By Victoria Ayinde,

The University of Ilorin marked its 50th Anniversary with an Alumni Colloquium and Award Presentation held on November 26, 2025, at the university’s main auditorium. The event drew notable alumni who shared their experiences and insights from their journeys so far.
The event commenced at 10:00 a.m. with the arrival of dignitaries, followed by the rendition of the national anthem and the university anthem. The welcome address was delivered by the President of the Unilorin Alumni Association, Professor A. O. Kilani. This was followed by remarks from the Chairman of the Unilorin 50th Anniversary Committee, Professor O. A. Mokuolu, after which the Vice-Chancellor presented his address.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor W. O. Egbewole, while acknowledging all protocols, spoke on the topic “We Shall Build the Tower Unilorin.” He described the university’s 50th anniversary as unique and special, noting that it was celebrated because “it is a time of confirmation of our maturity and exemplification of our excellence.”
He further disclosed that he met with the leadership of the Students’ Union on Tuesday, November 25, as part of efforts to connect with the younger generation. He charged students to develop a can-do spirit, embrace the culture of integrity, and uphold the education that has kept the institution on the global map.
Four broad and cardinal objectives were outlined as strategies to be pursued towards the next fifty years of impact. These include creating a unified platform for all alumni of the university, identifying and attracting partnerships that advance the interests of the institution, developing effective strategies for projecting the university’s image positively, and ensuring internal alignment and sustainable growth. He urged all stakeholders to join hands in building a better Unilorin and encouraged alumni to actively engage in the welfare of the institution.
The first colloquium session, themed “From Unilorin Campus to Glocalization,” was anchored by a former Governor of Kwara State and alumnus, Alhaji Dr Abdulfatai Ahmed. He described the theme as timely and strategic, emphasizing the need for the university to evolve into what he termed a “glocal university.” He explained glocalization as the integration of global knowledge with local context to produce innovative and relevant solutions.
According to him, the glocal vision involves developing curricula for glocal graduates, expanding partnerships with leading global universities, fostering cultural and linguistic literacy, and making community engagement a core component of academic programmes. He proposed the establishment of a curriculum innovation unit, a university–industry fellowship and mentorship scheme, and an innovation finance office to support technology transfer and commercialization. He also urged students to remain curious, participate in community projects, and take advantage of mentorship opportunities, while encouraging alumni to invest in the development of younger generations.
The second presentation was delivered by a trauma surgeon, Dr Adedamola Dada, on “My Leadership Journey: Self-Preparation after Unilorin.” He attributed his foundational knowledge and professional discipline to the university’s sound academic system. He recounted his experience at the Federal Medical Centre, Ebute Metta, where he encountered challenges such as manual medical record-keeping, unsafe drug storage methods, and dilapidated infrastructure. He explained that strategic action plans implemented by his team helped rejuvenate the hospital, which later trained eighteen other hospitals across Nigeria.
The third speaker, Ambassador Nimota Nihilola Akanbi, attributed her PhD progress to the encouragement she received from staff of the university. She traced her journey from being a teacher to a principal and later an ambassador. She noted that she facilitated the entry of business investors into Nigeria multiple times during her tenure and encouraged the university to maintain discipline in the training of students. She also appealed to alumni to become more involved in the affairs of the institution to enhance its attractiveness to prospective students.
The event progressed into the award presentation session, during which Dr Zacch Adedeji received an Award of Excellence, while Professors Folorunsho Olorunfemi and Muritala Awodun were honoured with Awards of Recognition. Several distinguished alumni were also recognised for their contributions in various fields.
An interactive session featuring six alumni followed, during which they linked their present achievements to the discipline and values instilled by the university. Their contributions inspired students to strive for excellence and appreciate the institution’s role in shaping their lives.
The event concluded with a fundraising exercise towards the proposed Innovation Hub project, estimated at fifty billion naira. Several alumni pledged their support in cash and kind.