of Ilorin has been commended for exceeding the capacity of a first generation University in Nigeria. This commendation was made by the MD/CEO Bicourtney ltd, Dr. Wale Babalakin, SAN during the 1st Leading Light Award presentation to four Distinguished Alumni Members of the University of Ilorin on Friday 7th September 2012 at the Kwara State Banquet Hall, Ilorin.

Dr. Babalakin who served as the Chairman of the occasion commended the University of Ilorin as according to Statistics, University of Ilorin is the Nigerian University with the most peaceful academic tenure which he attributed to the strong will and determined leadership of the University, while urging that as the baton is being passed on, the trend should continue. 

He said the best government can do in the Nigerian setup is to be a catalyst for education while urging all and sundry to make sure that they contribute their quota to the development of education in the society. He urged the UNILORIN Alumni Association to strive and put up an endowment and compete with government in the provision of Infrastructure on the University to serve as an encouragement to the dynamic leadership of the University, while discouraging Nigerians from totally depending on government for its running cost.

Dr. Babalakin appealed for more independence of Nigerian universities which he said will go a long way in fostering the quality of education. He said UNILORIN has shown the way by telling the world it is the leading light and as such, it would be held to its words, while stating further that everything done against this background would be crossed checked as it cannot be doubted the University has the capacity, but as it is know that to do something in Nigeria today it requires serious cerebral power. He said it is working in an oasis where the surrounding is mediocal and it must remaine disciplined and forthright.

In his welcome speech, the national president of the University of Ilorin Alumni Association, Mr. Tahoreed Odedele said the university Alumni association was formally launched in the year 1979 to bring together graduates of the center of excellence in order to interact and embark on programmes and projects aimed at promoting the academic ideals of the Institution. He said all over the world the University is known for academic excellence and stability, as based on the webrometric rankings, the university continues to maintain a leading role among Nigerian Universities.

The Alumni president enumerated further that it is also the university among its peers where academic as well as infrastructural facilities continue to enjoy rapid development. He said it is always a thing of joy to the university whenever its members emerge and occupy positions of prominence in the society. He stated that the university has quite a number of its Alumnus occupying various positions of responsibilities both within and outside Nigeria as the event marks the beginning of its annual get together.

In his lecture titled: University Alumni Association as a driving force for a visionary Leadership, the guest lecturer, Professor Olufemi Durpsaro said the globalization of the world economy and the development of modern technologies have compounded the problem of employability for Nigerian University graduates while stating that it has heightened the national unemployment problem.

Professor Durosaro who is also an alumnus of the University of Ilorin said there is height demand for workers with computer literacy, information communication technology and other soft occupational competencies that are still largely lacking in most Nigerian Universities graduates.  He said for any organization to be deemed to have the capacity to deliver on its mandate, such organization must have a clear and shared vision of where she started from, where she reached and where she is heading.  He said the alumni and alumnae of a university could contribute greatly to the development of visionary leadership in the university in numerous ways.

The main event of the day featured presentation of awards to four distinguished members of the University alumni  association who are, The executive governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatahi Ahmed, Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, Vice Chancellor Kwara State University, Professor Abdulrasheed Na’ allah, and MD/CEO UTC Nigeria ltd, Mrs. Folusho Olaniyan.

While responding on behalf of the awardees, the Kwara state governor who was represented by the secretary to the Kwara State government, Alhaji Shola Gold appreciated the UNILORIN alumni association for recognizing them and for making it timely as in some cases it is post-humously done. He recalled that he had to abandon all the advice of people and came to the University for his MBA after graduation which played a significant role in being the governor of the state.

He said though Universities in Nigeria are faced with various challenges, UNILORIN has been able to effectively manage them while calling for proper focus on science and business courses so as to help in  the advancement of the Nigerian economy