UNILAG alumni Lagos chapter seek N708m for scholarship, entrepreneurial development

• Holds 7th memorial Sofoluwe lecture

The University of Lagos (UNILAG) Alumni association, Lagos Chapter is presently shopping for N708m to complement Federal Government’s efforts at properly funding education.

The fund, according to the association’s chairman, Dr Lukumon Adeoti will cover endowments, scholarships, skill acquisition training and entrepreneurial development.

Addressing journalists on the lined up activities for the alumni week billed to commence on Tuesday, July 16 said the task of funding education should not be left alone for the Federal Government and sought the support of the private sector and old students to reposition the sector for greater results.

To drive the project, Adeoti announced the launch of “Support Our University Projects (SOUP) by the branch to support indigent students’ scholarship projects, educational contests, first class students, innovations and research in science and technology; employability training and boot camp as well as skill acquisition and entrepreneurial development.

Adeoti said about 20 indigent students were recently given N150, 000 each as scholarship fund by the association to support their studies and appealed to well meaning individuals to support the old students in their drive to boost learning and reward excellence.
The chairman also announced plans to hold the annual Sofoluwe memorial lecture on Thursday, July 4.

He said the lecture, titled “Changing the archetypal medical education system for transformational health care,” would be delivered by the vice chancellor, Ondo State University of Medical Sciences, Prof Friday Okonofua.

Prof. Adetokunbo Sofoluwe was said to have died of cardiac arrest on Friday May 11, 2012, at the age of 62 while in active service.
The late vice chancellor was described as a versatile administrator and an embodiment of simplicity.On why the association is celebrating him, Adeoti said, “Sofoluwe loved education when he was alive to the extent that he sponsored up to 72 students and they all graduated, he trained people at the level of undergraduate; masters and PhD, some of them are equally professors. And so he left good legacies, when people died, they are forgotten but only those with good deeds would be remembered.“Sofoluwe was the only VC that died in active service, he trained people for succession, and by the time he died, we have already imbibed his concept.