UNILAG alumni to build 1,800-bed hostel worth N4.5bn
The Alumni Association of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) has unveiled plans to construct a 1,800-bed student hostel valued at N4.5 billion to help address the institution’s acute accommodation shortage. The association’s president worldwide, Engr. IfeOluwa Oyedele, disclosed this in an interview with our correspondent, describing the hostel project as one of the flagship initiatives […]
The Alumni Association of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) has unveiled plans to construct a 1,800-bed student hostel valued at N4.5 billion to help address the institution’s acute accommodation shortage.
The association’s president worldwide, Engr. IfeOluwa Oyedele, disclosed this in an interview with our correspondent, describing the hostel project as one of the flagship initiatives marking the association’s 55th anniversary, scheduled for Friday.
According to him, the project is expected to be completed within 18 months, with funding from members’ contributions and potential partnerships.
“We are embarking on this construction, and the foundation-laying ceremony will take place shortly after our anniversary. We expect completion within 18 months.
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“We believe we can achieve this through collective efforts, partnerships with interested parties, or financing from reputable sources,” he said.
Oyedele also emphasised the need to expand the association’s endowment fund, urging all UNILAG graduates to become active members to help mobilize more resources for the university.
“We need greater participation from our members to support students and the university. No university, whether public or private, is fully funded by its owners or government. Around the world, they depend on their alumni and benefactors. Our goal is to attract sufficient funding to help UNILAG grow,” he said.
He revealed that the association plans to broaden its convocation awards beyond best graduating students to include academic and non-academic staff, as well as students who demonstrate exemplary character.
“This coming convocation, we will introduce awards for staff and students in the area of character. UNILAG is a university of learning and character, and we want to promote those values,” he said.
Oyedele identified poor funding as a major cause of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strikes, urging alumni to support lecturers to reduce disruptions. He cautioned that frequent strikes could affect Nigeria’s global university rankings, noting that UNILAG and the University of Ibadan were recently ranked among the world’s top 1,000 universities.
He also expressed concern about the growing problem of drug abuse among youths and disclosed plans to launch an alumni-led advocacy campaign against it.
“We have seen the destructive impact of drugs among young people. We will partner with prominent alumni to raise awareness and encourage students to stay drug-free and become role models,” he said.
Oyedele commended the Federal Government for introducing the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), describing it as a timely intervention to help students continue their academic pursuits.