Executives of the Faculty of Arts Alumni Association, have pledged unflinching support to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Folasade T. Ogunsola, FAS.
This pledge was made during a courtesy visit to the Professor Folasade T. Ogunsola, FAS, at her office on the 11th Floor of the Senate House on Thursday, January 26, 2023.
The visit had in attendance the 1st National Vice President, UNILAG Alumni Association, Dr. Bala Yesufu; ex-officio, Hon. Olumide Akinola, other executives of the Alumni body, along with mentors drawn from the Faculty of Arts.
A proud mentor of the Association and Associate Professor in the Faculty of Arts, Dr. Karo Oginnaka, shared a brief history of the birthing of the association in 2022. He noted that the body was formed based on the need to connect the Faculty of Arts Alumni with the National Alumni Association because the departments are where students are nurtured and built up.
According to him, the association is working on mobilising members, under one umbrella, as well as empowering them to become strong members for the national body.
The Chairman of the Faculty of Arts Alumni Association, University of Lagos, Mr. Paul Anthony Emili (JP) mentioned that the association is duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission, and has a constitution which does not conflict with that of the national body. He noted that the association with a vast array of experienced professionals in various fields, especially the media, hopes to change the face of the University.
He stated that the association is poised to pursue efforts aimed at promoting art as well as provide entrepreneurial training for students of the Faculty in the area of entrepreneurship. He reiterated the Association’s full support of University and readiness to make the Vice-Chancellor proud.
Professor Ogunsola, in her response, expressed delight at the visit, and the setting up of the Alumni Association. She expressed her love for art. She expressed the need for each faculty to have a broad-based board that would connect the University with the industry, thus bridging the gap between town and gown. While pointing out her love of art, the Vice-Chancellor visualized some of her ideas, which include: connecting talents, particularly in the Department of Creative Arts, with alumni in the arts industry, such as Bolanle Austen-Peters, (founder of TerraKulture), to further showcase the ability of the students to the world. Another of these ideas was to tell stories of the University with its beautiful atmosphere and environment as a backdrop, to name a few.
At the end of the visit, the Vice-Chancellor and alumni body exchanged gifts and took group photographs.
