The University of Lagos Alumni Association has emphasized the importance of education to the growth of a nation, declaring that it must be well nurtured for the growth of Nigeria.
The president of the association, Engr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele, made the declaration on Monday at a press conference held on Monday to announce the activities lined up to mark its 55th anniversary.
The activities which include Anniversary Awards and Recognition Dinner is scheduled to hold on Friday, October 17, 2025, at the prestigious Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Speaking on the importance of education to the growth of the nation, Oyedele said: “Education is the seedbed of every nation’s greatness. If we nurture it, Nigeria will flourish. If we neglect it, the consequences will touch us all.”
He therefore called on government, the private sector and Nigerians in general to pay particular attention to education.
His words: “We call on government at all levels to make education the true priority it deserves to be. Policy declarations must translate into sustained funding, accountability, and implementation.
“We call on the private sector to see investments in education not as charity, but as enlightened self-interest. The future workforce, the innovators, and the entrepreneurs who will power their businesses tomorrow are sitting in our classrooms today.
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“And we call on every Nigerian citizen, and especially every alumnus, to give back. Whether through mentorship, financial support, or advocacy — every contribution matters.”
Expressing the commitment of the association to the development of education, Oyedele urged all alumni, friends, and partners of the University of Lagos to support the event.
He said beyond the glamour, the event would mobilise direct support for projects that would touch lives and improve the quality of education at the University of Lagos towards scholarship support for bright but indigent students and support for critical infrastructural development aimed at further propelling the University of Lagos among the best in the world.
He emphasized the challenges facing education as including inadequate funding that leaves schools struggling to deliver quality education.
Others, he said, included the alarming brain drain — with best-trained minds leaving for greener pastures abroad; a curriculum gap, where too often, what is taught does not match the needs of today’s labour market or prepare graduates for tomorrow’s jobs and the persistent challenge of welfare for teachers, lecturers, and researchers — the very people tasked with shaping the minds of the next generation.
The association applauded the federal government for its special attention to the funding of education and the introduction of novel innovations to improve the quality of education all levels.
“Worthy of mention is the introduction of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to provide loans for students in tertiary schools. In addition the Government of a President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently offered full scholarship to students of vocational and technical colleges. The Government has also increased the percentage of the budget allocation to the education sector in the midst of various other needs,” Oyedele said.
Speaking on the dinner and award night, Oyedele said the occasion would be used to raise fund to support their alma mater, University of Lagos.
The Special Guest of Honour at the occasion will be Vice President Kashim Shettima, while the chairman will be the Olor’ogun Dr. Sonny Kuku.
Other dignitaries are expected to grace the event.
