By: Aduwo Ayodele 

The Chief Executive Officer of the United Bank for Africa PLC (UBA), Mr Oliver Alawuba, on Thursday, December 21st, 2023, cheered the University of Ibadan as an institution for its skyward positioning in Nigeria.

The CEO made this remark in Lagos at his investiture and decoration event, initiated by the University of Ibadan management, as the institution celebrates its attainment of seventy-five years of excellence.

Mr. Alawuba noted that one notable flag flown with pride by the UBA Plc Group is the highest numbering of UI Alumni on the bank’s management team.

“One flag we fly with pride in UBA is the UI flag. Without any equivocation, UI remains the first and best university in Nigeria” Mr. Alawuba said.

Recounting his recent experience when he visited the University earlier this year, the CEO expressed an unreserved happiness upon seeing that the ageing structures and the environment were still well kept “even better than they were in 1991” when he left UI with a Master’s degree.

Mr Alawuba guaranteed that the UBA Group, especially the UI Alumni network within, would extend a hand of fellowship to the institution in ensuring that it outlives present time.

He further noted that the UBA Group would, henceforth, encourage students of the University of Ibadan in its Graduate Management Accelerated Programme, scholarship programmes, and in sporting activities.

He said the UBA Foundation, which has its aim in capacity building through the facilitation of projects that act as catalyst for social and economic development, would be brought in to help market the University of Ibadan to foreign students, to maximize foreign exchange for the university.

The Executive Director Finance and Risk Management of the Bank, Mr Ugo Nwaghodah, who is equally an Alumnus of UI, expressed gratitude to UI for building strong foundation of who they have become.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kayode O. Adebowale had earlier recounted how the University of Ibadan had grown from its three faculties and 104 students in 1948 to 18 faculties with a student population of over 42,000 in 2023, a College of Medicine adjudged to be the best in Sub-Sahara Africa, and a Postgraduate College that is the flagship of postgraduate education in Nigeria.

The Vice Chancellor said the university aligns with the UBA principles of Enterprise, Excellence, and Execution, because knowledge which is the driving force of UI is a non-negotiable denominator.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor Administration, who is also the Chairman of the UI@75 Anniversary Committee, Professor Peter O. Olapegba, had explained the intent of the UI ongoing thematic projects to be the upgrading of the University’s Endowment Fund; converting research into innovation for national development; the upgrading of the University into a Smart campus; generating clean and alternative energy; providing scholarship for excellent and indigent students and promoting staff mobility and development.

Professor Olapegba said all these important projects are in line with the vision of the Vice-Chancellor to raise $200 million during his 5-year tenure to further consolidate the development of the University.

The ceremonial decoration of Mr Alawuba as a UI@75 Ambassador was specifically performed by the Registrar, Mr Ganiyu O. Saliu on behalf of the University.

Credit – UI Directorate of Public Information