By Babatunde Emmanuel
The Director of the Office of Alumni Relations, University of Ibadan, Dr. Ndidi Ofole, has called for alumni relations to evolve from casual networks into dynamic engines of institutional transformation.
She made this assertion during the inauguration of the newly elected executive members of the Department of Social Work Alumni Association.
Representing the Vice-Chancellor at the event, Dr. Ofole urged alumni to establish a departmental endowment fund, volunteer as mentors to final-year students, and actively support the upgrading of facilities within the Department of Social Work.
She noted that a coordinated alumni network would provide a strong platform for mentorship, professional placement, and collaborative research across continents.
Dr. Ofole also emphasized the importance of social work, describing it as an indispensable profession that helps address societal challenges, strengthen mental resilience, and promote human development.
“In an increasingly complex world, professional social workers and counsellors constitute the frontline defence against societal decay,” she said.
She further commended the Head of the Department of Social Work, Professor Mobolaji Ojedokun, for fostering an academic environment that keeps graduates connected to their alma mater.
Also speaking at the event, the Dean of the Faculty of Education, Professor Kehinde Kester, urged members of the association to give back to the institution that nurtured them and uphold the values of the department.
“Partnership with the Department and the Faculty at large will engender relevance,” he said.
Credit: UI Directorate of Communication
